Sun City is encouraging longer stays around the Nedbank Golf Challenge by expanding the four-day tournament with a broader entertainment and resort programme.
The 44th edition of “Africa’s Major” at the Gary Player Country Club from December 3-6 will feature a redesigned course and a programme of live entertainment to encourage visitors to stay at the resort after the day’s play.
At the launch, Sun International CEO Ulrik Bengtsson told Tourism Update that the event is expected to attract about 75 000 guests.
“The Nedbank Golf Challenge has always been one of the highlights of the Sun City calendar and golf remains the main attraction,” said Brett Hoppé, Resort GM at Sun City.
“The changes to the Gary Player Country Club give the world’s best players a new challenge while the expanded programme across the resort gives spectators more reasons to stay longer and experience everything Sun City has to offer once play has finished.”
The tournament will have a new look this year following the most substantial redesign in the Gary Player Country Club’s history.
A new 470m par-four first hole has been created parallel to the original and higher up the mountainside. The former first hole will become the course’s first dedicated practice range.
The transformation includes new professional tees, refurbished bunkers, an enlarged dam on the second hole and a newly opened view of the waterfall from the ninth.
In a golf course enhancement video shown at the event, Gary Player said he believes, once the transformation is complete, it will be “the best course in South Africa without a doubt”.
Bengtsson said the course redesign cost R15 million (US$937 050).
Tickets and hospitality packages are now on sale.
