OPEN ROTA The Investec SA Open returns to the Western Cape for the first time in 17 years, when Pearl Valley was host (2007 to 2009) and it seems as if a rota system is now in place which will see the championship move around the regions every year. The Open spent nine consecutive years in Gauteng from 2011 to 2020, at three different courses – Serengeti, Glendower and Randpark. There is no confirmation yet where the 2027 Open will be played, but there has been a hint that it will return to the Western Cape in 2029. Suitable Open venues are scarce. There have been 12 different hosts since the Open became a co-sanctioned tournament in 1997. It would be pleasing to see it return to classic layouts like Humewood (2006), East London (2001) or The Links at Fancourt (2005). OPEN VENUES (Since 1997) 6 Glendower 5 Durban CC 3 Randpark, Pearl Valley 2 Erinvale, Serengeti, Gary Player CC, Blair Atholl 1 Stellenbosch, East London, The Links, Humewood World Tour has given us R5-million which must be spent solely on main- tenance and improvements centred around the tournament, not the needs of our 1600 members.” It has been 27 years since Stellen- bosch’s last Open, and golf director Louis Destroo, chairman of the PGA of SA, said there was never any real inter- est at the club in having another one. “Then, late in 2024, Sunshine Tour commissioner Thomas Abt moved here and became a club member. In conver- sation one day he asked if we could handle it in 2026 when the Open was due to return to Cape Town. We agreed it could be done, and our members gave their approval at a special general meeting. “Our course will be set up to be a worthy Open challenge, and I believe 10-under could be a winning score.”
TIGHT FINISH The water hazard guarding the par-4 18th green has been significantly enlarged.
from rounds amounts to R1.6-million. “Our annual number of rounds has grown to 55 000, and 24 000 of those come from visitors.” Stellenbosch will close their course for two weeks to members and visitors. “The week before the Open we will be prepping the course to be in the best condition possible,” he said. “The DP
was slated by competitors. Only eight finished under par over 72 holes. Stellenbosch this time has had a year to prepare, but again the club wasn’t exactly looking to host the Open, es- pecially in busy February, when it is a magnet for foreign tourists. General manager Chris van der Merwe esti- mates that the weekly summer revenue
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 57
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator