INVESTEC SA OPEN PREVIEW
RETURN FOR HOME The uphill par-3 13th begins a challenging closing stretch which includes two 3s and four 4s.
Renovation project Stellenbosch’s management and mem- bers have fervently embraced the opportunity, and their resolve in mak- ing this a successful championship to be remembered has been impressive. Ticket sales have exceeded 30 000, a month before championship week, and there will be side attractions for fans. The club’s focus has been on pre- senting the best course setup possible – which required a significant renova- tion project. Louis van der Walt, a course architect for Peter Matkovich, has consulted on design improvements to enhance the current layout, while Southern Turf Management have been at full stretch since May last year constructing new tees and rebuilding existing ones. Additionally, all 44 bunkers have been upgraded with new sand and grass faces. Other that is than the long, flat fairway bunker on the par-5 fifth, one of the few guarding the fairways. Head greenkeeper Neil Scheep- ers and his enlarged STM team have
First-ever Par 70 Open The course will be stretched to play as much as 6 646 metres – 450 metres longer than Durban CC last year – and the par reduced to 70 for the first time at a SA Open, which is long overdue. Two holes that are par 5s on the club scorecard are 4s for the Open: No 8 at 444 metres (this was also a 4 in 1999), and uphill 14th at 460. A new back tee will stretch the uphill fourth hole to 435 metres. Interestingly, a forward tee will be used on 17 to make this a driveable 4, likely playing around 300 metres. It normally is around 350, so this is a
worked tirelessly through a hot and dry summer to keep Stellenbosch green and the rough as lush as pos- sible. There has been tree pruning to improve sightlines and turf health, and wild Teff grass has been inter-seeded in key areas to enhance sustainability and general organic efficiency. Large trees have been planted in strategic locations at 11 and 17. During the Open, STM will have five of their head greenkeepers at other Cape courses on site each day to as- sist Scheepers – those from Arabella, Atlantic Beach, Devonvale, Kuils River and Strand.
NIGHT MARKET AT BLAAUWKLIPPEN Blaauwklippen Wine Estate, two kilometres from the golf club, will be the official Public Parking venue for the Investec SA Open. The estate will host a Night Market after play on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, extending the tournament experience into a broader lifestyle offering. Blaauwklippen has been appointed Official Lifestyle Partner to the Sunshine Tour, alongside its Open partnership, and will curate the social and hospitality experience surrounding Sunshine Tour events. The role positions the estate as custodian of the tour’s off-course environment.
58 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
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