GLENDOWER – The three recent champions at the Dowerglen course – Teboho Sefatsa, James Kamte and Brandon Pieters – believe they know what it will take to lift the SA Open title.
“It is not without reason that Glendower is rated as one of the country’s best courses,” said Sefatsa, who used his home course advantage to lift the title last year and will take up his title defence from October 18 to 21.
“The course does not favour the big-hitter or the deft short game player. You need to bring an all-round game, and you need to play the course gracefully. As you work your way around the course, you’ll find it tests your character, because it is challenging. It asks you questions all the time. It’s just that kind of course.”
The 30-year-old Germiston golfer will definitely be bidding for the big one this year.
“I can guarantee you that every player who tees it up in the BMG Classic this year, will have the SA Open at the back of his mind,” says the 2012 Big Easy Tour Order of Merit winner. “Whatever you can learn here, you can use during the SA Open.
“Glendower is a kind of rewards-driven course; you play badly and it punishes you, but if you play well you record low scores. Simply put, you need to hit straight and then follow up with quality shots.”
Another player looking to add his name to the likes of SA Open winners Gary Player, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman, is James ‘Cobra’ Kamte
The Eastern Cape golfer chalked up his fourth Sunshine Tour win at the 2011 BMG Classic and he, too, knows the course like the back of his hand.
“I’ve been playing here at Glendower since I moved to Johannesburg more than a decade ago,” the 31-year-old says. “The key to a low score is hitting the ball straight and you need a game plan, because it gets pretty tough out there.
“I’ve heard that they will be narrowing the fairways for the SA Open, so it’s even more crucial to hit it straight. You’ll have your work cut out to reach the greens and then you will battle to read the lines.
“At this course, you don’t need a ‘wow’ game; you need to keep it straight and simple to do well. Essentially you will give yourself a good chance of doing well if you strike the ball well,” says the 31-year-old Benoni golfer
