The SA Open Championship is on at Sun City

One of South Africa’s most prestigious golfing events, The South African Open Championship will still take place this year.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the golf fraternity and lovers of the sport have made it their mission to ensure the event goes ahead.

The respected championship is set to take place at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City from the 3 to 6 December. There has been much support from Sun International, Nedbank and the South African Golf Association to name just a few.

Acting president of the South African Golf Association, Martin Saaiman said the Covid-19 pandemic had affected the sport greatly.

“It had a huge impact on the golf fraternity operations in the whole country and globally. A number of golf courses had to close and this took a toll on the sport. In South Africa, golf was one of the sporting codes that first got permission to open up under lockdown restrictions.”

When they got the green light to open up again golfers flocked to the courses.

“That helped us save a lot of our golf courses that we thought were going to close,” said Saaiman.

With the SA Open being the second oldest national Open in golf behind the British Open, Saaiman said he was extremely grateful it would go ahead.

“Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 there will be no spectators around, it is unfortunate because they bring such a vibe to the tournament,”

Keeping spirits up, he added that hope must remain.

“We need to keep on hosting these tournaments. It is very important for our young amateurs and professionals to make a name and go on with their careers.”

He added that he didn’t think golf would ever be the same again but hoped for normality to return in 2021.

Co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and the European Tour, their is a hefty prize pool of R19.5 million.
Saaiman concluded that hosting it at the Gary Player Country Club was fitting because Gary Player won 13 South African Open titles in his golfing career.