History
In the early 80s, South African golfers who travelled abroad
to campaign professionally realised that the old-style courses in
South Africa could not even be compared to the tournament venues in
America, Britain and Europe. Their feedback, although contested at
first, set the ball rolling. Golf courses in South Africa began to
upgrade left, right and centre and a domino effect occurred –
as one course began to redo its greens and bunkers, another, not wishing
to be left behind, would do the same. Today, many golf courses in
South Africa compare favourably with the best of those found overseas.
Golfers, Courses and Championships
South Africa's golf courses are of an extremely high standard
and have hosted many international golf championships. With South African
golfers such as Gary Player, Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and international
Tiger Woods (who'll be playing on the Fancourt
Links, host to
the Presidents
Cup 2003), playing South Africa's golf courses,
South Africa has fast become the most successful golfing nation per
capita on the professional circuit. Probably the most famous golf course
in South Africa is the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, home to
the Million Dollar Nedbank Golf Challenge. However, there are many
other world-class courses such as Erinvale, Durban
Country Club and
Glendower Country Club that have featured on both the European PGA
Tour as well as the local Sunshine Tour and the South Africa Open.
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Famous South
African Golfers : |
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 Bobby
Locke, who passed away in 1967, is still recognised
as one of the top putters ever to play the game. He coined
one of the game's famous one-liners: ‘You
drive for show but putt for dough.' He laid the
foundation for South African golf from which Gary Player
and Ernie Els would later benefit. In recognition of his
achievements the R&A awarded him honorary membership
in 1976. South Africa can be proud of him.
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 Gary
Player, the world's golfing ambassador,
is also a top golf course designer in SA. At the age
of 67, Gary Player is still active in seniors' golf,
and hasn't written off his chances of adding another
title to his amazing record. With 163 international tournament
wins, Player is 63 wins ahead of Jack Nicklaus - the
man whom many consider to be the greatest golfer of all
time. |
 Ernie Els,
also known as the ‘Big Easy', is the best-
known South African golfer on the PGA circuit, number two
golfer in the world and one of four South Africans to have
won a major championship. The Big Easy has won the US Open
twice, in 1994 and 1997, and that won't be the end
of his success in major championships. Els remains one
of the world's elite players. |
 Retief
Goosen.
Most South African-based golf experts, to their credit,
knew that Retief Goosen was a big thing waiting to happen
before he proved them right in 2001. ‘The Goose' claimed
his first major victory in 2001 when he won the US Open,
often referred to as the most difficult major to win,
with a steady display that included numerous fantastic
saves on a difficult Southern Hills golf course. |
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