Special Places - Sun City

This week Africa’s Major takes centre stage as the 30th edition of the Nedbank Golf Challenge brings 12 of the world’s best players to Sun City. Gary Player Country Club will host the battle for the $5 million purse, with $1.25 million going to the winner. The field includes world number one Lee Westwood and ten other golfers inside 35 on the world rankings. The only participant outside the top 50 is Denmark’s Anders Hansen who received his invitation by heading last season’s Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.

Located in an area of outstanding natural beauty adjacent to Pilansberg National Park, the 7100m plus Gary Player Country Club is one of the longest and best golf courses in this part of the world. One of more than 300 Gary Player designs around the world, this is the only one that officially carries Player’s name. The lengthy and challenging layout boasts a course record of 63, held jointly by Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson.

This is a superbly conditioned course and has kikuyu fairways with bent grass greens. Numerous water hazards, strategically sited bunkers and tucked away pins raise the difficulty level of this relatively flat course, as do the undulating greens with their mounds and swales. The unofficial signature hole is probably the par 5 ninth - reachable in two but with an island green that presents a classic risk and reward option. A spectacular pair of par 4s close the round, with water in play and both accuracy and length required off the tee. Ernie Els, who describes the 18th as one of the greatest finishing holes he has played, is looking to trump defending champion Robert Allenby and the other ten players, and also become the tournament’s first four-time winner.

For the first time in the history of the tournament and to celebrate the 30th anniversary, a select field of eight senior golfers will play ahead of the main 12-man field on Thursday and Friday in the Senior Challenge. 1988 PGA champion Jeff Sluman stepped in as a last-minute replacement for former US Open and Million Dollar champion Corey Pavin who withdrew for family reasons. Sluman will join seven fellow Champions Tour players, including former Nedbank winners Nick Price, David Frost, Mark McNulty and Fulton Allem.