The Gary Player Country Club golf course will feature several changes to this iconic layout when it welcomes this year’s field of professionals for the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player.
As part of the ongoing drive to enhance the player and spectator experience at “Africa’s Major”, Gary Player has personally overseen key strategic and aesthetic changes for the 4-7 December showpiece.
“When it comes to the Nedbank Golf Challenge we’re synonymous with providing both a great spectacle and challenge for the players. Mr Player has been instrumental in making these changes. These players are the best in the world and we want to keep challenging them while also keeping the balance that it remains exciting for the fans to watch,” said Ken Payet, the Tournament Director for the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Bush has been cleared from the right side of the par-three fourth hole, showcasing more of the green and water hazard from the tee. “From the tee it really opens up the hole and makes it even more visually appealing,” said Payet.
The par-three seventh has a new tee complex, with the professional tee pushed back 25 metres. “We’re very excited about this change because it offers some great tee options in relation to flag position,” said Payet. Bush has also been cleared on the left of the hole, and a bunker at the front left of the green has been removed.
The right fairway bunker on the par-five ninth has been removed to entice the players to be more aggressive on this feature hole.
“Mr Player removed the fairway bunker on the right to encourage the professionals to hit driver down that right-hand side, and then entice them to go for the green in two and chase the birdies and eagles the fans wants to see,” said Payet.
The par-five 14th has also had bush cleared down the right-hand side in preparation of a new tee here in the future.
“We’ve cleared a lot of bushes down the right-hand side to open up the fairway a bit. In the player’s mind he thinks he can take off a bit more on the corner, but he can still get himself into trouble. There is also a plan to extend the distance of this hole by at least 40 metres next year, and this helps with that,” said Payet.
Behind the 14th green there is a new player pathway through the bush leading to a new back tee on the 15th. “It’s a nice experience we’ve created for the players to walk through the bush a bit and maybe have a bit of quiet time with themselves and their caddies. Then regarding the new back tee on 15, Mr Player has taken it back almost 45 metres to create a strong par four. It puts a driver into the player’s hands. To carry the left-hand fairway bunker is now 305 metres, so even for the likes of big-hitters like Aldrich Potgieter, it will get their attention. This hole generally plays downwind with the wind from the north, but if we get a wind from the south it will be a really tough hole. This was a key change from Mr Player to make the golf course more challenging for the players.”
With the golf course now closed to the public, Payet said he is really pleased with how their course preparation is going in the final build-up to Nedbank Golf Challenge.
“From today when we close the golf course to the public, right up to the tournament, we focus on every bit of detail regarding the conditioning of the course. It’s all about making sure we’re as close to perfection as possible by the time tournament week arrives.
“We’re in a good space in terms of our preparation. We’ve had some good rain. We’ve fertilised the rough so that’s definitely going to kick in. We’re very pleased with the players we’ve announced, including a lot of South Africans who are playing great golf this year. So the stars just need to align in order to bring it all together in tournament week.”
The enhancements to the golf course are matched by several enhancements to the fan hospitality experience this year.
The Hospitali-TEE Lounge – an enhanced VIP hospitality option for the public – is offering a first-of-its-kind in the history of “Africa’s Major”, with fans gaining exclusive 18th grandstand access as well as player autograph opportunities, a photo opportunity with the Nedbank Golf Challenge trophy at the Hospitali-TEE Lounge facility, a voucher to the value of R500 per Hospitali-TEE Lounge ticket purchased for official Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise at The Pro Shop at Sun City, and a range of other enhancements to this popular concept.
And the Sunbet Signs on 18th viewing seating area will make its debut this year, offering a prime viewing experience in comfortable director’s chairs right alongside the 18th fairway and close to where most of the professionals will land their tee shots.
