NOW in its 5th year, the prestigious Joburg Open takes place at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club from 13 to 16 January 2011.

2010 winner Charl Schwartzel in action

The Joburg Open has quickly become a firm favourite on the international golfing calendar, giving local fans a chance to see top-ranked golfers and upcoming players in action.

The tournament sets the pace for 2011, as it is a co-sanctioned Order of Merit event on the PGA European Tour and Sunshine Tour.  It is the first tournament of the year in the European circuit to stake a claim towards the Race to Dubai tournament.

The stakes are high, with prize money totalling €1, 3-million (about R13-million).

South Africans have featured prominently in the previous tournaments, with Charl Schwartzel picking up the trophy in 2010 and Richard Sterne winning in 2008. Argentina’s Ariel Canete won the inaugural event in 2007 and Denmark’s Anders Hansen took the honours in 2009.

Some 200 plus professional golfers are expected to take part. Places are also given to four selected amateur players.

“This being the fifth anniversary of South Africa’s richest tournament, a win by another South African would be an excellent way to crown the tournament’s fifth year celebrations, but that outcome would be one hundred percent up to the golfing gods,” says Johannesburg’s City manager Mavela Dlamini, an ardent amateur golfer.

Joburg sports

Dlamini, an ardent golfer with an acceptable handicap of 10, says the Joburg Open marks the beginning of Joburg’s annual sporting calendar.

Sponsored by the City of Johannesburg, the tournament draws international attention to the City of Gold through televised broadcasts as well as visiting fans. Other sponsors include the Sunshine Tour, the European Tour, B-wired and Legacy Hotels and Resorts.

The Joburg Open is a 72-hole stroke play championship, with 18 holes played on each of the four days. Two top-quality courses are used and both are par 72.

Teeing off at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club

The Joburg Open is the third European Tour Order of Merit tournament in South Africa, along with the Dunhill Championship and the South African Airways Open.

Entry costs R30 a day or R80 for the entire tournament. The prices have been kept low to enable to watch top golfers in action. Tickets are available at the gate from 3 to 16 January.

Those wanting to enjoy the golf from the cool of the hospitality marquees while watching the action on plasma screens, can book hospitality tickets for the hospitality village.

Pro-Am

Wednesday, 12 January sees the curtain-raiser to the Joburg Open, with the tee off of Pro-Am event. This is by invitation only and will see 60 professional players take to the greens with Joburg’s executive mayor Amos Masondo, Dlamini, and some of Joburg’s top businesspeople.

The Pro-Am is a four-ball, with teams made up of one professional golfer and three amateurs. The professionals tee off the championship markers and the amateurs from the club markers.

The City of Johannesburg uses the Joburg Open as a way to dispel myths that golf is an elitist sport and to expand golf’s accessibility. The City is involved in providing resources for the development of golf across Johannesburg, particularly in previously disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

The event will be broadcast live on SuperSport on all four days.

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