Year: 2025

• Nedbank Golf Challenge elevates Hospitali-TEE Lounge VIP fan experience.
• Fans will meet players, pose with the Nedbank Golf Challenge trophy, get exclusive merchandise vouchers, and more.
• Tickets and hospitality now on sale HERE.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge has significantly elevated its fan experience for the 2025 showpiece event at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club from 4-7 December, with a Hospitali-TEE Lounge offering that is a first-of-its-kind in the history of “Africa’s Major”.
 
This year’s Hospitali-TEE Lounge fans will get exclusive 18^thgrandstand 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.
 
The Hospitali-TEE Lounge made a spectacular debut at the 2024 Nedbank Golf Challenge with its location right in the heart of The Stretch alongside the Public Village, and giving the golf fan who wants an elevated day experience access to a VIP facility with multiple benefits.
 
Building on this already successful concept, this year’s Hospitali-TEE Lounge has combined the standard and premium packages of last year into a new superior package offering an unrivalled Nedbank Golf Challenge experience.
 
This year’s Hospitali-TEE Lounge package includes:
 

• Access to the day’s golf
• Access to the Hospitali-TEE Lounge in an air-conditioned facility with indoor and outdoor seating and a live TV feed of the golf
• Exclusive access to the VIP Grandstand at the 18^th hole
• A premium buffet with an upgraded menu
• An all-day coffee station with speciality coffees such as flavoured lattes and ice coffee
• An all-day and unlimited premium bar with an upgraded offering of five-star brands
• Daily prizes
• A player autograph opportunity
• An exclusive photo opportunity with the Nedbank Golf Challenge trophy at the 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 OR A limited edition VVIP packaged 750ml Boschendal Nicholas red wine

 
The Hospitali-TEE Lounge will be open daily from 07:30 to 18:00, with the following dining times:
 

• Breakfast: 08:00 – 11:00
• Lunch: 12:00 – 15:00
• Snacks: 15:30 – 17:00

 
The 2025 Hospitali-TEE Lounge will break every hospitality record in the illustrious history of “Africa’s Major” as golf fans are given a once-in-a-lifetime experience of this premier DP World Tour event.

Wild Coast (Eastern Cape) – South Africa’s Jacques P de Villiers tamed a windy Wild Coast Sun Country Club with a sublime 63 to share lead with England’s Joe Knox in Wednesday’s first round of the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Wild Coast Sun.

“Today was really good. I hit the ball nicely with good control. The conditions were, however, really tough,” De Villiers said.

De Villiers started his round on the 10^th hole and, as is often the case at the Wild Coast Sun, was playing straight into the teeth of the wind early on.

“I started my round with the wind blowing a lot. Holes 11, 12, 13 and 14 play into the wind and they are very tough. I got through those at one under par and used my chances from there on. It wasn’t a very spectacular round but I did make eight birdies and putted well, which helped a lot,” he said.

De Villiers is still looking for a maiden Sunshine Tour title, but doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself.

“I am really looking forward to the following two rounds, but there is still a lot of golf left. I have to keep my head up an be patient because that is what this course demands. Hopefully some putts can fall and good things can happen.”

Albert Venter (65) is two strokes further back and the leaders’ nearest challenger on five under par, followed by Michael Hollick (66) and Samuel Simpson (66) on four under par.

Jonathan Broomhead, the winner of last month’s Sunbet Challenge hosted by Time Square at Wingate Park Country Club, had to settle for a level-par opening round of 70. – Michael Vlismas Media

• Aldrich Potgieter and Christiaan Bezuidenhout strengthen SA challenge

• Nedbank Golf Challenge Hospitali-TEE Lounge offers enhanced VIP fan experience.

• Hospitali-TEE tickets now on sale HERE.

South African golf sensation Aldrich Potgieter will return to the Nedbank Golf Challenge a year after almost winning it on his debut when he joins the 2025 field for this DP World Tour event at Sun City from 4-7 December.

He’ll be joined by multiple DP World Tour champion Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who returns to a Gary Player Country Club course where he won the 2020 South African Open.

The 20-year-old Potgieter was given a personal invitation by Gary Player, in whose honour the tournament is played, to compete in the 2024 Nedbank Golf Challenge and led by three strokes going into the final round before finishing tied second to Johannes Veerman.

This year he returns to the Gary Player Country Club as the youngest South African winner in PGA TOUR history following his maiden win in the Rocket Classic in June, and as the highest ranked South African golfer on the Official World Golf Ranking just outside the top 50.

“My first experience of the Nedbank Golf Challenge last year was so memorable. I’ll never forget the crowds on the Saturday when I was leading, and the amazing support from the South African fans. To walk onto that first tee box and hear the cheers, and then to have Gary Player sitting there as well are some of my fondest golf memories. I can’t wait to get back to Sun City and experience it all again,” said Potgieter.

It’s been a meteoric rise for Potgieter, who only two years ago was still one of the top amateurs in the game. After turning professional he became the youngest ever winner in Korn Ferry Tour history at the age of 19 years, four months and 11 days in 2024, and then made his PGA TOUR breakthrough this year.

The young South African, who has stunned world golf with his prodigious length of the tee, joins defending champion Veerman and fellow South African Daniel van Tonder, who qualified by virtue of his victory in last season’s Sunshine Tour Courier Guy Order of Merit, as amongst the early stars confirmed for “Africa’s Major”.

Bezuidenhout makes his fourth appearance in a tournament where he has a strong record, having finished tied fifth in 2022 and tied sixth in 2024.

This year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge will once again feature the popular Hospitali-TEE Lounge, offering an unrivalled viewing experience for fans.

The Hospitali-TEE Lounge offers access to the day’s golf, an unlimited premium bar and buffet, a Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise voucher, a seat on the VIP grandstand at the 18^th green, a photo opportunity with the trophy, live entertainment, daily prizes and a player autograph opportunity.

This enhanced fan experience is centrally located close to the public village, with an air-conditioned facility that brings the best of the Nedbank Golf Challenge to the comfort of the Lounge with indoor and outdoor seating and a live TV feed of the golf.

• 2024 tournament generated $4.2 million in net economic impact for Mauritius

• Globally awarded La Réserve Golf Links set to host Golf’s Most Beautiful Week

• Tickets available at an Early Bird special of 15% discount until 30 September 2025 at https://www.ticketbox.mu/event/abmo-2025 and using the code ‘GOLF15’

In less than a decade, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has established itself as one of the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour’s most impressive success stories and which last year delivered a tournament record net economic impact for Mauritius.

An independent economic analysis conducted by MKA Economics revealed that the 2024 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open generated $4.2 million in net economic impact for the Mauritian economy – the highest in the history of a tournament that was launched in 2015.

“Our vision from the beginning was always that the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open becomes a vehicle through which we can boost the economic activity in Mauritius and drive even greater investment into our economy while also supporting the broader tourism objectives by generating global awareness of the country. With The Access Bank UK Ltd as our new majority shareholder, we are confident of ensuring both continuity and new synergies, and therefore, we are delighted to be pursuing this prestigious golf title sponsorship together under this strengthened partnership,” said Thierry Vallet, Chief Executive Officer of AfrAsia Bank.

“The economic impact study of the most recent AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a clear indication that we’ve not only met these goals but in many cases exceeded them. Apart from the direct economic impact for the economy, last year’s tournament created over 50 tourism-related jobs, which shows how this tournament is having a direct impact in the community. Last year’s tournament also produced the highest sponsorship return in its history, which is further evidence of the clear value the event has for the other sponsors and partners. There was also a very high satisfaction level in terms of those who attended the event and their enjoyment thereof. In less than 10 years, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has excelled in terms of the positive impact it has for Mauritius.”

The economic impact study has also set the tone for a 2025 tournament that will be played at the spectacular La Réserve Golf Links from 18-21 December, bringing it back to the fairways of Mauritius’ newest golf course which has already garnered several global awards.

La Réserve Golf Links on the famed Bel Ombre estate in the south of the island has been internationally recognised as a masterpiece of golf design that was produced in partnership by renowned golf course designer Peter Matkovich and Major winner and former AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.

It was named the “World’s Best New Golf Course” by the World Golf Awards in 2024, while Matkovich was the recipient of the award for “Golf Course Designer of the Year 2024” and Heritage Le Telfair was voted the “Indian Ocean’s Best Golf Hotel 2024”.

“La Réserve Golf Links has brought a new dimension to  the golf experience at Heritage Resorts and has helped position Bel Ombre as one of the island’s most complete golf destinations,” said Thierry Montocchio, CEO of ER Hospitality and custodian of the Heritage brand.

“The first hosting of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on this links in 2023 drew international praise as we unveiled it to the world. Following this, we were honoured to see the course named the ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ by the World Golf Awards in 2024, alongside recognitions for designer Peter Matkovich and Heritage Le Telfair. These accolades are a valuable validation of the vision and care that went into the creation of our golf course. We are delighted to welcome the tournament back, with the course having now truly settled in and primed to provide an even sterner test for some of the biggest names in golf.”

The partnership of a tournament with valuable economic impact and an internationally awarded golf course will again see the 2025 edition of Golf’s Most Beautiful Week fulfil its core objective as a strong driver of tourism to Mauritius.

“The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is an important partner in our tourism objectives as the tournament takes the beauty of Mauritius to a global audience through the extensive television broadcast. It showcases not only the scenic beauty of Mauritius but also our capacity and ability to host major international sports events through our comprehensive offering of facilities and resorts that provide a world-class sports tourism offering,” said Avinash Teelock, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA).

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open also continues to play a vital role in the pathway to greatness on the Sunshine Tour, with several professionals using their success in this event to develop their careers at the highest level of the game.

“The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a perfect example of the strength of our strategic alliance with the DP World Tour and the pathway this affords our members. In 2024 Sunshine Tour professional Dylan Naidoo finished second in this tournament and a few months later he won his maiden title on the DP World Tour and now has full playing privileges there. We are extremely proud of how this tournament has grown in such a short space of time and the value it has brought to our schedule,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

The tournament has also established itself on the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing where it offers vital early-season opportunities and incentives for the professionals.

“We’re delighted to be returning to La Réserve Golf Links for a tournament that has become a firm favourite amongst our members. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open offers such a unique week on our international schedule as an event played in a special setting. It’s always a memorable week and the perfect way to complete our Opening Swing of the new season,” said Ben Cowen, the DP World Tour’s Chief Tournament & Operations Officer.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is proudly supported by leading brands such as AfrAsia Bank, Heritage Resorts, ER Group, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Mont Choisy Group, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), Emtel, Poncini, Mauritius Golf Federation, Phoenix Beverages, ticketbox.mu, DStv, C-Care, Mautourco, Ernie Els Wines and Miko Coffee.

Photo Credit: JACOB SJÖMAN

The winner of the 2026 Investec South African Open will receive an invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament and a place on one of the most iconic stages in the game.

The Sunshine Tour announced on Tuesday that Augusta National Golf Club has, as part of its 2026 qualifications, confirmed a place in its field for the winner of the 2026 Investec South African Open, which will be played at Stellenbosch Golf Club from 26 February to 1 March.

Further to this, The R&A has also stated its intention to retain the 2026 Investec South African Open as part of The Open Qualifying Series (OQS) for The 154^th Open at Royal Birkdale.

The national Open will now be the direct pathway into two of the most iconic Majors in the game for Sunshine Tour members.

“This is an historic moment for both our national Open and the Sunshine Tour. It is a powerful endorsement of the Sunshine Tour’s status as a strong and sustainable Tour, and further recognition of our role as a valued member of the global golf eco system and at the highest level of the game,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

“As a Tour we have always been focused on representing the entire depth of our 250-strong membership and giving our members the best possible opportunities, through increased prize money on our Tour, more playing opportunities, the ability to showcase their talent and our game through our local and international broadcast platforms, and a global pathway onto the biggest stages such as the Majors through our Strategic Alliance with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. This announcement is the exact representation of our belief that greatness begins here, on the Sunshine Tour.

“Whether its playing on the DP World Tour or PGA Tour, competing in the Majors, or representing South Africa in the Presidents Cup or the Olympic Games, the Sunshine Tour is a Tour of opportunity where our members can truly live out their biggest dreams for their careers.”

GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn said: “The Investec South African Open is the crown jewel of our national golfing calendar and one of the oldest national Opens in the world. As the custodian of this prestigious championship, GolfRSA is proud to see it recognised as a gateway to two of the game’s greatest stages — The Masters and The Open. This announcement underscores the championship’s global stature and the vital role it plays in inspiring the next generation of South African golfers.”

Pretoria (Gauteng) – Jonathan Broomhead claimed his fourth Sunshine Tour title in the space of 16 months after beating Jean-Paul Strydom on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff for the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Time Square at Wingate Park Country Club on Friday.

Broomhead and Strydom finished regulation play tied for the lead on 13-under-par after their respective final rounds of 68 and 71.

Strydom started his final round with a two-shot lead over the field, but could only find two birdies and a bogey during his final round.

This opened the door for Broomhead who rolled in five birdies, only dropping one shot, on his way into the playoff where a par was good enough to earn him the title.

It’s been a remarkably quick rise to four Sunshine Tour titles for Broomhead, and this victory moves him into second place on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit.

Yurav Premlall continued his good form. After losing in a playoff last week, Premlall closed with a 67 on Friday to share third place on 11 under par alongside Estiaan Conradie (67), James Mack (71) and Australia’s Austin Bautista (71).

Herman Loubser, the current lead on the Courier Guy Order of Merit, finished tied 13^th on eight under par.

The Sunshine Tour now travels to the Wild Coast Sun Country Club in September for the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Wild Coast Sun. – Michael Vlismas Media

Pretoria (Gauteng) – It was a round that had a little bit of everything, but all of it was good enough to earn Jean-Paul Strydom a two-stroke lead going into Friday’s final day of the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Time Square at Wingate Park Country Club.

Strydom signed for a six-under-par 66 including an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys, to take the lead on 12 under par.

His nearest challengers are South Africans Gerhard Pepler and James Mack, and Australia’s Austin Bautista on 10 under par. Multiple DP World Tour winner George Coetzee is also well placed just three strokes off the lead.

But for Strydom, it was the kind of day he’d like to “copy and paste” for the final round as he looks to claim his first victory since 2019.

“Hopefully we can just copy and paste what we have been doing over the last two days. I’ve been in this position a couple of times and only brought it home once, so a second title would mean a lot to me,” he said.

“Today was good. It started a bit shaky off the tee, but I managed to find a bit of rhythm. It was the same in the first round. I made a soft bogey on my 17^th hole (the par-three eighth), but I bounced back with a birdie on my final hole which is always nice.”

Strydom has struggled with injury and knows the value of this two-stroke lead and the chance he now has. But he’s also doing his best not to get ahead of himself.

“The gameplan is literally to find the fairways and make the putts. That is the key at Wingate. But I’m looking forward to the final round.” – Michael Vlismas Media

Pretoria (Gauteng) – A strong back nine carried Neil Schietekat to an opening eight-under-par 64 and a one-stroke lead in Wednesday’s first round of the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Time Square at Wingate Park Country Club.

Schietekat teed off the first and turned in two under par before an impressive back nine of six birdies earned him the lead.

“I did hit my driver really good, so the par fives on the back nine gave me birdie opportunities that I took. I didn’t miss a single fairway on the back nine and made the putts that I needed to make,” said Schietekat.

“Overall, it was windy out there so my gameplan was to try and get the ball as close as possible to the green, but the cross winds made it quite tough.”

Schietekat’s 64 is a welcome return to form for the five-time winner on the Sunshine Tour, whose last victory came in 2023.

“It’s been a tough year and golf is a crazy game – you have some highs and you have some lows. You just have to remember the highs, because sometimes the lows last a little bit longer.”

James Mack is his nearest challenger following a 65 where he was the only player in the current top 10 not to drop a shot on day one of this Sunshine Tour event.

Jacques Blaauw, Jean-Paul Strydom and Martin Vorster are tied for third on six under par.

Mexico’s Luis Carrera, currently lying second on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit, opened with a round of five-under-par 67, while Yurav Premlall, who lost in a playoff for last week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf title, is just four shots off the lead. – Michael Vlismas Media

PARYS (Free State) – Herman Loubser joined the long list of illustrious winners on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series when he beat Yurav Premlall on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff at the Parys Golf & Country Estate on Sunday.

Loubser and Premlall finished regulation play tied for the lead on eight under par after their respective final rounds of 69 and 72.

Loubser then took the title with a birdie on the first playoff hole, the par-five 18^th. His caddie Lloyd Gaya was also rewarded with a champion’s medalion as part of the Sunshine Tour’s recognition of the winning caddie.

“Yurav and I are good mates, so it’s a bit of a bitter-sweet victory. He had a bad lie off the tee and had to lay up. I had two putts left for birdie after a good second shot. Yurav didn’t make his birdie, so I ended with the win,” Loubser said.

Pieter Moolman (67), George Coetzee (71) and England’s Joe Long (71) finished joint third on six under par.

Nadia van der Westhuizen closed with a 72 to finish as the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional on two-over-par.

Defending champion Premlall went into the final round with a two-stroke lead, but struggled to maintain that form as Loubser opened with four birdies in his first five holes. But Loubser’s double bogey on the par-five ninth led to a thrilling back nine before he sealed it in the playoff.

“I’m over the moon with today – super happy,” said Loubser. “It’s my first win since 2022. It’s quite a long time. It almost feels like you’ve forgotten how to win. To get over the line after two recent second places really feel amazing.”

“It takes a bit of pressure off, and I’m playing good golf. Hopefully I can just continue playing well.” – Michael Vlismas Media