Decision to move SA Open purely financial

The Sunshine Tour’s decision to move the South African Open to the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) was based on finances and sponsorship.

For the past five years, the international event was sponsored by the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) and hosted at the Glendower Golf Course.

On October 22, Sunshine Tour announced its decision to move the second oldest national Open to Randpark Golf Club.

It will be played on the Firethorn and Bushwillow courses between December 6 and 9.

Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour Selwyn Nathan said when the contract with CoE came to an end, the city elected to use the money for something else.

He said the decision to host the Open elsewhere was purely financial.

“Glendower is a beautiful venue, we look forward to returning to the club in the future.”

Just over a year ago, greenskeeper of the Glendower course Mike Burnard raised concerns about the condition of the servitude running through the course, soil erosion, chemicals and sewage polluting the waterways, and silt filling holding dams at the course.

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When the NEWS met assistant greenskeeper Matthew Hoines on October 24, he said many of the issues raised by Burnard were still prevalent.

He said the club still spends R8 000 monthly on wetting agents to treat the chemicals in the water.

The club sent water samples to specialists on October 23 to determine how much wetting agents the club needs to use.

Hoines said when the club is flooded or sewage flows onto its fairways, the course needs to be closed and cleaned.

He explained when the club does report municipal issues such as a sewage leak on the course the municipality is quick to respond.

Last year, in response to Burnard’s concerns, Themba Gadebe, CoE spokesperson, said it is the responsibility of the golf club to maintain and stabilise the banks in their area.

Hoines said the club recently had to stabilise a bank along the second fairway to prevent further erosion.

“The CoE is willing to give advice on how to remediate the spruit to prevent further damage,” said Hoines.

He said it is unfortunate that the tournament will be held elsewhere but the club does understand.

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“It is a national tournament so it should be hosted across South Africa.”

“The condition of the servitude did not influence our decision to move the tournament elsewhere,” said Nathan.

Former SA Open winner and PGA Master Gavan Levenson said Glendower is one of the top courses in the country.

“It’s sad that the tournament won’t be hosted at Glendower but the decision to move it was based on funding.”

“When the tournament was hosted at Glendower it did unbelievably well.”

In addition to CoJ hosting the Open, the Johannesburg Open and SA Open have been merged into one large tournament.

“The new tournament will not compete with any other big golf tournaments,” said Nathan.

“The tournament will have larger prize money and greater competition.”

Nathan said the golfing community responded well to the announcement of the two tournaments being merged.

A request for comment was sent to the CoE on October 24 at 1.41pm, comment was requested by October 26 at 9am.

At the time of going to print, comment had not been received.