SA Open moves to January

THE 104th SA Open Golf Championships will be played at Glendower Golf Club in Edenvale from January 8-11 next year. Explaining the new date, Selwyn Nathan, the executive director of the Sunshine Tour, said: “Since 2010, the commercial rights to the SA Open Championship have been held by Africa Sports Holding (ASH). However, by mutual agreement, the Sunshine Tour has now regained these rights for the 104th SA Open, working in consultation with ASH.

“Given the stature of the Open in world golf, it has made sense to move the SA Open into this new January slot, which will make it easier for our South African stars to participate. We are extremely grateful to ASH for the hard work they have put into the SA Open.

“We are delighted that we can announce that the City of Ekurhuleni will remain on board as the host sponsor and thank the executive mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele, and his executive for the massive support of the SA Open and professional golf in South Africa. We are also pleased to be able to return to the magnificent Glendower Golf Club for the second consecutive year.”

Keith Waters, chief operating officer and director of International Policy for The European Tour, said: “We are delighted that the South African Open Championship will once again feature on The European Tour International Schedule in January 2015.

“Our members very much enjoyed the challenge presented by Glendower Golf Club last November and will relish the return.”

Gungubele said: “We are honoured to once again be the host city of the prestigious South African Open Championship and look forward to welcoming some of the very best golfers in the world to our Aerotropolis. We are proud to be involved with an event of this stature. For the past three years that we have been involved with the SA Open it has given our city such important exposure to so many decision makers around the world – something that augurs well for our efforts to bring in investors from all over the world.”

President of the South African Golf Association, the custodians of the South African Open Championship, Gerhard Conradie said: “It is excellent news that the South African Open has been announced for January 2015 at Glendower Golf Club and we look forward to another successful event, worthy of the long and illustrious history of one of world golf’s oldest Open championships.”