Few amateur golf tournaments in the world can claim the heritage and scale of the Jock of the Bushveld Amateur Golf Tournament, hosted annually at Mbombela Golf Club and sponsored by Subaru Southern Africa.

Now entering its 58th edition from May 3 to 9, the Jock has become a tradition, a pilgrimage, and a celebration of golf in the Lowveld.

The tournament was first played in 1968, when the format was modest: four days of golf from Thursday to Sunday, capped by the 36-hole Lowveld Open.

In those early years, players often found themselves rushing from the 18th green straight to the tee for the next round. By 1969, Wednesday was added, and by 1973 the tournament had taken on its present week-long structure.

Tuesday joined the schedule in 1977, and Monday in 1981, creating the seven-day marathon that endures today.

One of the most famous stories from the inaugural event involves Bobby Locke, South Africa’s greatest golfing legend. Locke entertained fellow golfers with his ukulele until four in the morning, slept briefly in the clubhouse lounge, and then insisted on a “hair of the dog” before heading to his tee time.

That mix of camaraderie, endurance, and humour has defined the Jock ever since.

From those beginnings, the Jock has grown into what is reputed to be the largest amateur tournament of its kind in the world, with nearly 2 000 rounds played by 800 competitors each year.

For many, it is not just a tournament, but an annual reunion and a chance to test their game, reconnect with friends, and be part of a living tradition that stretches back nearly six decades.

This year’s program:

The 2026 edition blends classic formats with competitive twists:

• Sunday, May 3 – Men’s Jock Open (36 holes medal, Handicap Index < 15), Women’s Jock Open (A, B and C divisions), and ladies’ 18 holes medal
• Monday, May 4 – 4 Ball alliance mystery
• Tuesday, May 5 – Ladies betterball Stableford and men individual Stableford
• Wednesday to Saturday, May 6 to 9 – Nomads Medal (played off scratch, handicap added after the round) and the Order of Merit, awarded to the player with the best three rounds across the four days.

Entry details:

Secure your place by visiting www.mbombelagolfclub.co.za/jock or www.mgu.co.za. Call 013 744 0952 or email jockgolf@mweb.co.za / jockgolf@mbombelagolfclub.co.za.

Enter HERE

A message from Subaru Southern Africa

The global brand statement for Subaru is Confidence in Motion and, in South Africa, we live this vision and ethos every day; with every customer that walks through our doors, with every Subaru car, sedan, SUV and crossover we sell. Subaru is driven by its own vision of what mobility should be, never aiming to be all things to all people.

We’re a brand determined to bring Confidence in Motion to every customer that chooses the pleasure of driving a Subaru.

We strive to design vehicles that bring pure driving enjoyment and peace of mind at each turn, giving our customers the confidence to go anywhere, anytime.

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