Africa has some of the world’s most beautiful golf destinations and has produced some of the world’s top players, most of whom hail from South Africa. With such accomplishments, it’s no surprise the continent hosts numerous significant golf tournaments, including the nine below. Many of these tournaments take place in South Africa, the continent’s golf hot spot, though there are a few notable ones in other African countries as well.
South African PGA Championship (South Africa)
The South African PGA Championship is the second-oldest golf tournament in the country, establishing itself in 1965. It’s held at St Francis Links’ golf course in Eastern Cape, an award-winning course built in 2007. The course is visually stunning, with lush greenery surrounding it and offering vistas of the surrounding St Francis Bay region. While beautiful, the course is also known to be challenging for players.
This golf course also sees another prominent South African golf tournament, the SDC Championship, a shared event between the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour.
FBC Zim Open (Zimbabwe)
Held at the Royal Harare Golf Club, the FBC (First Bank Corporation) Zimbabwe Open is another major golfing tournament. This past May, Michael Hollick, a South African professional player, won it.
This win disappointed Zimbabweans, who hoped to see the country’s up-and-comer Scott Vincent come in first. The Royal Harare Golf Club is considered misleadingly difficult, and Vincent described it as challenging after the tournament. However, he hopes to play it again to earn the first-place title for Zimbabwe, which hasn’t had a local player win in nearly 25 years.
Jonsson Workwear Open (South Africa)
The Jonsson Workwear Open is a tournament that brings players from the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour to one course to compete. This year, the event was held at the Glendower Golf Club, whose course is widely considered one of the most challenging courses in South Africa. Improve your game both on the golf course and at the table and get a bonus!
AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (Mauritius)
Mauritius is known for its breath-taking landscape, and the beauty of the golf course at Mont Choisy le Golf lives up to this reputation while crafting a unique 18-hole course for the Mauritius Open. The course is filled with water hazards and bunkers, which easily fade into the area’s natural landscape, meaning golfers must be observant in their gameplay to avoid them.
Last year, the event spanned four days and brought together Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour players in a highly appealing competition for spectators, making it an exciting golf event for the African golf scene.
Nedbank Golf Challenge (South Africa)
The Nedbank Golf Challenge is played at the Gary Player Golf Course at the Sun City Resort and Entertainment Destination. The term “entertainment destination” in the resort’s name is well earned as it’s home to two pro-level golf courses, a casino where players will find the perfect game, and live concerts from some of the world’s biggest music names, like Elton John.
The Gary Player Golf Course is one of the top courses on the entire continent and was designed with the assistance of Gary Player, one of the top South African golfers of all time. The golf tournament has been hosted at this location since 1981.
Gary Player Invitational (South Africa)
Gary Player, though retired, is still one of the best-known golfers on the continent. His love for golf and giving spirit remain active through this charity golf tournament for The Player Foundation, which he formed in 1983. This tournament is notable because it’s a charity event that brings pro players and celebrities together to raise money for various charities.
It takes place in six different countries: the United Arab Emirates, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. The South African leg of the tour takes place at the Gary Player Golf Course each year. Each country’s event raises money for a charity of their choosing, allowing the positive impacts of this event to be felt in each country.
Investec South African Open Championship (South Africa)
With over 100 years of competition, this championship is the oldest golf tournament in South Africa and one of the oldest in the world. This year, it will be held at the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate, home to the third-longest golf course in the world. The course is another Gary Player design, but it’s more than just the course that challenges players. The region is known to reach incredibly high temperatures, adding to the pressure and intensity of the game.
The Mopani Zambia Open (Zambia)
The Mopani Zambia Open has been held annually since 1996 as a part of the Sunshine Tour. In recent years, it has been held at the Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe, Zambia’s Copperbelt region. The course is kept immaculate, which impresses pro players on the Sunshine Tour circuit.
FNB Eswatini Challenge (Swaziland)
The FNB (First National Bank) Eswatini Challenge consists of three rounds at the remote Nkonyeni Lodge & Golf Estate in Eswatini, nestled right by a wildlife reserve. The course sets itself apart with a unique experience on the 18th hole, a shot that needs to be made onto a small island on the other side of the Usuthu River. As the final hole, it offers a challenge that truly tests players and requires agile, precise playing to clear the river and not overshoot the island (or the green).
Conclusion
While South Africa is home to many major golf tournaments and events, it’s not the only place in Africa that impresses and challenges players. Regardless of where on the continent a tournament is held, the courses are built to test players’ skill.
