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Golfing at Sun City |
Golf at the Sun City Resort
There are 2 golf courses at the Sun City Resort of which each is internationally known: The Gary Player Golf Course and the Lost City Golf Course.
The Gary Player Country Club at Sun City / Gary Player Golf Course (Sun City)
The Gary Player Country Club at the Sun City Resort is known as a difficult and demanding golf course. Since 1981 the Gary Player Golf Course ( Sun City) has been home to the Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge which is played annually at the Sun City Resort. The Gary Player golf course requires stamina and accuracy from the golf players.
The comparatively flat nature of the Gary Player golf course is misleading - water hazards, sited bunkers and pins hidden away on kidney shaped greens makes up for the lack of gradient.
Off the back markers the Gary Player golf course measures over 7 000 metres which makes this golf course one of the longest worldwide. A distinguishing feature of the Gary Player golf course is its green's complexes, with strategically placed bunkers, swales and mounds that protect the super slick clover shaped greens. With pristine perfect kikuyu fairways and excellent bent grass greens the golf course is kept in perfect condition all year round.
The Gary Player Golf Course at Sun City is a par-72 layout and has often been rated the best golf course in South Africa. This internationally renown golf course is arguably one of the most demanding tests of a golfers' all round game to be found anywhere in the world.
At 6 938 metres and played off the back tees with the strong African sun, the Gary Player Golf Course at Sun City tests the golfers sheer physical endurance as much as the golfing skill.
The fairways at the Gary Player Golf Course at Sun City are kikuyu grass, and were described by 1996 US Open champion Steve Jones as the best he has ever played on. The rough and semi-rough are also kikuyu, with the rough resembling US Open standards.
The greens at the Gary Player Golf Course are lightning quick and kidney-shaped, allowing for various pin positions to be tucked away in difficult corners, while cunningly placed water hazards and increased bunkering over the past few years makes this truly a thinking man's golf course.
The signature hole at the Gary Player golf course at Sun City is the 545-metre par-five ninth, described by Player as a "truly heroic par-five". The tee shot should favour the fast-running right side of the fairway, but the real test comes in the combination of power and skill to find the island green. This is a true gambler's hole, based on a decision to lay up or go for the green which, depending on where the tees are placed, can take anything from an eight-iron to a three-wood to reach in two.
"There's a lot of strategy involved when you play this course," states Nick Price, the man recognised as the master of this layout following his three Golf Challenge victories, a play-off victory over world number one Tiger Woods for his 1998 title, and once the holder of the tournament record of 24-under par 264 in 1993. This world record was surpassed by Ernie Els in 1999, when he won with a total of 25-under par 263.
The par four third hole is one of the toughest holes on the Gary Player golf course, and has had its front-right greenside bunker deepened, making it much more punishing for an errand approach shot.
The fifth hole was changed dramatically after a new tee was built in time for last year’s tournament, and now the fairway has been extended, starting closer to the tee. The fairway has also been narrowed on the right hand side, bringing more rough into play.
The eighth hole, one of the most feared on the course, now has a new championship tee, extending the distance by some 15 metres. It now plays at about 447 m from the back tee. The drive requires a carry of at least 210 m to land on the fairway.
On the 11th hole, a larger tee-box has been built, allowing for more options in setting up the hole differently on each day. There are also two new greenside bunkers to the right of the green. These bunkers are visible from the fairway, increasing the approach shot’s intimidation-value.
The most dramatic change to any hole has been on the 17th. This hole has also been extended so as to promote the use of the drivers off the tee, and from the new championship tee, it required a carry of around 204m to clear the lake. The hole now plays at about 437 m. The approach shot into the new island green, completed last year, has also been made more difficult because of the deepening of the fairway bunkers on the right side of the fairway.
The finishing hole remains one of the finest in world golf, and a new tee has also been constructed here, 20m farther back than the old championship tee. The hole now plays at 460m from the back. There is also a new fairway bunker to catch drives that are leaked out to the right.
The Lost City Golf Course (Sun City)
The Lost City Golf Course is an 18 hole championship course which offers a choice of tees. A crocodile pool at the 13th hole is a unique water hazard at he Lost City Golf Course.
Golfers are amazed and fascinated by the breathtaking beauty of the par-72 Lost City Golf course at the Sun City Resort. The rich green fairways give a dramatic contrast to the bushveld backdrop and the bunkers are a special feature of this intriguing golf course.
The desert style design of the Lost City golf course has an exotic appeal.
The Lost City golf course is flexible: playing off the forward tee a course length of 5 953 metres, extending to 6 983 metres off the back tee. The Lost City golf course provides spectacular views over the bushveld in the Pilanesberg National Park and the Sun City Resort.
The most hazardous area of the Lost City Golf Course is the 13th hole. Inhabiting the water hazard are 38 crocodiles. Golfers are discouraged from collecting their wayward balls from the croc infested pool. The unusual water hazard is just one of the features that make the Lost City Golf Course exciting and interesting to play. No effort has been spared to make the Lost City golf course at Sun City a masterpiece.
Playing the back nine holes at the Lost City Golf Course is like going on a golf safari. It has often been noted that the game is more exciting when played downhill and this is certainly the case here. In addition to the previously mentioned 13th, holes eleven, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen are all played from elevated tees offering excitement and challenge to the golf player. Spectacular African views can be enjoyed from the Lost City Golf Course.
Nedbank Golf Challenge
Detailed information about the Nedbank Golf Challenge which is played annually at the Sun City Resort can be reviewed at the following website: Nedbank Golf Challenge
Africa's Major, the 2004 Nedbank Golf Challenge marks the 11th anniversary of Nedbank's title sponsorship and the 24th staging of the event in its various forms. Arguably the greatest international sporting event held in South Africa, the Nedbank Golf Challenge raises the profile of our country as a tourist destination and makes a significant contribution to sport development.
Nedbank believes that the sustainability and growth of any sport is rooted in the development of young talent. Through various sponsorship initiatives such as the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the Nedbank Amateur Golf Series, the Sports Trust Challenge, the Nedbank National Golf Network Card and the Nedbank Women's Golf Tour, Nedbank has become synonymous with the support and development of local golf. |
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