AN OPEN IN THE WINELANDS
Stellenbosch bucks tradition in being asked to host the 1999 SA Open
BY STUART McLEAN
The choice of Stellenbosch Golf Club in the Cape Winelands as the venue for
the 1999 South African Open, again to be sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and
Vodacom, breaks a long-standing tradition in the championship.
All previous 17 SA Opens played in the Cape since the early years of this
century had been at either Royal Cape or Mowbray.
Astonishingly, this picturesque parkland layout is the first new coastal
area course to be given the Open since Humewood was brought on to the roster
64 years ago. It's a welcome addition to what had become a stale rotation of
venues.
Two days after this year's SA Open at Durban Country Club, I played golf
with David Frost at Stellenbosch. He made the bold prediction then that the
club would host the 1999 championship, which had been awarded to the Western
Cape.
Frost will be particularly pleased with the choice of a Boland club in his
old backyard, where he learnt his golf. His intimate knowledge of the
course, where he won the Masters in 1987, should make him a strong contender
next year.
The Open will be played from January 21 to 24, in the height of the tourist
season, and a strong field of international stars should attract the biggest
galleries the Open has seen in years. Major professional events in the Cape
are always well supported, and there has not been one in the region since
the 1996 World Cup.
Royal Cape, where Ernie Els won the Open in 1996, when its status was more
low-key with limited prizemoney, was naturally hoping to be chosen again,
and bid strongly for the championship, as did Westlake and Steenberg.
Yet the real favourite appeared to be Erinvale, which had successfully
hosted the World Cup. It would not only have been the first Gary Player
design to stage the Open, but also the first modern layout.
But it seems as if this estate course in Somerset West, with expensive
houses rather than trees framing the fairways, was passed over for
Stellenbosch, because hosting it there would have been more expensive for
the promoters, according to Erinvale club captain Tommy Martin.
"We couldn't provide the extensive clubhouse facilities that Stellenbosch
possess," said Martin. "We're naturally upset we did not get the Open, but
happy that a local Boland club won the day. The Open is also being played
during our peak season, when the expected revenue for the club runs to about
R25 000 a day."
Nic Frangos of PMG Legends, the Open promoters, said Stellenbosch had best
met the criteria of the SA Golf Association, the PGA, and the sponsors.
"Aside from its first-rate course, the historic beauty and village appeal of
Stellenbosch will create a superb atmosphere for the tournament," he said.
The Stellenbosch community is thrilled about winning the bid, which had the
full support of the local municipality, publicity association and business.
They see the SA Open, with its worldwide television coverage as part of the
European Tour, as an excellent means of obtaining international exposure for
the area.
Two of the men instrumental in helping motivate the bid in the past few
months have been club captain Alec Velissariou, and professional Graham
Webster, national chairman of the PGA of South Africa.
"It's a big honour for the club, and something special for Stellenbosch,"
said Webster. "The initial response from the community was overwhelming.
When the promoters gave their presentation to us at the club, we had a
turnout of 56 people."
Stellenbosch were intending to rebuild their greens this year, but delayed
the project when they learnt they were in contention for the Open. The club
has a membership of about 1 300, and the course is highly popular with both
tourists and corporates. It's always busy, with the annual number of rounds
being close to 50 000.
While some people may perceive Stellenbosch as a holidaymakers' course, no
ne should doubt its quality as a championship layout once the rough is
allowed to grow, the fairways are shaped, and the greens firmed and speeded
up.
First of all, it is lengthy by coastal standards, playing to a formidable 6
264 metres off the championship tees, which makes it longer than either
Erinvale or Royal Cape. It can be stretched even further, by bringing in old
back tees at Nos 8 and 10, and adding new ones on certain other holes.
A special championship tee for the par-5 12th, which has not been used in
many years, will be returfed, making this hole play nearly 550 metres, and
bringing the large dam on the left into play on every shot.
Yet, it may be more interesting to play it as a long par 4 off the club tee.
As a par 5, there's more risk than reward playing a long second into a green
so close to a water hazard. It would be a far more exciting hole as a 4,
competitors being forced to go for the green with their second shots,
instead of safely laying up.
Stellenbosch proved testing for the pros in four of the five years it hosted
the Masters from 1986 to 1990 (being strengthened after Mark McNulty's
18-under-par victory the first year), and has subsequently undergone further
improvements.
However, it could still do with a modicum of changes to satisfy Open
requirements. Robbie Marshall of Somerset West-based Golf Data has been
appointed to consult.
The par-5 fifth needs the water hazard brought closer to the green, to worry
the top players, and some holes could benefit from fairway bunkering.
The organisers will probably play Stellenbosch as a par-71 for the Open. Not
too long ago it was a par-74 for the members, with six par 5s, but the
eighth and 10th have since been reduced to par 4s. For the championship, the
easy par-5 opening hole will be played as a 4 off the club tee.
The course had a different routing for the Masters, because of TV
requirements at the time, but there's no reason to tamper with the layout
today. The design variety is excellent from 1 to 18.
Ernie Els will be defending the Open title, and Stellenbosch will bring back
memories for him. He nearly claimed his first professional victory there. In
only his third tournament as a pro, in the 1989 Masters, he opened badly
with a 76, but then shot 68-65 to leap into a share of the third round lead
with Tony Johnstone.
Els shot 73 the last day, and lost by one shot to Hugh Baiocchi, having to
content himself with a share of second place. It was to be more than three
years before he broke through by winning the 1992 SA Open.
WHEN CLUBS FIRST HELD THE SA OPEN
Stellenbosch becomes the 19th different club to hold the Open, but only the
fifth new one in the last 50 years.
Year
1999
1995
1989
1955
1951
1935
1934
1932
1927
1924
1922
1911
1910
1909
1907
1906
1905
1904
1903
|
Club
Stellenbosch
Randpark
Glendower
Zwartkop
Houghton
Parkview
Humewood
Mowbray
Maccauvlei
Durban CC
Royal Port Alfred
Royal Durban
Royal Cape
Potchefstroom
Kimberley
East London
Bloemfontein
Royal Johannesburg
Port Elizabeth |
Total Opens
1
1
3
1
8
1
4
7
4
14
1
4
10
2
2
7
3
10
5
|
SA MASTERS CHAMPIONS
(At Stellenbosch)
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990 |
Mark McNulty
David Frost
John Bland
Hugh Baiocchi
Fulton Allem |
270
273
275
281
276
|
