The Road to Mallorca remains in South Africa for the second consecutive week and lands in Cape Town for the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open. Here’s everything you need to know…
Historic venue
Royal Cape Golf Club is Africa’s oldest golf course and was established over 135 years ago back in 1885. Situated in the shadow of Table Mountain, it has hosted ten South African Open’s in its time, with past winners on the parkland layout including Ernie Els and Gary Player. Tree-lined with narrow fairways, the par-72 championship course at Royal Cape will present a very different challenge to the one that greeted the players at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa just last week.
Back for a fifth time
The Challenge Tour returns to Royal Cape for a fifth successive year, with each edition to date having produced a nail-biting finish. In 2020, under the RAM Cape Town Open title, Swede Anton Karlsson held off a late charge from South African Garrick Higgo to claim a one stroke victory. Home favourite JC Ritchie claimed back-to-back Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open wins in 2021 and 2022, the first via a playoff and the second thanks to a birdie at the 72nd hole. In 2023 it was Zimbabwean Benjamin Follett-Smith who joined the winner’s circle after posting a two under par final round to win by one stroke.
The perfect backdrop
Royal Cape, as previously mentioned, sits in the shadow of Table Mountain which provides the perfect backdrop for the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open this week. Over 1,000 metres in height, the flat-topped mountain overlooks the city, and is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country. An estimated 4.2 million people visit each year.
