The 2022 Road to Mallorca remains in South Africa this week for the Jonsson Workwear Open, which will be played across Durban Country Club and Mount Edgecombe Country Club’s two courses. Here’s everything you need to know…
Durban Country Club
Durban Country Club opened in 1922 and course designer George Waterman hit the first drive down the fairways of what has become one of the most famous golf courses in the world. The fabulous venue, which overlooks the Blue Lagoon estuary and the Indian Ocean, has hosted 16 South African Opens, including the Centenary South African Open in 2010.
Nine-time Major Champion Gary Player won his first South African Open at Durban Country Club in 1956 and returned in 1969 to win his seventh edition of the event, which included a then course record 64. Player will return to the course in which he has had such great success as he tee’s it up in the 2022 Jonnson Workwear Pro-Am on Tuesday 22 February. The course also provided the setting for 28-time DP World Tour winner Ernie Els’ third South African Open in 1998, after he opened with a round of 64.
Mount Edgecombe Country Club
Mount Edgecombe Country Club boasts two unique championship courses – The Lakes and The Woods. The original course was designed by eight-time South African Open champion Sid Brews and opened in 1935, but after a clubhouse fire in 1988, Mount Edgecombe Country Club was established. The new owners hired Hugh Baiocchi to redesign the 18-hole course and The Woods layout opened in 1992, with The Lakes following five years later.
In 2013 The Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS Handa, the first event of the 2013 DP World Tour season, was held at The Woods course. Dawie van der Walt claimed an emotional victory on home soil, with Mandela’s funeral taking place the following day.
Moses Mabhida Stadium
The Moses Mabhida Stadium provides a spectacular backdrop to Durban Country Club. The 55,500-capacity venue opened in 2009 and is home to Premier Soccer League team AmaZulu FC. It was one of the host stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Moses Mabhida Stadium also contains the world’s tallest swing – Big Rush. There are 352 steps up the stadium’s famous arch before the leap from the platform which is 88 metres above the football pitch.
The signature hole
The opening five holes at Durban Country Club present one of the most challenging starts in golf and the signature third hole plays a vital role in that. The stunning par five, set in a valley in the dunes, has a high elevated tee which overlooks the Indian Ocean and requires a conservative tee shot. Golfers must avoid the trees on the right and also miss the fairway bunker on the left, otherwise they may be looking at a bogey or worse as large trees protect the left side of the green and any shot over the back will be punished.
