It’s all systems go for the 2017 Joburg Open
21 February 2017
More than 400 million television viewers around the world are expected to turn their attention to South Africa on Thursday February 23 for the start of the 11th edition of the Johannesburg Open at the Royal Kensington and Johannesburg Golf Club.
Speaking at the sponsors’ cocktail party at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton last night, Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba, an avid golfer, said it gave him a great sense of pride to be hosting the tournament.
Mayor Mashaba – who was accompanied by MMC for Community Development Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba, MMC for Finance Cllr Rabelani Dagada, MMC for Health Cllr Mpho Phalatse, MMC for Development Planning Cllr Funzela Ngobeni and City Manager Dr Ndivho Lukhwareni – said the tournament was an important event on the golfing calendar for both local and international players.
Among the dignitaries at the function were representatives of the Sunshine and European Tours and high-profile guests from Mauritius, India and Zimbabwe, including Harare Mayor Ben Manyanyeni.
The Joburg Open is part of the Open Championship Qualifying Series that sees the top three finishers automatically qualifying for the game’s most prestigious major – the Open Championship at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, England’s oldest seaside golf course.
Mayor Mashaba said the tournament supported the City’s efforts to promote sporting codes considered elite among all Johannesburg residents.
“They include golf, cricket, swimming and tennis. We want to ensure that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are given the opportunity to shine in these sporting codes,” the Mayor said.
“To this effect the City of Johannesburg has invited five young black golfers to play in the tournament. Two of the youngsters started playing golf at the Soweto Golf Club in 2010.
“They both played in the Joburg Open for the first time in 2012 as leading amateurs from development programmes. I’m sure this time they will hoist the South African flag higher,” Mashaba said.
Some of the golfers taking part in the Joburg Open will also run coaching clinics ahead of the tournament as part of its legacy project.
Mashaba said his administration was committed to promoting economic development and investment.
“We aim to achieve a minimum of 5% economic growth by 2021. This level of growth is essential if we are going to turn the tide on high unemployment in Johannesburg,” he said.
“[The tournament] creates much-needed employment opportunities for players themselves, caddies and surrounding communities. [It] contributes positively to the economy and the tourism industry of Johannesburg, the province and the country. Statistics show that for every 12 tourists who come to Johannesburg, one new job is created in the tourism sector,” Mashaba said.
He also called on local and international businesses to support initiatives aimed at uplifting Johannesburg communities.
Mashaba added that the tournament positioned Johannesburg as a sporting destination with solid infrastructure and displayed the City’s capacity to host major sporting events that also contributed to the economy and the pro-poor agenda.
The tournament features 206 local and international professional and amateur golfers.
Darren Clarke, one of the most recognisable faces in the golfing fraternity, will make an appearance at the tournament.
South African golfers have won the Joburg Open seven times since its inception in 2007.
The tournament has also helped launch the careers of some of the greatest names in local golf such as Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and George Coetzee.