PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plettenberg Bay is poised to host some of the country’s top golfers after Bitou Municipality and the Sunshine Senior Tour announced this week that the SA Senior Open will once again be held at the Plettenberg Bay Golf Club later this year, after a very successful event last year.
Mark McNulty won the 2017 event in a wire-to-wire victory.
This year’s event will be played over 72 holes of stroke play at the golf club, most likely in October, but final dates will be announced next month once agreements are in place.
'One of SA's most underrated courses'
The three-year deal will ensure that the SA Senior Open will continue to be played at “one of South Africa’s most underrated courses”, which was highly acclaimed by many of the top players at last year’s event.
The Sunshine Senior Tour’s partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust will ensure that the event raises funds in support of the humpback dolphin that is indigenous to the region. The partnership demonstrates Bitou’s agreed commitment to the environment and comes as a major boost for Bitou following wildfires that devastated Plettenberg Bay and other areas in 2017.
'Life-changing opportunity'
Mayor Peter Lobese praised the partnership. “Sport in general has the power to change lives and bring communities together. It will also provide a significant boost to our local economy through tourism and exposure from TV and the wider media coverage. We look forward to welcoming the athletes and spectators to our beautiful municipality and we invite all our local residents to come out and witness some world-class entertainment,” Lobese said.
There will also be a special Mayoral Golf Day to tie in with the hospitality activities of the SA Senior Open. It is also envisaged that some selected professionals will be available to assist in coaching golf to learners in the area.
“I am delighted to announce that I have spoken to Mark McNulty and he has confirmed he will be available to participate and defend his title,” said Neville Clarke from the Sunshine Senior Tour.
The golf course is expected to be in fine condition and will be a good test for participants. A strong field of senior professional golfers over 50 are expected including many well-known names of the past. There will be a two-day pro-am on the first two days where amateurs and senior professionals will team up in a separate competition to run concurrently with the main event.
The SA Senior Tour is the official professional golf tour for professional golfers over the age of 50 in South Africa and surrounds.
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