SENIORS' TOUR STARTS TO HOT UP
The excitement around the Nedbank Senior Golf Challenge is beginning to build, and although the field will only be announced after the eight players have confirmed their participation, it is guaranteed that South African fans will see a quality field in action. With a sizeable purse on offer, the cream of the over-50 brigade is likely to make the trip to Sun City, and as was proven last year, these veterans can produce a brand of golf that is every bit as good as that of their younger colleagues.
In last year’s Nedbank Senior Golf Challenge, the senior stars played from the same tees at the Gary Player Country Club as the regular Tour players, and they were certainly not disgraced. Jeff Sluman, not one of the longer hitters, proved that canny course management and some inspired putting could get the job done.
Once the field for the Nedbank Senior Golf Challenge is announced, there will be the usual debates around 19th holes as to who might lift the trophy (a replica of thefamous crystal golf ball that has been played for over the past 30 years). When the bookmakers price up their boards for this year’s senior event, one can expect an American to be quoted as favourite, because while the “young guns” from the US may be in the doldrums, the older generation still have what it takes.
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Seniors Tournament - SENIOR STARS WILL AGAIN COMPETE IN SUN CITY
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The Nedbank Senior Golf Challenge, played last year as part of the 30th year celebrations of the event, will again be played at the Gary Player Country Club as part of South Africa’s glittering showcase of golf.
“The response from spectators and sponsors, not to mention the players themselves, was so positive that we have decided to host this event again this year,” says Tournament Director of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, Alastair Roper.
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It was unanimously decided by everyone at the tournament that the 30th “Nedbank” was the best ever – the add-on entertainment included bands playing after the days’ play was a huge success, and added to the carnival-like atmosphere. But it was the addition of the eight-man senior professional field, each player instantly recognizable and all with impressive records on the Tour, that gave the event an added dimension.
“It was gratifying to see the interest shown in the senior event – not only by the older generation of spectators but by a lot of juniors – most of whom would never have the opportunity of seeing these icons of the game in action,” says Roper. “These experienced players also went out of their way to spend time in the sponsor’s hospitality facilities, and they all showed their appreciation for being involved, and for the financial commitment that had been made by our sponsors.”
Both the Champions Tour and the European Tour has shown steady growth in recent times, and notwithstanding the recession that hit the golf market hard in general, the “Golden Oldies” continue to attract large crowds to their events, which continue to be well supported by sponsorships.
“Besides the interest in seeing the Tour stars of past in action, the quality of the golf they produced last year, considering that they were playing off the same tees as the regular professionals was remarkable. It is understandable why we have seen a number of over-50 pros continue to be competitive on the regular Tour, and some have even excelled in the Majors long after their 50th birthdays,” added Roper. “We are also fortunate in having developed a rich history during three decades of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and I am proud to say that without exception all the players, who represent the cream of the world’s golfing talent, have loved playing in the event. This makes our task of luring these champions back for the senior event that much easier.”
The Nedbank Senior Golf Challenge will be played over three rounds beginning on the Thursday, and the winner will again be presented with a replica of the famous crystal trophy. (Last year the seniors played 36 holes.) The number of spectators that attended the event last year equaled the highest-ever total over the four days, and the 2011 tournament promises to be no different.