An open in the wine lands

Stellenbosch bucks tradition in being asked to host the 1999 SA Open

The choice of Stellenbosch Golf Club in the Cape Winelands as the venue for the 1999 South African Open, again to be sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and Vodacom, breaks a long-standing tradition in the championship. All previous 17 SA Opens played in the Cape since the early years of this century had been at either Royal Cape or Mowbray.

Astonishingly, this picturesque parkland layout is the first new coastal area course to be given the Open since Humewood was brought on to the roster 64 years ago. It's a welcome addition to what had become a stale rotation of venues. Two days after this year's SA Open at Durban Country Club, I played golf with David Frost at Stellenbosch. He made the bold prediction then that the club would host the 1999 championship, which had been awarded to the Western Cape.

Frost will be particularly pleased with the choice of a Boland club in his old backyard, where he learnt his golf. His intimate knowledge of the course, where he won the Masters in 1987, should make him a strong contender next year.

The Open will be played from January 21 to 24, in the height of the tourist season, and a strong field of international stars should attract the biggest galleries the Open has seen in years. Major professional events in the Cape are always well supported, and there has not been one in the region since the 1996 World Cup.

Royal Cape, where Ernie Els won the Open in 1996, when its status was more low-key with limited prizemoney, was naturally hoping to be chosen again, and bid strongly for the championship, as did Westlake and Steenberg. Yet the real favourite appeared to be Erinvale, which had successfully hosted the World Cup. It would not only have been the first Gary Player design to stage the Open, but also the first modern layout. But it seems as if this estate course in Somerset West, with expensive houses rather than trees framing the fairways, was passed over for Stellenbosch, because hosting it there would have been more expensive for the promoters, according to Erinvale club captain Tommy Martin.

"We couldn't provide the extensive clubhouse facilities that Stellenbosch possess," said Martin. "We're naturally upset we did not get the Open, but happy that a local Boland club won the day. The Open is also being played during our peak season, when the expected revenue for the club runs to about R25 000 a day." Nic Frangos of PMG Legends, the Open promoters, said Stellenbosch had best met the criteria of the SA Golf Association, the PGA, and the sponsors. "Aside from its first-rate course, the historic beauty and village appeal of Stellenbosch will create a superb atmosphere for the tournament," he said.

The Stellenbosch community is thrilled about winning the bid, which had the full support of the local municipality, publicity association and business. They see the SA Open, with its world-wide television coverage as part of the European Tour, as an excellent means of obtaining international exposure for the area.

Two of the men instrumental in helping motivate the bid in the past few months have been club captain Alec Velissariou, and professional Graham Webster, national chairman of the PGA of South Africa. "It's a big honour for the club, and something special for Stellenbosch," said Webster. "The initial response from the community was overwhelming. When the promoters gave their presentation to us at the club, we had a turnout of 56 people." Stellenbosch were intending to rebuild their greens this year, but delayed the project when they learnt they were in contention for the Open. The club has a membership of about 1 300, and the course is highly popular with both tourists and corporates. It's always busy, with the annual number of rounds being close to 50 000.

While some people may perceive Stellenbosch as a holidaymakers' course, no one should doubt its quality as a championship layout once the rough is allowed to grow, the fairways are shaped, and the greens firmed and speeded up. First of all, it is lengthy by coastal standards, playing to a formidable 6 264 metres off the championship tees, which makes it longer than either Erinvale or Royal Cape. It can be stretched even further, by bringing in old back tees at Nos 8 and 10, and adding new ones on certain other holes.

A special championship tee for the par-5 12th, which has not been used in many years, will be returfed, making this hole play nearly 550 metres, and bringing the large dam on the left into play on every shot. Yet, it may be more interesting to play it as a long par 4 off the club tee. As a par 5, there's more risk than reward playing a long second into a green so close to a water hazard. It would be a far more exciting hole as a 4, competitors being forced to go for the green with their second shots, instead of safely laying up.

Stellenbosch proved testing for the pros in four of the five years it hosted the Masters from 1986 to 1990 (being strengthened after Mark McNulty's 18-under-par victory the first year), and has subsequently undergone further improvements. However, it could still do with a modicum of changes to satisfy Open requirements. Robbie Marshall of Somerset West-based Golf Data has been appointed to consult.

The par-5 fifth needs the water hazard brought closer to the green, to worry the top players, and some holes could benefit from fairway bunkering. The organisers will probably play Stellenbosch as a par-71 for the Open. Not too long ago it was a par-74 for the members, with six par 5s, but the eighth and 10th have since been reduced to par 4s. For the championship, the easy par-5 opening hole will be played as a 4 off the club tee.

The course had a different routing for the Masters, because of TV requirements at the time, but there's no reason to tamper with the layout today. The design variety is excellent from 1 to 18. Ernie Els will be defending the Open title, and Stellenbosch will bring back memories for him. He nearly claimed his first professional victory there. In only his third tournament as a pro, in the 1989 Masters, he opened badly with a 76, but then shot 68-65 to leap into a share of the third round lead with Tony Johnstone. Els shot 73 the last day, and lost by one shot to Hugh Baiocchi, having to content himself with a share of second place. It was to be more than three years before he broke through by winning the 1992 SA Open.