The Jack Nicklaus designed Serengeti Golf Club
The Jack Nicklaus designed Serengeti Golf Club was opened in June 2009. Nicknamed Masai Mara, which means, “wide open plains” in the language of the Masai, it has a rugged grassland and dune-scape look. One of the standout holes on the course is the 576-yard par-five eighth hole that incorporates an island green.
The course remains lush and green throughout the year due to the use of cool season and was recently named “Best New Golf Course” by Golf Digest.
Designed as a strategic and technical masterpiece that will test today’s best players, the sunken design of the course with its wide corridors is ideal for tournament purposes and provides optimal spectator value on almost every hole.
Ekurhuleni has played host to a number of top amateur events, including the prestigious South African Amateur Championship. But this marks the first time that it will host a professional tournament co-sanctioned by both the Sunshine Tour and European Tour.
George Coetzee 12/1 © Kevin Murray
My tips to win:
George Coetzee 12/1 final round of 69 at last weeks Johnny Walker Championship left him six shots behind eventual winner and fellow countryman Garth Mulroy. It has been a good year for George and now back on home soil look for him to do well on this leg of the tour.
Defending champion Simon Dyson 16/1 doesn’t come into this tournament in fantastic form, but he is another player who has had a great year bagging two tournament wins at the Irish and KLM Opens.
Jaco Van Zyl 20/1 © Kevin Murray
Jaco Van Zyl 20/1, is another home player who fell just short last week at the Johnny Walker Championship, his final round 67 lifted him into tied third place. He has finished in the Top 20 in his last five outings, three of those being in the Top 10 so look for him to be in the mix come Sunday.
My each-way tips
As I said last week Robert Dinwiddle 66/1 loves this swing of the European Tour and finished in the Top 10 in three out of the four tournaments he entered this time last year. Last week he showed a similar appetite to do well finishing in the Top 15.
James Kamte 66/1 finished well last week and this swing of the tour always sees the home players doing well. His final rounds of 69 and 66 should see him coming into this week’s event in high spirits.
Dutchman Tim Sluiter 150/1 should also come into this tournament with a bit of confidence after his pair of 69s in his final two rounds at Leopards Creek. I spotted him at these odds when looking for a long shot and a couple of quid could see you smiling all the way to your bookies.
