Sun City in the north-west province of South Africa is a golfer’s dream destination. Two of the country’s most respected courses are located at this venue.
While golf is one of the leading draws for visitors, there are plenty of other activities to make everyone’s stay enjoyable.
Sun City History
Sun City has a fascinating history. It was initially opened in 1979 by hotel magnate Sol Kerzner during the extremely turbulent apartheid period in South Africa. His vision was to provide an entertainment venue for people to escape from the negativity of the time.
Although the United Nations imposed a cultural boycott on the entire country during that period, Kerzner offered a significant amount of money to famous entertainers to ignore the rules and perform at his resort. And they did! Frank Sinatra, Elton John, and Rod Stewart were just a few of the big names.
Apartheid ended in 1994, and the resort continues to be the entertainment mecca of South Africa, and golf plays an important part.
Golf Courses at Sun City
Golf was introduced into Sun City at the planning stage; Sol Kerzner believed that this sport would attract a higher class of visitors to the resort. He was right!
There are two champion golf courses at Sun City, both designed by golf legend Gary Player. The first one, opened in 1979, is named after him. The second one, The Lost City Golf Course, opened in 1992.
Gary Player Golf Course
The Gary Player Golf Course is an 18-hole par-72 walking-only course; no carts are allowed or available. It also has a 5km running track alongside it.
The course is next to the Gary Player Country Club, which hosts breakfast and lunch overlooking the green. The country club also features a health club and spa — ideal for partners who want to relax while their significant other plays golf.
The Gary Player Golf Course is home to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, one of the world’s most recognized events, which attracts the best players from across the globe.
For those golfers who need to get in some extra practice, the course also features a putting and chipping green.
The Lost City Golf Course
Sun City proved to be so popular as a golfing destination that Gary Player designed a second course. A 72-par, 18-hole desert-style golf course with rocky terrain and 28,000 square meters of water features, the Lost City Golf Course is massive, covering over 250 acres.
Unlike the Gary Player Golf Course, golf carts are compulsory at The Lost City Golf Course and can be hired from the Lost City Country Clubhouse, where food and beverages are also available.
The 13th hole is where things get really interesting; the green is in the shape of the African Continent, and keep a close eye out for the live two-meter-long crocodiles.
As it’s such a vast course, there’s a clubhouse at the 9th and 18th holes, perfect timings for a pitstop and refueling.
Not Just for Golfers
Sun City is a haven for golfers, but what about their partners and children who may not be as enthusiastic? The resort also has them covered.
There are many dining outlets, bars, and a casino that, for some, solely offers a just-for-fun experience but is more enjoyable if you wager real money. There are also a ton of shopping outlets and activities for kids, a massive maze, and a day of fun at the beach.
Eat, Drink, and Play
Sun Central is home to an enormous range of restaurants, including every cuisine imaginable and staples like Nando’s and Krispy Kreme. Other restaurants can be found in the hotel, the palace, and the vacation club.
Sun City Casino features slots and table games, restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe, and a range of bars.
Soak Up the Sun
Who would expect to find a beach deep in the middle of jungle terrain? Sun City thought of that, too. The Valley of Waves is a man-made beach, with the main attraction being the Roaring Lagoon. Every 90 seconds, seven-foot waves rise up, and visitors can body-surf their way back to the beach. Kids even have their own section, ensuring safety for the whole family.
Get Lost, Literally
The Maze of the Lost City is the largest outdoor maze in the Southern Hemisphere. The entrance is at the end of a 300-foot suspension bridge. Will you choose left or right? There’s only one way out. Visit after sunset, and tiki torches light the way.
View the Big Five
No trip to South Africa is complete without a jungle safari, and Sun City has thought of that, too. Its location next to Pilanesberg National Park is ideal. Book a safari and spend a few hours driving through the park. Will you see “the big five” — lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo?
Shop Until You Drop
Did you leave your beach gear at home? That’s not a problem. Whatever you need, whether in fashion or practicality, you’re bound to find it at the Sun Central mall. The shops range from boutique stores to huge labels like Billabong. There’s also a supermarket, a liquor store, and a candy shop, so you’ll never need to leave the resort.
Something for the Little Ones
Sun City is a family-friendly resort. While mom or dad are out playing golf, there are plenty of activities to keep children occupied. A jump park, kids’ movie theater, ten-pin bowling, and an obstacle challenge exist. Kamp Kwena offers educational activities with supervised care.
Visit Sun City
Golfers, if you’ve never been to Sun City, you must. It isn’t just home to two of the best courses on the African continent; it’s an entire entertainment resort. Bring the whole family together; everyone will experience something they’re interested in.
The men’s golf scene is as competitive as it’s ever been, with a number of talented players battling to become the world’s top-ranked player. Who is likely to end 2023 as the number one golfer according to the official rankings?
John Rahm – The Current Number One
This Spanish golfer was the number one amateur player for a record 60 weeks before turning pro, and he quickly became the top professional golfer too. He reached the top spot for the first time in mid-2020 and has recently claimed it back from Scottie Scheffler.
With the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters to his name, Rahm has already shown that he has the mentality and talent to win major tournaments. Only the second golfer from Spain to be world number one, after Seve Ballesteros, Rahm became the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters but the first European to claim both the Masters and the US Open.
That Masters victory that catapulted him back into the number one spot came when he was forced to play 30 holes on the final day after bad weather had caused a backlog. He eventually won the title by four strokes, with a final round of 69 putting him four strokes ahead of Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.
Scottie Scheffler
New Jersey-born Scheffler was ranked the number one men’s golfer for 35 weeks over three different spells, with the last one ending with Rahm’s victory in the 2023 Masters. He took the top spot for the first time in March 2022, and it wouldn’t be a major surprise to see him take back the title at some point before 2023 ends.
His sole major championship wins to date came in the 2022 Masters, when he finished with a final round of 71 to win by a total of three strokes from Rory McIlroy. His other biggest win came in the 2023 Players Championship.
A golfer since the age of three, Scheffler was hugely successful at youth level before playing at collegiate level with the University of Texas. He was Rookie of the Year in his first season on the PGA Tour, with highlights including a round of 59 at The Northern Trust tournament and finishing fourth at the 2020 PGA Championship
He moved up to world number one after starting 2022 with three tournament wins before claiming the Masters. Scheffler became only the fifth golfer in history to win the Masters while being the number one in the rankings.
Rory McIlroy
Born in Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy burst onto the pro scene by winning €10 million in prize money by the age of 22. He was quickly ranked alongside global superstars in other sports as one of the most marketable players on the planet as he won numerous tournaments.
In terms of the number one sport, McIlroy has now spent over 100 weeks at the top of the list. His last period at the top of the sport came between October 2022 and February 2023, before he was overtaken by Scheffler.
McIlroy has collected four major championships in his career to date, starting with the US Open in 2011 and ending with the 2014 PGA Championship, all of which he won at the age of 25. That final major win came by a single stroke over Phil Mickelson, with a par on the final hole enough to confirm his win, and it could be argued that he should have won more majors during this golden spell in his career.
If he reaches number one in the rankings it will be the tenth time in his career, although some of those occasions have seen him stay at the top for only a brief period. Right now, he sits in third place. Despite winning majors in recent years, he’s collected a total of 36 wins in his pro career, the last coming in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at the start of this year.
Patrick Cantlay
Currently in fourth place on the rankings, Patrick Cantlay spent 55 consecutive weeks as the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world, which is still a record, but the Californian has yet to achieve the same feat as a pro. He turned pro in 2012 and has won eight times on the PGA Tour since then.
His first win as a pro came in 2013 at the Colombia Championship. As for his first PGA title, this came at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open after a playoff. So far in 2023, Cantlay has been challenging strongly but has been in the news headlines for slow play.
If you think Patrick Cantlay or any of the other golfers on this list are likely to win an upcoming tournament, you can find the latest golf odds online. You can either check out the next tournament on the tour or else look further ahead and see what the odds are for the next majors on the list.
All four of these golfers have the talent to reach the top spot during the rest of 2023 and it wouldn’t be a big surprise to find that the number one position on the world golf rankings varies between two or more of them as the year progresses.
Dallas, Texas is a golfer’s paradise. with its many beautiful golf courses and clubs catering to the needs of golfers of all skill levels. However, with the advent of advanced technology, simulator golf clubs have become a popular alternative for golfers looking for a realistic and comfortable golfing experience. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the top indoor Dallas Golf Clubs – simulator golf facilities that are equipped with state-of-the-art pieces of equipment, including the newcomer – Scratch Golf Club.
City Golf Club
Located in the Harwood district, City Golf Club is one of the first Dallas golf clubs which used simulators. With the help of the Trackman golf simulator, you can choose from 25 different virtual golf courses to play and practice. City Golf Club has a few membership options but also allows the public to book bay times and golf lessons. The club works 24/7, but for the basic plan, you can access the club during business hours.
Topgolf
Topgolf is a popular simulator golf club that offers a unique and fun golfing experience. The club features a variety of simulator bays that allow golfers to play on multiple popular courses, including Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass, and St. Andrews. Topgolf also offers different games and activities that can be enjoyed by golfers of all skill levels.
GolfTec Dallas
This golfing establishment is known for golf lessons, but it also offers a wide range of amenities for golfers. The club features a modern simulator room that allows golfers to play on some of the world’s most famous golf courses from the comfort of their club. Additionally, GolfTec has 3 different locations north of the city center in Dallas.
The Golf Suite
The Golf suite is another indoor golf club, located in the Dallas/Addison area. It offers a PGA instructor and 24/7 membership access. GC hawk x Foresights simulator gives you the ability to choose from the hundreds of available courses. Additionally, you get 1 free individual guest pass. You can book a tee time with another member of the Golf Suite and use the space at the same time. Up to 4 people during a tee time.
8 Under Golf
This fine establishment is located in Irving, about 12 miles away from downtown Dallas. This, admittedly, can become a problem, especially on a busy day. But, if you are still interested, Eight Under, backed by Mike Bury, offers the same TrackMan technology, five simulator bays and private lessons. For competitive players it has leagues where you can play against your friends or join tournaments.
Scratch Golf Club
Scratch Golf Club is located in downtown Dallas. It comes with the convenience of online booking, a price tag of just a few hundred dollars and the added benefit of 3 different types of member accounts, which start from 149$ per month and come with 1-hour free session just to make sure everything is according to your liking.
Scratch Golf Club uses TrackMan 4 Golf Simulator, with over 40 data points available instantly after every swing to analyze data and refine your skills. Dual radar technology guarantees accuracy within 1 foot of error. 72-degree views and 164 unique golf courses make this process even more enjoyable and challenging. Bay booking can be done online, after which you can bring any number of guests, 24/7. You can bring your food and drinks, which can turn any golf session into a party. Scratch Golf Club also offers a locker, which you can rent for a small fee and leave any equipment for the next time.
Figure 1 There is not much better than playing golf – and these courses surely prove that
There are many different factors that make a golf course memorable. A good round is an obvious one – but as well as your performance, outstanding scenery is hard to beat as well. A picturesque setting can offset even the worst day’s golf.
There are some courses, like Augusta or St. Andrews, that are on most players’ bucket lists. But for many, the only time these destinations are part of our weekend is when we are placing our golf bets. We think you should dream big though – and these five stunning courses are well worth considering for that once-in-a-lifetime golfing trip.
Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand
Even if you have never been to New Zealand, you will probably be familiar with this golf course from a million Instagram photos. Located in Hawkes Bay, on the eastern coast of the North Island, Cape Kidnappers only opened in 2004 but feels like it has been there forever.
The course is designed around the rolling fingers of the land and cliffs overlooking the ocean. At 140 meters above sea level, players can walk right up to the edge of the land, although the course plays remarkably well in these conditions. If you have an off day you may lose a few balls to the Pacific – but the views will definitely make up for that.
Thracian Cliffs, Bulgaria
The great Gary Player said that there is no other golf course like this on the planet – and he should know, he helped design it. Bulgaria might not be the first place thought of for a golfing holiday, but the Thracian Cliffs backdrop has left more than a few golfers speechless since opening in 2011.
The coastal cliffs look over the Black Sea and the course can seem a little daunting for newcomers. But there are some very good options for all levels of golfer and the experience is really the selling point here, rather than being able to post the best round’s score of your life.
Pebble Beach, California
If you want guaranteed sunshine for your golf then you cannot do much better than the Pebble Beach links course in California. The USGA obviously thinks so, staging the U.S. Open here six times in the last 50 years. The tropical climate is an obvious selling point – but the course itself has to be seen to be believed.
Running along a craggy, rugged coastline, golfers can enjoy the views out on Carmel Bay, looking over the Pacific Ocean as they play their round. Thanks to its long history, there are a few very famous holes to play and the exhilarating views will more than make up for some missed shots.
Figure 2 Dramatic coastlines feature at many of the most picturesque golf courses
Four Seasons Resort, Hawaii
If even the California weather doesn’t quite make the grade for you, how about the tropical paradise of Hawaii? The views are simply incredible from this golf course set high above Hulopoe Bay on Lanai’s southern coast. With the Pacific Ocean as a water hazard, you can’t really go wrong.
Incredible natural vegetation and a marine preserve bordering the course make for a stunning location. It is actually built on lava outcroppings and you will have to make sure that your tee shots are accurate, otherwise you will be spending a lot of money on replacement balls! Playing golf in such an area of outstanding beauty will surely make that worthwhile though.
Royal County Down, Ireland
You will have to endure slightly different conditions than the last few courses to play here. But there is no doubt that this stunning course located on the east coast of Northern Ireland is one to play before you hang up your clubs. The Murlough Nature Reserve is its home and it is one of the oldest courses in Ireland.
With the mountains as a backdrop, the course uses its natural dunes as part of a challenging – yet exhilarating – round of golf. This traditional links course boasts a variety of holes that twist and change direction to constantly keep you guessing. But anyone who plays here will agree that it is one of the very best courses in the world.
Rocco Mediate secured his first tournament victory on PGA Tour Champions in three years in winning the Sanford International 2019 at the Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on September 22nd.
The 56 year-old from Greensburg, Pennsylvania wasn’t among the leading candidates in the betting going into the tournament, with odds of around 40/1 being generally available. Rocco Mediate’s reward in terms of prize money was $270,000 of the $1,800,000 purse.
It was the 13th professional win of Mediate’s career, including four on the PGA Champions Tour, but his first since winning the Senior PGA Championship in 2016.
“It was just one of those days everything kind of went really good,” Mediate said. “When I was bad, I got it up and down. When I was good, I made putts. You have to do this crazy stuff.”
“Putted my you-know-what off today, but I hit a lot of good shots, too. I hit a lot of greens, kept my head together and here we are the last couple holes.”
Going into the tournament, Bernhard Langer was the 8/1 bookmakers favourite with 888Sport, with Scott McCarron and Jerry Kelly both available at 9/1 on the betting lines. Retief Goosen (the South African rookie on the PGA Tour Champions this season) and Woody Austin were next up at 12/1, followed by David Toms at 14/1 and Brandt Jobe at 16/1. Needless to say that bookmakers do have betting offers for new customers, who are welcome to take advantage of such odds and other competitive probabilities in future bets.
As with most of the tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions (formerly the Senior PGA Tour and Champions Tour), the Sanford International was played over three rounds (54 holes). The course at the Minnehaha Country Club (established on the outskirts of Sioux Falls in 1905) is a Par 70 with a total course yardage of 6,729.
Mediate shot a final round 64 for a total 9-under 201 to win by two shots from Ken Duke, Colin Montgomerie and Bob Estes. Mediate birdied the last two holes to edge out Duke. Mediate was already in the clubhouse when Duke, who was tied for the lead going to the last, took four shots to reach the final green to make double bogey and close his round with a 69.
Jay Haas and Steve Flesch each finished 6-under in a tie for fifth. Scott McCarron tied for seventh after shooting a final round 67 and still leads the way for the Charles Schwab Cup. There are only two tournaments remaining before the Schwab Cup play-offs (which consist of a series of three tournaments).
As indicated by the result of the Sanford International, there’s always plenty of value to be had betting on PGA Tour Champions, so in such a competitive market it’s certainly worth checking out the wealth of betting offers for new and existing customers available over the remaining tournaments.
Image credit – Jamiehales [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
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