The DP World Tour is pleased to announce that the highly anticipated Joburg Open will return to Houghton Golf Club from 5-8 March 2026. This prestigious event marks the climax of the DP World Tour’s International Swing and presents a remarkable opportunity for South African professionals to reach new heights in their golfing careers.

To date, no South African professional has secured an overall Swing victory across any of the five Global Swings that form part of the DP World Tour’s season.

The co-sanctioning of the Joburg Open with the Sunshine Tour sets the stage for a South African champion to emerge and etch their name in history. An overall Swing victory not only comes with a lucrative US$200,000 bonus but also grants the winner qualification for some of the DP World Tour’s most sought-after tournaments later in the season.

Cllr Dada Morera, Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, emphasized the significance of this tournament in promoting Johannesburg as a premier international destination for major sporting events. “The Joburg Open, along with our partnerships with the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour, showcases Johannesburg’s commitment to offering world-class sporting experiences.

We are proud to host this tournament, which continues to inspire our next generation of South African golf stars.”

James Loughnane, General Manager of Houghton Golf Club, expressed enthusiasm for hosting the event once again, stating, “We are honored to welcome the Joburg Open back to Houghton Golf Club. This tournament is one of South Africa’s most prestigious events, and we look forward to creating an unforgettable experience for players and spectators alike.”

The Joburg Open also plays a crucial role in determining the top 72 players on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit, leading to The Courier Guy Playoffs at the end of the season. The top-ranked player will receive a R500,000 cash bonus and a DP World Tour card for the following season, among other incentives.

Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, highlighted the Joburg Open’s role in launching careers. “This tournament is vital for aspiring golfers and holds a special place within our schedule. We look forward to showcasing the vibrancy of Johannesburg to a global audience.” Ben Cowen, Chief Tournament & Operations Officer of the DP World Tour, added, “Returning to Houghton Golf Club for the fourth time is significant for us. This venue is integral to the spirit of our tour, and we are eager to kick off another memorable week celebrating golf in Johannesburg.” Join us for an exciting tournament filled with talent, opportunity, and the spirit of South African golf!

I am delighted to see the Joburg Open back on the Race to Dubai this year. We have a wonderful relationship with the Sunshine Tour stretching back over many years and this co-sanctioned tournament is another example of that.

I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Johann Rupert, Thomas Abt, Selwyn Nathan and everyone at the Sunshine Tour for their commitment in making this event happen, in addition to the Executive Mayor, Cllr. Geoffrey Makhubo and the City of Johannesburg for their help and support.

The Joburg Open begins a very important three-week stretch of tournaments in South Africa as we move closer to crowning the 2020 Race to Dubai champion at the end of what has been an unusual and challenging season for all of us. Ever since we restarted our international schedule in July, we have followed stringent safety and testing protocols set out in our comprehensive Health Strategy, and to this end, we have sought to play tournaments in geographic clusters.

South Africa offers the perfect opportunity for us to continue this momentum, and the strong partnership we have with the Sunshine Tour and the City of Johannesburg has been key in allowing us to do so.

While we are not able to welcome fans quite yet, we look forward to using our platform to showcase Randpark Golf Club and this renowned African city to our millions of viewers worldwide.

It is a great pleasure to be able to welcome back the Joburg Open to the Sunshine Tour and European Tour schedules.

The City of Johannesburg has been a key partner for us as we’ve sought to showcase how a world-class product such as professional golf can work together with a world-class city such as Johannesburg and achieve the shared goal of showcasing what we have here to the world.

This year’s Joburg Open takes on even greater significance as it also welcomes back international competition to our fairways after a lengthy break caused by the Coronavirus lockdown.

I would like to thank the Executive Mayor, Cllr. Geoffrey and the City of Johannesburg, led by Event Management Director & Tournament Promoter, Bongi Mokaba for so graciously supporting us with our efforts to restart the international part of our calendar. I’d also like to thank the Sunshine Tour Board, our sponsors, partners and the European Tour for their support.

My special thanks go to our Chairman, Johann Rupert, who has been instrumental in terms of the strength of our partnership with the European Tour, and also our Executive Director, Selwyn Nathan, who has worked tirelessly with us to achieve this momentous restart of our international schedule.

“Excited” seems inadequate as a word to contain the full spectrum of emotions experienced when talking about the return of the Joburg Open, taking place at Randpark Golf Club from 19 – 22 November 2020.

Words fail me, but I am beyond excited for two reasons. Firstly that we are back to supporting the Joburg Open after a two-year absence. Hosting this tournament under the City of Joburg municipality, perfectly aligns with our agenda to position the City as an event destination of choice.

Secondly, the fact that the Joburg Open is the first of three Sunshine Tour international golf tournaments to be played during the lowering of lockdown levels of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa in 2020, is another indescribable highlight for us.

In line with the President’s recent announcement to the South African National Assembly that a range of measures would be initiated to set the country on a new path of growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Joburg is thrilled that the Joburg Open is one of the events on the City of Joburg and Sunshine Tour’s calendars, which will play a definitive role towards boosting the economy from an international sports and tourism perspective.

Since the country has decided to open up the economy, allowing businesses to trade and for sporting activities to continue, we face hosting this event during the global pandemic with some mixed emotions too. We are certainly chartering new territories and it is heartening that the tournament is happening, but the flipside is that we have to pull it off while working under the constraints of very stringent COVID-19 adherence protocols.

To start, we’ve had to reduce the size of the field for the first time in the history of tournament. The Joburg Open has always been able to boast the biggest field of any South African tournament with a field of around 204 players and being played across two courses. This year we are down to half the field size with 156 players and only playing on one course, at Firethorn at Randpark Golf Club. Losing such a large chunk of the players means that we don’t have as much variety of the some of the top players in the European and Sunshine Tours.

Hosting the tournament requires the strictest protocols to be adhered particularly for the safety of the players, caddies and event management teams. Naturally, there are major limitations as to what can be done at an event during COVID-19, and everything that is planned and executed, is being done with the health and safety measures of the people as the primary concern. From the players, to the tournament officials, caddies, event, medical and support staff, everything is being done with the safety of everyone in mind.

Our COVID-19 compliance strategy requires all players, particularly those arriving from international travel destinations, to produce a COVID-19 negative certificate not older than 72 hours upon arrival in the country. A few days prior to commencement of the tournament, all players and staff will be retested or tested for COVID-19 at our Medical Testing Hub set up at the Randpark Golf Club, with a 4-hour waiting period for results. Once a COVID-19 negative result is received, the player or staff member will be initiated into the Bio Bubble System we have set up. This comprises of an Inner Bubble, consisting of the professional golfers, caddies and limited tournament staff. A second Outer Bubble, of further support staff to the tournament will be placed in this second system. All players and staff, will be accommodated in tournament accommodation at various hotels and B&B’s within an 8km radius of the golf club, and will remain in the Bio Bubble System, traveling only from their accommodation to the golf course for the duration of the tournament days.

In addition, everyone involved in the Joburg Open will undergo daily on site temperature and questionnaire screening at the Medical Testing Hub checkpoint, prior to entering the golf facility at Randpark Golf Club for the day.

The health and safety protocols alone are indicative of just how business “unusual” this year’s tournament is. But also for the first time in the history of sport globally, there has been a “spectator black out” at sporting arenas and venues, forcing fans to sit at home and consume the sport through other mediums like television and digital platforms. The same is the case with the Joburg Open this year, leaving fans to watch the tournament from home on SuperSport Channel 213 from Thursday to Sunday.

Other ways in which the tournament is different this year, is that since the commencement of the tournament in 2007, we have supported emerging entrepreneurs from all walks of life by giving them an opportunity to showcase and market their products at our event at the Public Welcome Centre. This year, due to no public attendance, we unfortunately cannot do that. Post the pandemic, we will certainly reinstate this initiative.

Each year we also host the annual City’s Legacy Programme – Golf Coaching Clinic, where 10 of the tournament pro golfers, spend a morning teaching and coaching between 80 to 100 young people in the game of golf. This is another crucial initiative that cannot take place this year, but which will be reinstated once the global pandemic has lifted.

We will not be able to enjoy the usual networking and social functions for City and Sunshine Tour guests, sponsors and stakeholders, due to heeding to stringent Social Distancing and complying with the number of people allowed for public gatherings. The players cannot attend the Pro Am prize giving, due to the “bio bubbles” we’ve had to create for health and safety reasons, so it’s unfortunate that this year, the “Stars” are unable to attend the one function we have planned.

But there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

We understand and accept that in order to uphold the COVID-19 compliance mandatories, we cannot do some of the aforementioned initiatives that the Joburg Open has become renowned for. But there are some encouraging innovations and highlights for us, one of which is certainly bringing back some of the “normal” with the return of a live sporting event even under strict COVID compliance. Just being able to watch fresh new sporting events such as the Joburg Open on TV, and not old reruns of former events, plays a major role in removing some of the doom and gloom, and heaviness felt by the country. We can watch live golf again, and that is exciting for fans.

The City has used its three Sponsor Invites, to again invite three young professional golfers, who have just recently completed qualifying school and received their golf tour card with an opportunity to come and play in the Joburg Open tournament, to gain experience of playing at international tournament level. Having done this for the past few years, has had a major impact on giving a major boost to the careers and confidence of the three or four different players selected each year for this amazing initiative over the years.  

We’ve also placed a large focus on thinking of ways to engage with fans and were very intentional about how best we could still contribute towards employment opportunities for the local community and SMME’s through the tournament. 

To this end, although on a smaller scale, the tournament is still contributing to job creation, by providing temporary employment to young people and some SMME’s through contracting their services for the duration of the tournament. To do be in a position to do this again, during a year when the world came to a standstill economically, is an enormous privilege for us.

We’ve had to be innovative with how we engage with the golf loving fans so that they too still feel part of the tournament. To this end we’ve designed and run competitions across various media and social media platforms, giving four fans a chance to win spots to play in the Pro Am. We’re also offering various Joburg Open merchandize and memorabilia giveaways to fans who engage with us via the various platforms. We’re hoping that in this way, the loyal fans who usually come out to walk the course and watch the Joburg Open each year, still feel like they are part of the event in 2020.

In responding to the President’s decision to open the economy and to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa’s call to reinstate sporting events, with the aim of fueling the economy again, the City of Joburg is truly proud of its ability to host the international Joburg Open in 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic.

Bongi Mokaba

COJ Event Management Director & Tournament Promoter 

As the City of Johannesburg gears up to tee-off the 2020 Joburg open, it is worth noting that this year’s tournament will be completely differently to past events due to Covid-19 protocols, regulations and compliance requirements.

To ensure that we minimise the exposure to Covid-19 and adhere to the current requirements of the National State of Disaster Regulations and Directives, no spectators will be allowed at the event.

Due to Covid-19 Health and Safety protocols for non-contact sports, the tournament will see a Bio-Bubble system being created for players, caddies, tournament staff and media.

Long before the tee-off, many months of behind-the-scene preparation take place to ensure the smooth running of this major golfing tournament in the City, this year is even 

harder with the stringent Covid-19 regulations to be adhered to all the time. 

The success of this tournament over the years affirms Joburg as a world-class African city with world-class infrastructure.

It’s a privilege and honour for the City of Johannesburg as a partner to play a role in the growth of the prestigious Joburg Open. Credit must also go to the Director of Events Management in the City of Joburg, Ms Bongi Mokaba and her team, for the many years of sterling work and for enlisting the help of generous sponsors in their quest to take this tournament to greater heights.

To all the top golfers who will be gracing our greens, and vying for top honors in the Joburg Open Final, we welcome you to the City of Johannesburg. It is unfortunate that this year we won’t have coaching clinics which have been an inspiration to our youngsters to live their dreams and realise their ambitions.    

To all the sponsors who have been generous throughout the years, digging deep in their pockets to support Joburg Open despite the bleak economic climate, officials of the City of Johannesburg, our suppliers and partners, thank you for putting the City on the map.

We extend a hearty welcome to all of you to the Joburg Open, let us enjoy the game with full sporting spirits.

The City of Johannesburg is gearing up to welcome 156 local and international golfers to the forthcoming Joburg Open. 

South African professional golf has received a major boost with the announcement that the Joburg Open will make its return to the Sunshine Tour and European Tour from 19-22 November at Randpark Golf Club, thereby ushering in the country’s return to international golf following lockdown.

This major sporting event will see the golfers battling it out for the whooping R19.5 million prize money at the world-class Randpark Golf Club, Firethorn championship golf course.

This will be the first international men’s golf tournament on South African fairways in nine months, and a timely boost for the South African economy as it emerges from the COVID-19 lockdown.

This year’s tournament, c?oming as it does when we and the rest of the world are emerging from the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, marks the City of Joburg’s readiness to open for business, tourism and breathing life back into the economy damaged by the pandemic.

The 2020 Joburg Open presents an opportunity to create potential new jobs with the community as there will be a South African caddie for each of the 156 golfers playing in this tournament.

While we recognise that Covid-19 remains a threat to lives and livelihoods, Lockdown regulations and protocols as well as stringent conditions set out by the minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa for Non-contact sports to resume are not negotiable.

City officials including Emergency Management Services (EMS) and Johannesburg Metro Police department (JMPD) will be on high alert during the historic return of Joburg Open to make sure that the tournament complies with Covid-19 level 1 regulations. 

It is with great pride that this year’s event will be hosted in honour of the late Ntate Andrew Mlangeni a Rivonia trialist, a former parliamentarian, a freeman of the City who was a lifetime member of the Soweto Country Club.

Ntate Mlangeni had graced the tournament with his presence by playing in the various Pro Am and attending the tournaments as a VIP spectator guest. This is the first tournament that will be hosted following his passing. 

We owe it to the memory of stalwarts like Ntate Mlangeni to ensure that this tournament is a great success not only from a sporting point of view but also as a catalyst for the positive social change in favour of the poor and the marginalized he spent his life fighting for.

As the City’s Government of Local Unity (GLU), we are extremely pleased to welcome back the Joburg Open to our schedule in what is also a momentous moment for South African professional golf as we also welcome back international competition to our fairways after a lengthy break.