SA Open to Humewood in 2006
Port Elizabeth’s Humewood Golf Club, one of the most historic layouts in world golf, will host one of the most historic national Opens in the game when the South African Airways Open returns to the city of its origin next December as part of the 2006/07 season.
Recognised as the second oldest national Open in golf, the Championship was first played in Port Elizabeth in 1893 and contested by the few professionals in South Africa at the time.
It was from these beginnings that it grew into the premier event it is today, co-sanctioned by both the European Tour and Sunshine Tour and featuring the cream of the world’s players.
This will be the fifth occasion that Humewood GC — which celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2006 — hosts the country’s national Open, the last being in 1957. The tournament will be played from from December 14 to 17.
This will also be the first time in the history of the Championship that it has been played on two links courses in consecutive years, moving from The Links at Fancourt in 2005 to the only natural links golf course in South Africa.
“Our decision to take the championship to the Eastern Cape and Humewood Golf Club forms part of South African Airways’ commitment to this world-class event and our determination to keep investing in its growth as one of South Africa’s premier sporting events,”
“The Eastern Cape is one of the cultural cornerstones of this country and it is important that its people be given the opportunity to witness the great talents of Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, whom we have contracted to this event for three years,” said Khaya Ngqula, president and CEO of the sponsors.
Humewood GC, which opened for play in October 1931 and has hosted several premier amateur and professional tournaments, is one of the only natural links courses to be found outside Britain.
It was rated by the legendary Bobby Locke as worthy of hosting a British Open should it ever be played outside the United Kingdom, and double US Open champion Retief Goosen has included Humewood’s sixth hole as one of his 18 favourite holes in the world.
Humewood Golf Club has produced several great champions, including Sid Brews who won two of his eight national Open titles at this layout and became its oldest champion at 52 years and 11 months with his victory there in 1952.
Bobby Locke won the fifth of his nine national Open titles at Humewood in 1940 by a staggering 10 shots, and Harold Henning won the last SA Open at Humewood in 1957.
