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Gary Player Golf Course and Nedbank Golf Challenge
Known all over the world as the venue for the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge this Gary Player designed course is probably the most recognizable in South Africa. It is also one of the best.
And the critics agree as it is ranked number 1 in the country by Complete Golfer magazine and number 2 by Golf Digest (South Africa).
Many of the game's superstars have graced the fairways at this magnificent bushveld course and this adds to its appeal. To be able to compare your game to theirs, to say, "I birdied that hole just as Seve did," or, "I drove past the place where Ernie or Nick landed", is all part of the mystique of playing the Gary Player Country Club.
Off the back markers the course measures over 7 000 meters which makes it one of the longest in the world. But a variety of tees make it possible to shorten the course and render playable for all levels of golfers. A distinguishing feature of the course is its green's complexes, with strategically placed bunkers, swales and mounds that protect the super slick clover shaped greens. With pristine perfect kikuyu fairways and excellent bent grass greens the course is kept in perfect condition all year round.
Ernie Els, Nick Price, David Frost, Seve Ballesteros and Bernard Langer have all won the Nedbank Golf Challenge more than once but the most impressive performance over this testing layout came in 1999 when Ernie Els posted a winning score of 263 - twenty five under par and eight strokes better than the previous best.
A feature hole? Well they're all good at the Gary Player Country Club, but for risk and reward the stand-out is the 9th . Play this par 5 from the forward tees and then have a go for the island green with your second and thrill to the challenge of this superb test of golf.
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