One of South Africa’s toughest and most well-known courses plays host to this week’s Blu Label Unlimited Challenge which gets underway on Wednesday.

When legendary golfer Gary Player designed the course with Ron Kirby, the aim was to create a modern layout that would become a stern challenge for the world’s best golfers. It certainly succeeded in that regard and the iconic Gary Player Country Club has hosted nearly 100 professional tour events since its inception in 1979, with the Nedbank Golf Challenge perhaps being the most famous.

The South African Open Championship was played there during the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021 when the Nedbank Golf Challenge was not held. Christiaan Bezuidenhout won in 2020 on 18-under 270, and Danie van Tonder in 2021 on 16-under 272.

Several changes have taken place to ensure the course, which is one of the longest in Africa, remains one of the toughest on any tour. This par-72 parkland gem with kikuyu fairways and bent greens measures in at just over 7,150 metres from the tips.

Built in an extinct volcanic crater, the course runs through the bush and past lakes, with strategically places bunkers and water hazards protecting the greens. Poor drives will find dense bush and the finest of touches are needed on the putting surfaces which are slick, to put it mildly.

Standout holes include the par-four 17th which was built for the 2003 Nedbank Challenge. It is one of the most demanding holes on the course and was the second most difficult hole at the 2019 event. The par-five ninth is the signature hole and features an island green that the longest drivers may be tempted to reach in two shots.

Gary Player Country Club enjoys an idyllic setting, with the world-class facilities and wildlife on its doorstep adding to its massive appeal.

The tournament is also played on the Lost City course (pictured above).

DID YOU KNOW?

• Course record: 61 by Padraig Harrington, third round Nedbank Golf Challenge 2001 (12 birdies)
• The course experienced remarkably low tournament scoring from 1991 until 2002 before it was lengthened and toughened. Nick Price was 24-under in 1993, Ernie Els 25-under in 1999
• From the back tees, the shortest par-four is the sixth, and that is 388 metres. All the other par-fours exceed 400 metres