Plug is pulled on the 40th Golf Challenge

The Nedbank Golf Challenge is the latest event to fall victim to the Covid-19 pandemic as the virus continues to takes its toll on global sporting highlights.

For non-golfers this might sound like a rather “ho-hum” piece of news.

However, this would be overly simplistic. It is a blow to SA’s embattled tourism industry.

Given the successful reintroduction of other tournaments, albeit spectator-free, on the pro tours, it is not clear why. Was it travel concerns? Possibly, but this would be a great shame as the Golf Challenge

would have been an ideal showcase to demonstrate SA’s ability to manage a major sporting event safely.

However, before even getting to Sun City, there would have been the need to come through various international airports and then transit safely, both in real and health terms, through the OR Tambo International Airport terminal.

Was it the choice of venue? Sun City may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it is valued it for less obvious treasures such as the walks and gardens.

However, when it is in full flow this venue is like a welloiled machine and should have been more than capable of ensuring a safe environment. Was it the players’ decision? Given the fallout of players at the US Open tennis and SA’s current infection levels, this is a real possibility.

During a recent telephone discussion about the resumption of the official world golf rankings, Keith Waters, COO of the European Tour, said the final say on whether to hold the Ryder Cup in 2020 had been down to the players.

Waters’ comment — he is a former player himself — does reinforce the belief that the tours’ management are attuned to their members and listen to what they have to say.

Was it perhaps Nedbank’s call?

Nedbank has been about as loyal a supporter of a tournament as one could hope for.

However, the group makes a huge annual investment in supporting the event and the hospitality element is one of the main attractions.

On such an occasion, the lack of hospitality and spectators, which gives any event — but especially this one — its buzz, would be hard to imagine.

If it was Nedbank’s decision to cancel the event it would be entirely justified.

The rumour mills will grind along, as is their nature.

This will be especially true as the decision was phrased as having been a joint one by the European Tour, Sun International and Nedbank.

However, any speculation about who or what finally pulled the plug and whatever the final reasons might have been are now moot as Africa’s golf “major” has been officially cancelled.

Of added poignancy is that 2020 would have been the Challenge’s 40th birthday, but these celebrations will now need to be put on ice, along with the champagne, for at least another year.