KZN Open upgraded to World Tour
IT’S GONE! However, it may only be for 2023 – but don’t bank on it.
The Jonsson Workwear Kwazulu-natal Open which drew rave reports – the way it was staged, received by patrons, presented by the sponsor and showcased on television by Supersport in over 65 countries worldwide – will now take place at the Nicklaus-designed Steyn City Championship course in Johannesburg from March 23-26, 2023.
It has been elevated to a full cosanctioned Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event from the inaugural European Challenge Tour which was staged at Durban Country Club (DCC) earlier this year.
It will be called the Jonsson Workwear Open and will be one of the co-sanctioned events to be staged in SA. The others are the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the Investec South African Open, Joburg Open and another scheduled for March 16-18, 2023 but yet to be named.
The championship will carry $1.5 million (about R26.700m) in prize money, 2000 DP World Tour ranking points and 1500 Ryder Cup points.
One of the factors that decided the Jonsson Workwear Open’s move to Joburg was that the DCC is not able to stage a championship of this magnitude because of the poor condition of the course following the floods early this year. Added to this was that the DCC board and members procrastinated whether there should be renovation, re-building and reshaping of this iconic course.
The title sponsor, Jonsson Workwear, received no support from the City of Durban nor the Kwazulu-natal government even though the inaugural tournament boosted tourism and the coffers of many businesses.
Jonsson Workwear managing director Nick Jonsson, with the help of a few associate sponsors, showcased Kwazulunatal on the world stage. It did not matter to Jonsson as he is a passionate Kwazulunatalian and was determined to have a regular major championship in his city, Durban.
“It was a difficult decision to make especially to take the 2023 event to Johannesburg. But when the offer of elevating the championship from a European Challenge Tour to a full-blown co-sanctioned Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event came there was no other choice but to go to a venue in Johannesburg,” Jonsson said.
“Steyn City is a fantastic venue and the people out there are just so wonderful. I believe we will have a terrific championship in 2023. However rest assured all you golf enthusiasts in Kwazulu-natal – especially those in Durban – we will be back in the city in 2024.”
Jonsson will be the driving force behind the regeneration of DCC and is expecting the “Grand Old Lady” to be back in “business” by the end of 2023.
He is ploughing money and effort into changes at this venue and wants it to be the best not only in Kwazulu-natal but the whole of South Africa. He wants the DCC to return to the Top 100 golf courses in the world.
“In life nothing is guaranteed but we are looking at completing all what we will set out to do at Country Club by the end of 2023. And if all goes according to plan Durban and Kwazulu-natal will have the Jonsson Workwear Open from 2024 onwards,” he said.
“We need an international golf event here in Durban and in the province – it will be time for everyone to come to the party. The provincial government, the local government etc.
“Golf has proved to be a wonderful ambassador for South Africa with our stars flying the flag in different parts of the world with wins at the Majors and other top events. We all owe it to them as sponsors, government – local and provincial – and big business.”