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- Sunshine Tour commissioner Thomas Abt says hosting four consecutive DP World Tour events will only benefit SA's golfers in the future.
- The African swing sees the return of the South African Open and Alfred Dunhill Championship on the DP World Tour calendar.
- Abt hopes South African fans can come out and support a star-studded field, which includes LIV golfers Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace.
The Sunshine Tour is gearing up for a bumper summer as it looks to attract more South African fans to the fairways.
The DP World Tour's African swing sees four back-to-back co-sanctioned Sunshine Tour events, starting with the Joburg Open (24-27 November), South African Open (1-4 December), Alfred Dunhill Championship (8-11 December) and Mauritius Open (15-18 December).
The Joburg Open will open 2022/23 DP World Tour season and will see a change of venue with Houghton Golf Club.
South Africa's Thriston Lawrence will defend his title after his maiden win last year catapulted him up the world golf rankings. He also clinched a win at European Masters in August.
This will be followed by the South African Open, which is the world's second oldest national Open. It returns to the DP World Tour schedule after last year's tournament was a Sunshine Tour event due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Sunshine Tour commissioner Thomas Abt stressed the importance of keeping the South African Open on the DP World Tour schedule.
"To get that trophy back on the schedule was important, we want to have the pathway and progression. If you look at the winners of the trophy, it shows you the significance and importance of the event on the South African calendar," Abt told News24.
"It is the gem in all these other golf tournaments that we have and it's critical purely from a passion, pride, history, heritage, perspective in our country.
"It's all about creating that pathway for our players by giving them an opportunity to compete on bigger tours."
The SA Open Championship has changed its brand slightly this year under a new sponsor Investec and a change of venue with Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate set to host the event from 1-4 December.
The Sunshine Tour has brought an array of big South African names to feature in their national Open, including LIV golfers Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Shaun Norris and Oliver Bekker.
Daniel van Tonder will defend his SA Open title, with PGA Tour stars Dylan Frittelli, Erik van Rooyen and Dean Burmester confirmed for Blair Atholl.
SA golf fans will have the opportunity to get 50 percent off if they purchase tickets before the end of October.
South Africans can purchase their tickets for the co-sanctioned tournament, with ticket prices ranging from R150 for the opening and second round on Thursday and Friday. For the third and final round (Saturday and Sunday), ticket prices range from R300.
"The biggest challenge is trying to make golf more appealing to a bigger and different market. We want to attract a lot more fans to come and see these golf tournaments," said Abt.
"We're trying to appeal to a different market by having a concert at the SA Open and on Saturday's play, you can watch the football.
"And then we have competitions throughout the tournament days, where fans can putt for R10 000 for Thursday and Friday. And you can even putt for R100 000 on Sunday if you come to the golf course. They have a kids area and golf expo, so we're trying to create a family fun environment.
"We're trying to attract a fun element for people to come and see."
