| Joburg Open in spectacular sporting 2010 calendar |
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The City of Johannesburg’s annual Joburg Golf Open kick-starts an important sporting year in the city’s history from 14 to 17 January 2010 at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club; a season that will culminate in the final game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ on 11 July.
Many of the world’s top golfers will tee off at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club to compete for the 1,3 million Euro prize-money that includes the City’s limited sponsorship – mainly through its services to the event.
More than 315 million homes and television viewers across the world watched the action live in 2009. According to the official European Tour project report for 2009 prepared by Global Media Valuations, the Joburg Open 2009 produced a total global media value of £21,147,962 (over R250million). Of this figure, and title sponsor 'Joburg' received £11,516,698 (nearly R140-million). This equates to 54% of the total global media value. "This type of return on investment is not a common experience even in international events and to us it firmly confirms the enormity of benefits to our city and country as a truly international destination, " says Executive Mayor Councillor Amos Masondo. He adds that 2010 will be a magnificent sporting year for Johannesburg, not because the city will host the opening and closing of the FIFA World Cup football games. It is actually for the extent to which the city has penetrated the sporting markets. "In a short space of three years, the Joburg Open has become a firm favourite on the global golfing calendar and this year’s tournament will again provide the spectators with opportunities to see both top-ranked and exciting new talent in action and setting the pace for the rest of the year," says Mayor Masondo. The Mayor declares that the Joburg Open is unique in the way in which it generates funds for golf development in and around the city. He says this is an event that all investors and residents of Johannesburg can identify with because it leaves a development legacy. He points to the Alexandra Driving Range which he says is a tangible result of the city's efforts to take the game of golf to the people. Some of the golfing legends from Alex like Obed Matlou have been able to nurture youngsters to take up golf from this facility. Last year the City successfully managed to lobby for rule amendments to the Tour organisers. Three amateur players were able gain automatic entry to compete in the event. Their maiden team of 2009 played very well, led by Derik Ferreira who scored a handsome 149 in the opening two rounds (as opposed to the ultimate winner who had scored 139), Maswoliedze Emmanuel at 156 and Muswalo Nethunzwi at 168. They have, despite the nervousness of being pioneers on behalf on young golfers, distinguished themselves and none came in stone last. In December 2009 the City ran a final knock out game for the young amateur players from which the following
The Pro-Am which precedes the finals will take place on the 13 January 2010 at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington and the field will be led by Mayor Masondo, business associates, senior public figures, some 60 professional players and a host of other guests to make up the field 240-players on both the East and West fields. The finals promise to be a contested by a very strong field. Among the entries already confirmed for the event are Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, Richard Sterne of South Africa, Edoardo Molinari of Italy, David Howell of England, as well as Anders Hansen of Denmark whose victory in last year's tournament propelled him to the top of the money list on the 2009 Sunshine Tour Circuit. Many of these players will use the tournament to boost their places on the European Order of Merit and secure a spot on the European Ryder Cup team. Other prominent contenders in the field are: James Kamte, the first black South African golfer to win on the European tour heads a strong list of local contenders which also includes the likes of Richard Sterne, Charl Schwartzel, James Kingston, Louis Oosthuizen and Anton Haig. The iconic Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Course will again host and form the backdrop for the tournament. Play on both courses will enable the organisers to accommodate a large field of 206 players before the cut-off for the final two rounds. Entrance fees for spectators have been kept very low (at R30 per day or R80 for the entire tournament) to enable all city residents to watch the top players in action. The newly completed Soccer City will host the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on 10 June as well as the final exactly a month later. During this 30-day period Soccer City and Ellis Park will, between them, host 15 matches of the world’s biggest sporting spectacle. “We urge all our Joburg citizens to participate in all these events and related activities so as to carry our flag high”, concluded Mayor Masondo. |
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