Two weeks into the new DP World Tour season and history is being created at the Investec South African Open Championship.
Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate in Johannesburg measures a colossal 8,233 – an increase of 72 yards on last year, when it first became the longest course ever played on Tour.
It then surpassed the previous record held by another South African venue in Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate - venue for the 2014 Tshwane Open - by 198 yards.
The par-72 course – designed by Gary Player – features five par fives with four of those playing over 600 yards.
Despite their length they statistically played as the five easiest holes during last year’s edition of South Africa’s national Open, which celebrates its 113th edition this week.
Five of the par fours measure more than 500 yards, highlighting just why it was described as a “beast” ahead of last year’s staging of the event, co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour.
The shortest hole is the 197-yard par three 17th, with the other ‘short’ holes all measuring more than 200 yards.
Thriston Lawrence won the third of his four DP World Tour titles 12 months ago, claiming a one-shot victory over Clément Sordet.
The last four editions have all been won by a South African – will that trend continue this week?
The ten longest courses in DP World Tour history
| Year | Event | Course | Yardage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Investec South African Open Championship | Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate | 8,233 |
| 2023 | Investec South African Open Championship | Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate | 8,161 |
| 2014 | Tshwane Open | Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate | 7,963 |
| 2021 | U.S. PGA CHAMPIONSHIP | The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island | 7,876 |
| 2010 | WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship | The Gallery GC at Dove Mountain | 7,850 |
| 2008 | WGC-Accenture Match Play | The Gallery GC at Dove Mountain | 7,850 |
| 2009 | WGC-Accenture Match Play | The Gallery GC at Dove Mountain | 7,850 |
| 2019 | Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player | Gary Player CC | 7,835 |
| 2020 | South African Open | Gary Player CC | 7,834 |
| 2017 | Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player | Gary Player CC | 7,832 |
