After a dramatic opening week at the SDC Open, where MJ Viljoen took the crown via a play-off, the Road to Mallorca continues at the CIRCA Cape Town Open, hosted at the infamous Royal Cape Golf Club. As the opening tee shot of the second of four co-sanctioned HotelPlanner Tour events with the Sunshine Tour draws closer, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the CIRCA Cape Town Open.
Historic venue
Royal Cape Golf Club is Africa’s oldest golf club and was established in 1885. In that time it has hosted ten South African Open’s, including the 1965 edition of the event, which was won by nine-time Major Champion Gary Player. Ernie Els, Mark McNulty and Trevor Immelman, the HotelPlanner Tour’s first Masters champion, have also triumphed at the historic venue. Tree-lined with narrow fairways, the par-72 championship course at Royal Cape will present a tough challenge this week.
Seven consecutive years
The HotelPlanner Tour returns to Royal Cape for a seventh consecutive year, with each edition seeing plenty of on-course drama, and more recently, a maiden title. In 2020, Swede Anton Karlsson held off a late charge from South African Garrick Higgo to claim a one stroke victory in Cape Town. Home favourite JC Ritchie claimed back-to-back Cape Town Open victories in 2021 and 2022, the first via a playoff and the second thanks to a birdie at the 72nd hole. In 2023, Benjamin Follett-Smith joined the winner’s circle after posting a two under par final round to win by one stroke, before Swede Mikael Lindberg triumphed in a play-off over South African Ryan van Velzen after holing a 30-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole. In 2025, it was Englishman Jamie Rutherford’s turn to join the winner’s circle, as he secured a maiden HotelPlanner Tour title with a two-shot victory over Keenan Davidse.
Beautiful setting
Situated 14 miles from Camp’s Bay Beach, Royal Cape Golf Club sits in the shadow of Table Mountain which provides the perfect backdrop for the tournament this week. Over 1,000 metres in height, the flat-topped mountain overlooks the city and is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country. An estimated 4.2 million people visit each year, with many tourists taking a five-minute cableway trip to the summit to take in the spectacular views of the Mother City.
