GolfRSA has launched a new competition where golfers could win their way to represent South Africa in The R&A 9-Hole Challenge Final on the same course as the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
To enter this year’s lucky draw for the GolfRSA Race to The R&A 9 Hole Challenge, golfers will have to play and register three nine-hole rounds of golf on the Handicaps Network Africa (HNA) system in the month of April, with the winning pair being randomly drawn in early May.
The winning duo will join golfers from Great Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in The R&A 9-Hole Challenge Final, played on the Friday prior to The Open.
They will also receive tickets to watch two practice days and two championship days of The Open and this wonderful prize includes airfare, hotel accommodation subsidy, green fees and a subsistence allowance.
“It’s an amazing prize that the R&A has offered and GolfRSA has added to,” said GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn. “Not many South Africans have the chance to either play on an Open rota course or watch The Open Championship in person, and we are giving two lucky golfers the chance to do both.”
Players will be eligible for the lucky draw if they meet the following criteria:
- GolfRSA affiliated member with a handicap with HNA
- South African citizen/passport holder
- Adult over 18 years of age
- Played three rounds of nine holes of golf in the month of April at any club in South Africa, with scores captured on the HNA system
Golfers will have the chance to play their way into The R&A 9-Hole Challenge Final through a series of qualifying events.
“Each club in South Africa will run their own internal competition or series to pick their top club pair to represent the club in the GolfRSA Race to The R&A 9 Hole Challenge,” said Hepburn. “Club pairs will play in a GolfRSA regional tournament, with the regional winners going to a National Final in the month of April 2024. The final winners will represent South Africa at The R&A 9 Hole Challenge Final in 2024 at Royal Troon in Scotland.
“I encourage all our handicapped golfers to take up this wonderful opportunity – contact your club for more information and make sure you are in the draw for this incredible prize by playing and registering your three nine-hole rounds as soon as possible.”
The draw for the lucky pair in this year’s GolfRSA Race to The R&A 9 Hole Challenge will be done live on the GolfRSA Facebook channel – venue, date and time to be advised in due course.