Get ready for an exhilarating showcase of talent as the prestigious €300,000 Joburg Ladies Open returns to the greens as the first of two Sunshine Ladies Tour events co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour, this thrilling tournament is set to take place at the picturesque Modderfontein Golf Club from 18 to 21 April 2024.
Joburg Ladies Open will see over 100 world’s finest female golfers compete for glory over four days of top-tier golfing action. Beyond the riveting sport, the Joburg Ladies Open carries a profound message, resonating with the theme of restoring “Dignity for a Girl Child.” It’s not just about the game; it’s about empowering and uplifting young girls, advocating for their rights and dignity.
Through the heartwarming initiative of the Joburg Ladies Open campaign, “Birdies for Dignity,” presented in collaboration with retail-store company, Spar. As the tournament unfolds, every birdie made by a professional golfer holds a special significance. For each remarkable birdie made throughout the tournament, a dignity sanitary pack will be generously donated to young girls in need.
The Johannesburg Ladies Open has consistently strived to uplift and echo the aspirations of our city’s residents. Executive Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda emphasised, “This year’s tournament truly epitomises the spirit of a caring City, evident in initiatives such as the Birdies for Dignity initiative.”
“This initiative is a key element of what the Joburg Ladies Open represents as a tournament that celebrates excellence in women’s sport while at the same time inspiring a generation of young girls that nothing should hold them back in chasing their own dreams,” said Mayor Gwamanda.
Mayor Gwamanda expressed delight at the opportunity to host international events of this calibre and to showcase the City’s outstanding amenities.
“We have world-class sporting facilities, and it gives us with the opportunity to host these large events. This will benefit our economy, notably the tourism industry.
“It’s important for us as a City and as a tournament driven by women to restore and maintain the dignity of girl children,” said Mayor Gwamanda.
He applauded the partnership between the City of Johannesburg and Spar for the birdies for dignity campaign to reward every birdie made by professional golfers during the tournament with a dignity sanitary pack for schoolgirls in less privileged regions in the City.
“The initiative started last year and already provided for thousands of dignity packs to young girls of Zenzeleni Primary School in Alexandra,” added Mayor Gwamanda.
It’s a source of tremendous pride for Bongi Mokaba, the Director of Events for the City of Joburg, and the tournament promoter who was also once a young girl growing up in Thembisa chasing her dreams in sport and who today leads the team that organises prestigious golf tournaments in City of Johannesburg including the Joburg Open on the men’s Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour and the Joburg Ladies Open on the Sunshine Ladies Tour and Ladies European Tour.
“No girl should ever have to miss school or something important in her life because of a natural occurrence in her body. It’s up to us as a society to ensure that this doesn’t happen, and especially not to young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. Being disadvantaged doesn’t discriminate against your natural talent and potential, but it does often discriminate against your opportunities. So, it is up to us to help that talent to blossom by creating the necessary opportunities through initiatives such as ‘Birdies for Dignity’,” said Mokaba.
As a major sports event, the Joburg Ladies Open carries with it a strong message of hope for the young girls of South Africa, and specifically those in the less privileged areas.
This is a tournament that made South African sports history when it became the first women’s professional golf tournament to be played at the refurbished Soweto Country Club.
“As a woman who was born in a township, it’s been a dream come true to see how we as the City of Johannesburg have been able to grow the international status of the Joburg Ladies Open and keep inspiring our young girls,” said Mokaba.
“If you can plant the seed of possibility in a young girl and give her the tools to carry herself with dignity in her daily life, that’s when the magic of what happens inside the ropes at the Joburg Ladies Open changes lives outside the ropes as well.”
“Exciting developments await spectators this year! As we gear up for the upcoming Joburg Ladies Open, we’re thrilled to introduce a host of captivating incentives. One such highlight is the ‘Beat The Pro MSC Cruise’ for participants in the pre-event competition. It’s shaping up to be an event you won’t want to miss. In partnership with MSC Cruise, lucky winners will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip,” announced Mokaba.
“We’ve also collaborated with Group Finance to organise Open Days during the series of Joburg Ladies Open activations leading up to the tournament. These sessions aim to provide assistance to our customers with any account queries they may have,” Mokaba added.
Joburg Ladies Open is a free entry tournament for spectators: Register for your complimentary tickets at www.sunshinetour.com
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