To mark the 17th edition of the prestigious Joburg Open Internal Golf Tournament, golfers, guests, and sponsors gathered at Houghton Golf Club on the evening of Monday, 3 March 2025 for the sponsors’ welcome function.
In recent weeks, the City of Johannesburg has been in the global spotlight, hosting or launching several premier international events, including the U20 Summit, which the City is co-chairing alongside the City of Tshwane, and the G20. The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Dada Morero, addressed guests at the gala dinner, underlining the significance of these events for the City.
“As we prepare for the G20 and the African Forum on Urban Forests (AFUF), these gatherings reaffirm Joburg’s role as a global City driving innovation and economic growth. Today, we also look forward to the Joburg Open, which tees off on Thursday morning. I will hit the opening shot to officially launch the tournament. These events showcase our City’s commitment to nurturing international partnerships, investment, and excellence across various sectors,” said Mayor Morero.
He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors for their steadfast support, even during challenging economic times.
“As a City, we continue to improve thanks to the investment made by organisations such as the DP World Tour and the Sunshine Tour. Our partnership, dating back to 2007, has grown from strength to strength, and I believe we can all agree that together we have achieved remarkable milestones.”
The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance, Margaret Arnolds, welcomed guests and extended appreciation to the sponsors, including the Sunshine Tour, DP World Tour, Hampton by Hilton Hotel, Hyundai, PMG Provantage, Stella Artois, Glenlivet, CIB Insurance, World of Golf, MyGolfLife, Nespresso, Standard Chartered, Gauteng Provincial Government, and Norwood Mall.
“We truly appreciate your contributions, and we always look forward to this event as it remains one of the most significant highlights on our calendar. It has been a fantastic journey with our existing sponsors, and we are excited to welcome new sponsors on board. We look forward to working together to further develop the sport in our country,” said MMC Arnolds.
Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, highlighted the global reach and impact of the Joburg Open, which has been showcasing the City of Johannesburg to millions of television viewers worldwide since its inception in 2007.
“The Joburg Open will reach over 200 million viewers across the world, reinforcing Joburg’s ability to organise and host world-class events,” said Abt.
The MMC for Community Development, Cllr Tebogo Nkokou, emphasised the tournament’s role in opening doors for young stars in golf. He acknowledged the sponsors and partners of the City for their continued support in making the Joburg Open a success year after year.
“On behalf of the City of Johannesburg, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the City and entity officials who have made the 2025 Joburg Open possible, as well as the sponsors who have invested significant resources and time to ensure the needs of the 156 golfers are met and that tournament attendees can enjoy themselves in a beautiful and safe environment,” MMC Nkokou said.
Golfers Tristan Galant and Musiwalo Nethunzwi also expressed their appreciation to the City for the opportunity to compete in the Joburg Open.
“Growing up in Cape Town, a City known for both its beauty and its challenges, life could have taken many different paths. For youngsters like myself, the road hasn’t always been easy. But the opportunity I’ve been given to participate in the Joburg Open has been life-changing. It has allowed me to showcase my talent, grow my game, and compete with the best of the best. I’m truly grateful to the City of Johannesburg for opening this door for me and many others, proving that with the right support, dreams can become reality,” Galant said.
Joburg Open is open to spectators from Thursday 6 March to Sunday 9 March. Tickets are available on the Sunshine Tour website.
INFO SUPPLIED.
