Mossel Bay, Garden Route (October 2022) – Mossel Bay is known for its sunny climes, no matter what the season; water sports and beaches that rival most around the globe; restaurants and getaways that lure South African and international tourists; semigrants looking for the best life…
The town is also an important node in a string of acclaimed golf courses along the length of the glorious Garden Route.
Quintin Byleveldt is golf director at Pinnacle Point – thrice winner of the World Golf Awards Best Course in SA prize, as well as the 2020 Best Course in Africa category. Byleveldt and his golfing staff ensured throughout the dismal Covid-19 lockdown years that this esteemed Southern Cape estate remained on the bucket list of many an international golfer.
And now this tourism boon for Mossel Bay boasts yet another feather in its well-worn golfing cap. An intricate part of the South African Sunshine Tour, Vodacom Origins of Golf (VOG) recently announced its selection of Pinnacle Point as host venue for its pro competition from October 24 to 30. This is exciting news for the local golfing fraternity, as well as the town’s status as iconic tourism hub.
Explains Byleveldt: “We’ve been planning to pitch for Vodacom Origins of Golf since the beginning of 2022. A new golfing committee had just been selected, and one of our goals was to host a Sunshine Tour event before the year was out, or to get one secured in the near future.
“We got lucky! Vodacom needed a venue for its final tournament and it was no surprise when Pinnacle Point emerged as top-candidate course. We are undoubtedly the best venue to host an affair of this nature, taking into account our reputation for well-run golf events as well as functions, seminars, and the like.”
Byleveldt says the VOG/Sunshine Tour deal was signed and sealed by June, and since then all of his team members’ combined planning prowess was focussed on getting the course ready for the pros – no mean feat, as capricious weather conditions and a dearth of winter rainfall presented a unique set of challenges.
Golfers of the Bay: VIPs for a day!
“VIP luncheons that form part of the event have been initiated by our Pinnacle Point organising team – much like the Nedbank Gold Challenge hospitality tents,” explains Byleveldt. He says the Sunshine Tour Live VIP Lunch offering allows visitors to view the pro golfing action up close and personal, and enjoy exquisite lunch experiences between October 27 and 30, from 11am to 3pm daily.
Tickets at R9,999 for four include VIP access, mouth-watering meals and drinks, live entertainment and promotions, putting competitions and activations, and gift packs for those fortunate enough to nab one of only 20 packages.
“We invited our top VIP members and homeowners to buy one of these packages and get ready to enjoy the day with us. It’s especially attractive to business folk, who buy the four-day deal, then get three of their best friends to come and watch the golf and revel in everything else on offer.”
Another bonus for Mossel Bay golfers and out-of-towners alike is a ‘Play like the Pros’ invitation from the generous Pinnacle Point crew: if you fancy playing on the same course as participants in a then freshly concluded Sunshine Tour course, sign up for a Better Ball Stableford Scramble Drive competition with its shotgun start at 12:30pm on October 31. Pinnacle Point members pay R349pp and visitors R599, with great prizes to be won.
Finally, it’s very worthy mentioning that the forthcoming VOG is the only live event in Mossel Bay set for exposure on SuperSport 1 – a huge benefit for the town and surrounds, and the value of just two days of broadcasting equating R1.5-million.
Contact golfbookings@pinnaclepointestate.co.za to secure your package or book your round, and if you need a spot to rest your weary head, click on www.visitmosselbay.co.za or call 044 691 2202 to reserve your stay in Iconic Mossel Bay.