ASCOT GOLF CHALLENGE 21-27 MARCH 2009 SOUTH AFRICA
White River – Mpumalanga – South Africa
21 – 27 March 2009
“A unique South African tournament that is as much about socialising as it is about the competition”. The African Lowveld is calling! This unique South African tournament is as much about socialising as it is about the competition.
The 2009 event is set to be unforgettable with 4 competition rounds on White River Country Club, Sabi River Bungalows and Nelspruit Golf Club, festive dinners each night and a full day safari into Kruger National Park included.
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TOURNAMENT ITINERARY – TEAMS OF 4 GOLFERS
SATURDAY 21 MAR 2009
On arrival at Kruger Mplumalanga International Airport you will be met by an Ascot Golf Tours representative and assisted with your luggage. Follow the representative to the vehicle which will transfer you to the resort situated 25 minutes from the airport. After checking into your hotel, spend the rest of the day exploring the surrounding area. This evening we break the ice with a BBQ around the pool, the perfect opportunity to get to know the competition!
Overnight at Greenway Woods
Tucked away in the north-east corner of South Africa, the Lowveld is a world with a pace all of its own. And at the centre of this world lies Greenway Woods, the premier leisure resort in Mpumalanga. Whether you require the perfect conference venue or a special place to escape to, Greenway Woods has it all – superb accommodation, excellent service, delectable cuisine and an enviable setting in one of South Africa’s most beautiful locations.
Situated near a lake and an eighteen hole golf course, close to the town of White River, Greenway Woods provides excellent accommodation in luxury three-bedroomed suites as well as splendid cuisine.
The hotel offers the ideal base from which to explore the many Lowveld attractions including the Kruger Park and Blyde River Canyon, and the host of outdoor activities on offer allow guests and delegates to enjoy this beautiful area at their leisure.
SUNDAY 22 MAR 2009
After a leisurely breakfast, make your way through to the clubhouse for the first of four competition rounds of golf.
White River Golf Club
Designed By: Gary Player and Reg Taylor
Type: Parklands
Holes: 18 Par: 71
Fairway Grass: Kikuyu / Greens Grass: Bayview
Length: Championship: 6036m
White River Golf Course was designed by Gary Player initially as a 9-hole course and later revamped to an exciting 18-hole layout. The course offers a great challenge to the amateur and professional golfer.
Gary Player and Reg Taylor played a part in the design and the course is invariably enjoyed by golfers of all levels. Two of the par-fives, namely number 7 and number 11 are comparable to the Augusta National in their beauty, challenge and abundance of water.
Approximately an hour from Kruger National Park and several Private Game Reserves, the White River Country Club meanders gently through a valley. Forests and river frontages are part of the delightful vistas to be experienced here.
The course follows the natural undulations of the valley and regularly criss-crosses the White River which provides memorable challenges, both alongside fairways and fronting some of the greens.
Dinner at Leisure & Overnight at Greenway Woods
MONDAY 23 MAR 2009
Day two of the competition and after a leisurely breakfast, you will be collected and transferred to Sabi River Bungalows for your competition round of golf.
Sabi River Bungalows
Designed by Golf Data
18 Holes / Par 71
Fairway Grass: Kikuyu
Length: Men – 5778m; Ladies – 4822m
Alongside Nelspruit and White River, the Sabi River Bungalows course is one of only three 18-hole courses in the exquisitely beautiful Mpumalanga lowveld. It has an abundance of water features, some of which are the home of crocodiles and hippo’s, as well as being a haven for a variety of indigenous birds.
Set among mature trees, cradled beneath the surrounding hills of the Sabi escarpment, Sabi River Bungalows is the highlight of any golf tour. In close proximity are the world famous Kruger National Park, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window, Blyde River Canyon, Pilgrim’s rest and many other places of interest.
Dinner at Leisure & Overnight at Greenway Woods
TUESDAY 24 MAR 2009
Today we take a break from the competition to enjoy a Full Day Kruger Safari. You will be collected at 04:30 and as soon as Kruger’s Gates open, we will enter in search of the Big 5.
An early morning wake up and departure for the Kruger National Park, in time to catch the sounds of the animal kingdom as the day moves from darkness to dawn.
The animals of the night slip back into their hiding places and the day time feeders start their search for food. Listen to the distinct difference as the night time birds become quiet and the chirps of the morning birdlife fills the air.
Home to Africa’s Big Five – Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo, the Kruger is an excellent game reserve for game viewing and it is very seldom visitors to the park are disappointed.
As well as the big five there are numerous plains animals as well as a fantastic bird population and plant kingdom.
We will break for a picnic lunch in one of the camps along the way and if game-viewing allows, we will stay in the park until closing time!
Dinner at Leisure & Overnight at Greenway Woods
WEDNESDAY 25 MAR 2009
Today you have a chance to see if you can improve on your first round! After a leisurely breakfast, make your way once again to White River Country Club for the third competition round.
Dinner at Leisure & Overnight at Greenway Woods
THURSDAY 26 MAR 2009
After a leisurely breakfast you will be collected and transferred through to Nelspruit for the final competition round.
Nelspruit Golf Club
Designed By: Bob Grimmsdell and Peter Matkovitch
Holes: 18
Par: 71
Length: Men: 6074m; Ladies: 5234m
Nelspruit Golf Club, with its spectacular backdrop of kopjes, boasts a well-established, attractive Lowveld layout that dates back to 1939. The golf course is a Bob Grimsdell design with a curious history: It was a 9-holer for nearly 30 years before Grimsdell returned to complete a second nine. The course was left largely untouched until Peter Matkovich lead an extensive upgrade.
The course is not long or overly difficult to play, the signature hole being the 498-metre 14th, the only par 5 on the back nine. From an elevated tee, a generous tree-lined fairway runs away gradually to a green surrounded by bunkers. There is the option of going for the green in two, but for high handicappers the safe bet is to lay up.
Straddling the 6th and 18th fairways is the biggest fig tree you are ever likely to see. If your ball lands anywhere near it, there is little chance of going for either green in two. Just imagine trying to play over, around or through a five-storey building spanning some 40 metres at its widest point!
After our final competition round of golf, we return to Greenway Woods for a Gala Prize Giving dinner of note! Greenway Woods’ African Restaurant, Injabula Boma, will be the center of festivities with the Injabula Band entertaining us late in to the African night.
African Restaurant, Injabula Boma, will be the center of festivities with the Injabula Band entertaining us late in to the African night.
Overnight at Greenway Woods
FRIDAY 27 MAR 2009
After breakfast check out of your room and spend the rest of the day at leisure. You will be transferred to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in time for your connecting flight home. You are welcome to return for the 2010 Ascot Golf Challenge! Of course the winners will be there to defend their title as their prize.
TEAMS & ENTRY
Entries for teams of four are open until 30 November 2008 and the winning team returns in 2010 to defend their title for FREE!
PACKAGE INCLUDES
Return road transfers between Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Greenway Woods Resort
6 nights’ accommodation at Greenway Woods Resort in Standard Rooms on Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis
4 Competitive Rounds of Golf: White River Country Club x 2, Sabi River Bungalows & Nelspruit Golf Club
Return road transfers between Sabi River Bungalows & Nelspruit Golf Club and Greenway Woods Resort
Welcome BBQ Dinner around the pool, including drinks allowance
Full Day Kruger Safari
Gala Dinner with drinks allocation and entertainment
Individual and Team Prizes
Team Shirt and Cap for each participant
Local Tour Representative on site
PRICES
£1039 pp (twin occupancy)
£166 pp (single occupany supplement)
Please note that prices based on team of 4 golfers.
All packages, prices subject to availability and change dependant on exchange rate fluctuations.
Please note that flights are not included in the package.
All subject to availability at the time of booking.
For further information or to book your place please call us on 0161 703 5811 or send enquiries to info@golftravelclub.com. or complete the enquiry form.
