THERE I was eventually inside Steyn City, the sprawling forested luxury private estate established by Nelson Mandela’s ‘son’, Douw Steyn – the late Afrikaner billionaire who back in 1992 provided the Struggle icon with sanctuary (The Saxon) from which he could pen his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.
I’ve went past the insurance tycoon’s empire (which features a commercial City Centre, a 45km promenade, a 300m lagoon, an equestrian center, a school, a hotel, indoor/outdoor gyms, a helistop and R60 million plus priced apartments) on numerous instances and had always purposed to visit it – eventually setting my feet on its expanse on March 19, for the commencement of the much-anticipated LIV Golf South Africa tournament, at the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, The Club at Steyn City.
Modelled along a “live, work, play” lifestyle, I was gobsmacked by what I experienced within the green environment in the form of the razzmatazz generated by the LIV Golf League’s debut in South Africa!
For a fan of the sport who has mainly followed and reported on the league’s rival, viz, the DP World Tour – I was in for an ‘etiquette shock’ in the form of the razzmatazz which is LIV’s intentional modus operandi.
Among the contrasts in which the league is structured is that: it is played over 54 holes (its name LIV represents the Roman numeral for 54) as opposed to the statutory 72 – which it has since adopted – and each of the 48 players plays all rounds for 3 days sans any being cut-off.
(I mused at the unusual sight of Spain’s Sergio Garcia putting on the 18th whilst music was blaring out loud and while a marshal beyond the ropes held a “Quiet Please” sign among a raucous spectator gallery!)
A jovial moment occurred when America’s U.S. Open 2020 and 2024 champion, Bryson DeChambeau and spectators horsed around midway en-route to the 18th, after his drive had veered off the fairway (see this post’s accompanying image).
Whilst awaiting his turn, the affable golfer allowed some to snap selfies with himself – as a chorus sang out an improvised chorus consisting of his names’ abbreviation, in praise!
Two days after, a headlines-generating moment happened during Round Three when South Africa’s Southern Guards GC team member Dean Burmester put on a Bafana Bafana jersey on one of the rounds — an intentional show of national pride which he explained as being part of the “Football Friday” vibe expressed in support of South Africa’s men senior football team ahead of upcoming international football events. Such was the camaraderie betwixt the golfers and the public gallery!
DeChambeau prowled the manicured fairways with fellow American majors winners, viz, Phil Mickelson (6-time major winner), Bubba Watson (Masters 2012 and 2014) and Dustin Johnson (Masters 2020 and U.S. Open 2016).
Other international grand slammers on display were Burmester’s teammates Louis Oosthuizen (Open Championship 2010) and Charl Schwartzel (Masters 2011) – as well as Germany’s Martin Kaymer (PGA 2010 and U.S. Open 2014); Spain’s Jon Rahm (Masters champion, 2023) and Sergio Garcia (Masters 2017); Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (U.S. Open 2010); Australia’s Cameron Smith (Open Championship 2022).
Thirteen teams comprising four players each partook in the event, with DeChambeau’s Crushers GC winning the team competition by a single stroke to pip the South African team.
Came Sunday’s Final Round, DeChambeau triumphed with a total score of 20-under-par across the tournament. He sealed the victory with a strong final round, finishing a few shots clear at the top of the leaderboard.
He went away $4 million richer for winning the individual event – while his Crushers GC team earned $3 million plus a $1 million bonus.
With ticket sales (around 90,000+) were ultimately exceeded with sell-outs on the weekend – the South African tournament translated into one of the best-attended LIV Golf events globally, especially for a first-time tournament in a new country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the tourney on the final day and took time to interact with attendees by snapping pictures with some – with his visit regarded as the South African government’s support for the event.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who also attended the tournament, framed it as a global sporting and cultural festival combining sport, music, entertainment and tourism – further alluding to its benefits to the country’s economy accrued through, inter alia, local and international visitors’ spending estimated into the hundred millions of rands.
Vendors in merchandise, food, beverages and miscellaneous trading were visibly some of the stakeholders who gained from the four-day spectacle – which could only augur well for an ailing economy such as South Africa’s.
Local celebrities spotted at the event were ex-footballer Doctor Khumalo, TV personality Unathi Mkhize, actress Zola Nombona, rapper Yanga Chief, et al. – while musicians and performers such as Black Coffee, Calvin Harris and Gold Fish headed the bill of performers who entertained the crowds throughout the four days of the event.
The victor, DeChambeau – who revealed that he had went through personal challenges during the week of play – summed up the event by saying: “South Africa was unbelievable,” and further referred to the tourney as “the best LIV Golf event we have ever had.”
Hardly had the vendors and organizers commenced with the packing up of the temporary infrastructure such as the VIP stands dotting the length and breadth of the estate was it announced that the event will be making a return in April 2027 – with a substantial percentage of tickets for its next iteration already beginning to be snapped!
As a signage at the 17th hope proclaimed: Long Liv Golf!
Image Jacob MAWELA (Bryson DeChambeau, the American golfer who is twice a US Open champion, limned enroute to the 18th of the Steyn City golf course during First Round of the LIV Golf South Africa tournament).
