Golf tourism constitutes a vital segment of the global travel and tourism marketplace. The overwhelming success of World Golf Awards™ over the past decade has created excitement within golf tourism, ensuring year-on-year growth. Sun City being recognised as South Africa’s Best Golf Hotel 2025 could not come at a better time as the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge (NGC) tees off at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club on Thursday, 4 December 2025. Over the course of the next four days, an estimated 74 000 visitors and invited guests will arrive to watch some of the world’s greatest players battle it out on the fairways and the greens.
The NGC is one of the highlights of the South African sports and social calendar and has consistently drawn the biggest names in world golf.
Since its opening in 1979, the 18-hole par-72 course designed by Gary Player has been acknowledged as South Africa’s premier championship test. The home of the Nedbank Golf Challenge since 1981, this immaculately groomed layout has received rave reviews from the world’s top golfers, who agree that it is both demanding and fair.
CAPTION: The Lost City Golf Course Clubhouse
Off the course, the club’s restaurant and bar overlook magnificent stretches of fairways and greens. Breakfast and light lunches are served to both golfers and non-golfers. The bar is open to enjoy refreshments, and snacks are available to golfers at the Halfway House at the ninth hole.
A fully equipped health club and spa offer a full range of beauty treatments and therapies, including a hair salon. Other facilities include chipping green, gym, locker facilities, pro shop, club hire, putting green, showers and a steam room
Often referred to as the “Main Hotel”, the Sun City Hotel and Casino was the first hotel to be built on the resort. This four-star Sun City accommodation is right at the heart of Sun City, and is central to all the activities and things to do at the resort, earning its title of South Africa’s Best Golf Hotel 2025.
CAPTION: The Sun City Hotel is currently undergoing a refurbishment
A beloved 47-year-old landmark, the hotel is currently on a three-year refurbishment journey, with the second phase nearing completion this month, and in time for the NGC. Guests can choose from nine room types ranging from family to luxury accommodation in the hotel where the Sun City legend began.
Ahead of the NGC, some key strategic and aesthetic changes have been made to the course, with the goal of challenging players and thrilling spectators, and an elevated hospitality experience for fans.
“When it comes to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, these players are the best in the world and we want to keep challenging them while also keeping the balance so it remains exciting for the fans to watch,” said Ken Payet, the Tournament Director.
“We’re in a good space in terms of our preparation. We’ve had some good rain. We’ve fertilised the rough so that’s definitely going to kick in. We’re very pleased with the players we’ve announced, including a lot of South Africans who are playing great golf this year. So the stars just need to align in order to bring it all together in tournament week.”
The enhancements to the golf course are matched by amplification of the fan hospitality experience this year.
The Hospitali-TEE Lounge – an expanded VIP hospitality option for the public – is offering a first-of-its-kind in the history of “Africa’s Major”, with fans gaining exclusive 18th hole grandstand access as well as player autograph opportunities, a photo opportunity with the Nedbank Golf Challenge trophy, a voucher to the value of R500 per ticket purchased for official Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise at The Pro Shop at Sun City, and a range of other benefits.
The Sunbet Signs on 18th viewing seating area will make its debut this year, offering a prime viewing experience in comfortable director’s chairs right alongside the 18th fairway and close to where most of the professionals will land their tee shots.
Resort guests and day visitors have the opportunity to test themselves on this championship course.