Quick facts
- Dates: Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 February 2027.
- Venue: Durban Country Club, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
- Fly into: King Shaka International, Durban, with connections from Johannesburg and Cape Town.
- Where to stay: Umhlanga, about 20 to 30 minutes up the coast from the course.
- Suggested trip: 8 to 10 days, including two or three nights on safari.
Plan my trip
Tell us what you have in mind
We will respond to your enquiry within one working day. Give us your dates, how many are traveling, and what appeals. We’ll send back an outline itinerary. No obligation, no follow-up sales calls.
Why go?
The Alfred Dunhill Championship is moving from its long-time home at Leopard Creek to one of the most famous courses in Africa, with the prize fund rising to US$2 million. Not to be confused with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, this is the South African event, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Sunshine Tour.
Durban Country Club opened in 1922 and runs through the dunes beside the Indian Ocean. It has hosted the South African Open a record 18 times. Gary Player won it here twice, Ernie Els won the centenary Open here in 2010, and Dylan Naidoo won the 2025 edition here. The course reopened in 2024 after an extensive upgrade and was ranked eighth in South Africa in 2025.
Coastal wind changes it every day, so you will see the best players in the world work for their scores. Watch the opening five holes, the long par-5 3rd as it drops from a high tee into the valley, and the Prince of Wales hole, the par-3 12th.
What we take care of
- A hotel in Umhlanga or on the Ballito coast, matched to your group.
- Transfers from King Shaka International and to the course on tournament days.
- Your own rounds at Zimbali, Mount Edgecombe and Prince’s Grant.
- Two or three nights at a private Big 5 lodge in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
- Advice on which tournament days to choose, and a plan built around them.
- A host with your group from arrival to departure, and support around the clock.
A sample tournament itinerary
Every trip is tailored. This is one way to spend the week.
Day 1, Monday 22 February.
Your host meets you at King Shaka International and takes you to your hotel in Umhlanga. Welcome drinks overlooking the ocean.
Day 2, Tuesday 23 February.
Golf at Zimbali Lakes, an Ernie Els signature course, then drinks at the clubhouse.
Day 3, Wednesday 24 February.
Golf at Mount Edgecombe or Zimbali Country Club. Sundowners on the coast.
Day 4, Thursday 25 February.
Round one at Durban Country Club.
Day 5, Friday 26 February.
Round two, when you will see the whole field before the cut.
Day 6, Saturday 27 February.
Moving day at the course, or a morning round at Prince’s Grant.
Day 7, Sunday 28 February.
The final round, then dinner in Umhlanga.
Day 8, Monday 1 March.
Transfer north to a private Big 5 lodge. Evening game drive and dinner in the boma.
Day 9, Tuesday 2 March.
Morning and afternoon game drives, with time at the lodge in between.
Day 10, Wednesday 3 March.
Back to King Shaka for your flight home, or on to Cape Town for the SA Open, which starts the next day.
T’s and C’s Apply.
Want to play Durban Country Club itself? It is part of our regular East Coast itinerary, so we can book it before the tournament week or on a future visit.
Every trip is tailored to you, and personally hosted.
Courses to play around the tournament
Durban Country Club is closed for the event, so we fit your own golf around it.
Zimbali Lakes
An Ernie Els signature course near Ballito.
Zimbali Country Club
Stunning forest and ocean views.
Mount Edgecombe Country Club
Two courses just inland from Umhlanga.
Prince’s Grant Golf Estate
A coastal course further north.
Cotswold Downs Golf & Country Estate
Inland, near Hillcrest.
Umhlali Country Club
Popular championship course near Ballito.
Beyond the golf…
Big 5 safari
private reserves such as Phinda and Manyoni are a few hours’ drive north.
The coast
Warm Indian Ocean beaches, Umhlanga’s promenade and some of the country’s best seafood.
Zulu culture and history
A traditional village, local markets or the historic battlefields.
The South African Swing
Stay on for the SA Open in Stellenbosch the following week, and the Joburg Open the week after.
Tickets and getting in
Spectator tickets are sold by the tournament, not by Matko Golf Travel, and details for the 2027 championship at Durban Country Club have not been announced yet. When they are, we will tell you which days to buy and plan the rest of your week around them.
Testimonials That Speak for Themselves
Frequently asked questions
When is the Alfred Dunhill Championship 2027?
Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 February 2027, at Durban Country Club.
Is it still played at Leopard Creek?
Not in 2027. The championship moves to Durban Country Club. Leopard Creek is still on our Sun City & Kruger itinerary if you would like to play it.
Is this the same as the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship?
No. The Links Championship is played in Scotland every October. This is the South African event.
Can I play Durban Country Club?
Not during tournament week. It is on our regular East Coast itinerary, so we can book a round at another time.
Do you sell tickets?
No. Tickets are sold by the tournament. We will let you know when they go on sale and which days to choose.
What is the weather like in late February?
It is late summer on the coast: hot and humid, with the chance of rain and a sea breeze that affects play. Light clothing, a hat and a rain jacket are the essentials.
Do I need malaria tablets for the safari?
Some reserves in northern KwaZulu-Natal are in a low-risk malaria area. Ask your doctor before you travel, and we can suggest lodges that suit your preference.
Matko Golf Travel is an independent tour operator. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Joburg Open, its sponsors, the DP World Tour or the Sunshine Tour.
Plan my Alfred Dunhill Championship trip
Tell us your dates, group size and how much golf you want to play, and we will send a tailored proposal. If you are thinking of adding the SA Open or Joburg Open, say so on the form and we will plan the route.