Nedbank Golf Challenge 2026
Quick facts
- Dates: Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026. Pro-Am days on 1 and 2 December.
- Venue: Gary Player Country Club, Sun City Resort, North West Province.
- Fly into: OR Tambo International, Johannesburg. Sun City is about two to two and a half hours by road.
- Where to stay: The Palace of the Lost City, Cascades or the Sun City Hotel, all inside the resort.
- Suggested trip: 8 to 10 days, with an optional Kruger extension.
Plan my tournament 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 Nedbank Golf Challenge has been played at Sun City since 1981, when Johnny Miller beat Seve Ballesteros in a playoff. Six years later Ian Woosnam won golf’s first million-dollar prize here. The 2026 edition is the 44th, and it is played in honour of Gary Player on the course he designed.
The early field includes Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau, defending champion Kristoffer Reitan, Marco Penge and South Africa’s Casey Jarvis. They will find a different course this year: a new 470-metre par-4 first hole, refurbished bunkers and a larger dam on the 2nd, on a layout that now runs close to 8,000 yards from the back tees.
It is also a week at Sun City, so the evenings take care of themselves. The resort has live music lined up across the weekend, from Scorpion Kings at the Valley of Waves on Friday to DJ Shimza on Sunday.
What we take care of
- Accommodation at the resort, chosen to suit your group and budget.
- Transfers from Johannesburg to Sun City and back, and to the course on tournament days.
- Your own rounds before the tournament, in Johannesburg and at Sun City.
- A game drive in the Pilanesberg, the malaria-free Big 5 reserve beside the resort.
- Restaurant bookings for tournament week, when the resort is at its busiest.
- Advice on which tournament days to buy, 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, Sunday 29 November.
Your host meets you at OR Tambo International and takes you to your hotel in Sandton. Welcome drinks and a run through the week.
Day 2, Monday 30 November.
Golf at River Club or Royal Johannesburg & Kensington, two of the city’s great parkland courses. Evening at leisure.
Day 3, Tuesday 1 December.
Transfer to Sun City and check in. Spend the afternoon at the Pro-Am or by the pool.
Day 4, Wednesday 2 December.
Morning round at the Lost City Golf Course, subject to tournament-week availability. Evening game drive in the Pilanesberg.
Day 5, Thursday 3 December.
Round one at Gary Player Country Club. Follow a group around the course or settle into a grandstand.
Day 6, Friday 4 December.
Round two, then a free evening. The resort’s Friday night concert is a short walk away.
Day 7, Saturday 5 December.
Moving day at the course, or a day off at the spa or on a second game drive.
Day 8, Sunday 6 December.
The final round, followed by a celebration dinner.
Day 9, Monday 7 December.
Transfer to OR Tambo for your flight home, or carry on to the Kruger or Mauritius.
T’s and C’s Apply.
Want to play Gary Player Country Club itself? We can book it at another point in your trip, or on a future visit.
Every trip is tailored to you, and personally hosted.
Beyond the golf…
Pilanesberg National Park
A malaria-free Big 5 reserve right beside the resort, ideal for a morning or evening game drive.
The Resort
The Valley of Waves, restaurants, the casino and pools.
The Kruger Park
Add three nights at a private lodge, with a round at Leopard Creek.
Mauritius
The tour moves to the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open the following week, 10 to 13 December. Our Mauritius golf package makes an easy next stop.
Tickets and getting in
| Day | Date | Price Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Pro-Am Days | Tue 1 & Wed 2 Dec | R250 |
| Rounds One & Two | Thu 3 & Fri 4 Dec | R450 |
| Round Three & Final Round | Sat 5 & Sun 6 Dec | R500 |
| Hospitali-TEE Lounge | Thu 3 to Sun 6 Dec | from R8,250 |
Up to two children under 18 get in free with each adult ticket, and a ticket includes access to the Sun City resort. 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 Nedbank Golf Challenge 2026?
Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026, at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City. The Pro-Am days are 1 and 2 December.
How do I get from Johannesburg to Sun City?
By road, which takes about two to two and a half hours from OR Tambo. We arrange your transfers both ways.
Can I play Gary Player Country Club during tournament week?
No, the course is closed for the event. We can book you a round at another point in your trip, and Lost City Golf Course is next door.
Do you sell Nedbank Golf Challenge tickets?
No. Tickets are sold by the tournament. We will tell you which days to buy and plan your week around them.
Is there malaria at Sun City?
The Pilanesberg is a malaria-free area. If you add the Kruger to your trip, ask your doctor for advice before you travel.
What is the weather like in early December?
It is summer, so expect hot days and the chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. Pack a hat, sunscreen and a light rain jacket.
Matko Golf Travel is an independent tour operator. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Nedbank Golf Challenge, Nedbank, Sun International, the DP World Tour or the Sunshine Tour.
Plan my Nedbank Golf Challenge trip
You could put this together yourself. It would take weeks, and you’d be making judgment calls about lodges and courses you’ve never seen. What you’re really getting is somebody who knows the country traveling with you, and a trip where everything is already handled.