One of South Africa’s toughest and most well-known courses plays host to this week’s SuperSport Ladies Challenge which gets underway on Wednesday.

When legendary golfer Gary Player designed the course with Ron Kirby, the aim was to create a modern layout that would become a stern challenge for the world’s best golfers. It certainly succeeded in that regard and the iconic Gary Player Country Club has hosted more than 70 pro Tour events since its inception in 1979, with the Nedbank Golf Challenge perhaps being the most famous.

Several changes have taken place to ensure the course, which is one of the longest in Africa, remains one of the toughest on any tour. This par-72 parkland gem with kikuyu fairways and bent greens measures in at just over 7,000m from the tips.

Built in an extinct volcanic crater, the course runs through the bush and past lakes, with strategically places bunkers and water hazards protecting the greens. Poor drives will find dense bush and the finest of touches are needed on the putting surfaces which are slick, to put it mildly.

Standout holes include the par-four 17th which was built for the 2003 Nedbank Challenge. It is one of the most demanding holes on the course and is the second most difficult hole at may of the events. The par-five ninth is the signature hole and features an island green that the longest drivers may be tempted to reach in two shots.

Gary Player Country Club enjoys an idyllic setting, with the world-class facilities and wildlife on its doorstep adding to its massive appeal.

DID YOU KNOW

• The Gary Player Country Club has hosted around 100 professional tour events in the past 45 years
• Gary Player Country Club hosted the Women’s World Cup from 2006 to 2008
• The only range at Sun City is at the Lost City Course. The Gary Player Country Club has a chipping and putting green