The Alfred Dunhill Championship is set to make its debut at Durban Country Club in 2027, marking a new chapter in the course's rich golf legacy. The Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event will feature a $2m prize purse and take place from February 25 to 28. Durban Country Club has a long history of hosting major golf championships, including the South African Open, which it has hosted a record 18 times.
Durban Country Club has undergone significant changes in recent years, including an extensive redevelopment following the 2022 floods. The course has already proven its championship credentials, hosting the 2025 Investec SA Open, which was won by Dylan Naidoo in a play-off. Naidoo's victory was significant, as he became the first South African player of colour to win the national Open. The course's ability to host high-profile tournaments was further demonstrated by the 2026 Jonsson Workwear Durban Open, which was won by Oliver Bekker.
The addition of the Alfred Dunhill Championship to Durban Country Club's schedule is a significant coup for the venue. The tournament has a long history, and its move to Durban Country Club marks a new era for the event. The course has a reputation for demanding precision and patience from professional golfers, particularly when the coastal wind and weather begin to turn. This will provide a challenging test for the elite field of DP World Tour professionals.
Durban Country Club has a rich history of hosting big-name golfers, including Gary Player, Ernie Els, and Louis Oosthuizen. The course has been the stage for many memorable sporting moments, including Els' remarkable closing round of 63 to win the centenary SA Open in 2010. The venue's reputation as one of South Africa's premier championship courses is well-established, and the arrival of the Alfred Dunhill Championship is set to further enhance its credentials.
The Alfred Dunhill Championship is not the first DP World Tour-level event to be held at Durban Country Club. In 2013 and 2014, the venue hosted the Volvo Golf Champions, an exclusive European Tour event featuring players who had won tournaments during the previous season. Louis Oosthuizen won the event in both years, producing back-to-back victories against a strong field.
Durban Country Club's history of hosting major championships dates back to the 1950s, when Gary Player won the SA Open at the venue in 1956 and again in 1969. The course has continued to play host to many high-profile tournaments, including the SA Open, which has been won by some of the biggest names in golf. The addition of the Alfred Dunhill Championship to the schedule is set to continue this tradition.
The Alfred Dunhill Championship will bring together an elite field of DP World Tour professionals, providing a challenging test of golf at one of South Africa's premier championship courses. With its rich history and reputation for demanding precision and patience, Durban Country Club is the perfect stage for world-class golf. The tournament is set to be a major highlight of the golfing calendar in 2027.
Key points
- The Alfred Dunhill Championship will be played at Durban Country Club for the first time in 2027, with a $2m prize purse.
- Durban Country Club has a long history of hosting major golf championships, including the South African Open, which it has hosted a record 18 times.
- The course has undergone significant changes in recent years, including an extensive redevelopment following the 2022 floods.
