Staff WriterAfter years of basking under the hazy Lowveld sun at Leopard Creek, the Alfred Dunhill Championship is packing its bags — albeit temporarily — and heading back to where it all began: Johannesburg. From 11–14 December 2025, the grand old tournament will once again tee off at the storied Royal Johannesburg Golf Club, reviving a chapter of South African golf history that hasn’t been turned since 2004.
The decision, announced by the Sunshine Tour and tournament organisers, is a nod to both practicality and nostalgia.
With Leopard Creek hosting both the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the R&A Africa Amateur Championship in quick succession during the sweltering summer, the course has cried uncle. The solution? Let the bushveld breathe and return to the highveld for a year.
“We’re delighted to be bringing the Alfred Dunhill Championship back to Johannesburg where it was played for the first five years of its existence, and are extremely grateful to Royal Johannesburg Golf Club for the opportunity,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.
If Leopard Creek is the poster child of safari-golf glamour, then Royal Johannesburg is its stately grandfather — seasoned, classic, and not afraid to bare its teeth.
The East Championship Course, which will host the tournament, is no pushover. It’s a layout that punishes hesitation and rewards precision, all framed by jacaranda trees and a century of golfing lore.
“Royal Johannesburg Golf Club’s East Championship Course is internationally renowned as a true championship venue and amongst the finest courses in Africa, and we look forward to showcasing the 2025 Alfred Dunhill Championship on such a challenging layout,” Abt added.
For those keeping score, the last time Johannesburg hosted this event was back when Tiger still had a full head of hair and Ernie Els was South Africa’s golfing sovereign.
From 2000 to 2004, Royal Johannesburg was the proving ground for champions and contenders alike. Now, two decades later, the capital’s fairways are ready once again to echo with roars, groans, and the occasional duck hook into the trees.
While the change is a one-off — Leopard Creek fans can rest easy — it’s a welcome jolt of variety for a tournament that knows its heritage and isn’t afraid to honour it.
Expect firm greens, fast fairways, and more than a few raised eyebrows from players used to the comforts of Mpumalanga.
The Alfred Dunhill Championship might be going home for just a year, but don’t mistake it for a quiet reunion. Johannesburg knows how to put on a show.
