One of the first major golfing events of the year takes place this month at the world-class Fancourt Golf Resort in South Africa (19th – 22nd Jan).

Golfing fans across the globe are even more excited than usual about The European Tour Volvo Golf Champions, as it has been moved from its usual home in Bahrain to South Africa, a transition which has also been well-received by the players. South African participant, Charl Schwartzel, who won the Masters in 2011, is said to be particularly excited about playing in his native home.

Fancourt Golf Resort is home to three outstanding courses, all of which rank in South Africa’s top 20. It is the Links Course however, which ranked number 1 in last year’s Golf Digest listings, on which the Volvo Golf Champions will be played. Designed in 2000 by Gary Player, the Links Course is based on the leading courses in Ireland and Scotland, such as St Andrews and Killarney, and is as challenging as it is aesthetically pleasing.

The event is often referred to as the ‘Tournament of Champions’ and this has never rung so true, as this year the players only include those who won during 2011’s European Tour or who have won ten or more European Tours during their career (an exclusive group to say the least). The players will be battling it out over the 72 holes for the €2 million prize money, and every participant will have to play four rounds.

It seems that South Africa is the place to be for the start of the 2012 European Tour, as not only is it the new venue for the Volvo Golf Champions, it is also the host of the Africa Open and the Joburg Open.

Winter sun and world-class golf…we can’t imagine anything better. Here at Camiral we are gearing up for spring and keeping our swing in tip-top shape using our winter golfing tips, why not give them a go?