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This golf course was laid out by Captain Lumsden (Scottish international) for Stephen Dyer on his farm named Virginia farm. In 1937 the course opened for play as an 11 hole course. Two years later the last seven holes were completed and brought into play. In the early years the golf club was known as Virginia Park golf club with its current name, South Downs country club, being adopted in the 1950s.

In 1949 Gary Players father bought him his first set of golf clubs and he played his first ever round of golf at Virginia Park golf club (now known as South Downs Country Club). There are also a few other notable professional golfers that played out of South Downs country club for example Bobby Verwey, Tienie Britz, Bobby Lincoln and Andre Cruse. (Golf digest article on facebook, 2020).

Like a lot of club’s, South Downs country club has an annual tournament or tradition that stretches far back into the history books. The South Down's Ryder cup has been played since 1989. The two teams that play in this tournament are Portugal vs South Africa.

The format that is played in this tournament is foursomes in the morning and in the afternoon they play singles and doubles match play.

Interesting fact about the South Down’s Ryder cup: In 2019 it was the first time ever that South Africa had won twice in a row since the beginning of the tournament in 1989.

The captain of the 2019 South African team was Gustav de Lange Snr and it was a great achievement as the first South African team to ever successfully defend their title.

Gustav Willem de Lange 2021