| Sport | Golf |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1970s |
| Ceased | c. 1993 |
| Countries | Botswana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Related competitions | European Tour Challenge Tour Sunshine Tour |
The Safari Circuit, or Safari Tour, was a small professional golf tour based in West and East Africa that ran from the 1970s through into the 1990s. [1] From 1977, the tour was organised by the PGA European Tour [2] [3] and from 1991 the tournaments were included on the second-tier Challenge Tour schedule. [4]
The Safari Circuit developed in the late 1960s as British professionals sought to play some competitive tournament golf while working in Africa during the winter prior to the start of the tournament circuit in Great Britain and Ireland. Originally centred around a few tournaments in Kenya and Zambia, as it evolved the tour became known colloquially as the "safari circuit" or "safari tour". The Cock o' the North tournament at Ndola Golf Club in Ndola, Zambia had been held since 1954, being mostly patronised by players from Southern and Central Africa. When the Kenya Open was founded in 1967, followed by the Lusaka Open in 1969 and the Mufulira Open in 1970, attracting professionals from Great Britain and Ireland, the circuit began to form. [5]
In 1972, the Zambia Open was founded, which was initially hosted in rotation by the three existing tournament hosts (Lusaka, Mufulira, Ndola). In the mid-1970s, the Nigerian Open was also included with the circuit being split into legs in West and East Africa. There were many other smaller events surrounding the main tournaments, such as the Gambian and Liberian opens, and the Benin and Port Harcourt pro-ams in Nigeria. [6] In 1977, the British Professional Golfers' Association assumed control of the circuit and the number of Zambian events was reduced to two in order to accommodate the fledgling European Tour, which was starting earlier in the year. During this period the Ndola and Mufulira events alternated on the schedule, with Lusaka being held annually. [5] In the 1980s the Ivory Coast Open, [7] Kalahari Diamond Classic [8] (for one year only, in 1982) and Zimbabwe Open were added. [9] As a result, in 1986 the number of tournaments in Zambia was reduced to just one, the Zambia Open at Lusaka. [5]
With the PGA European Tour operating the circuit, tournament winners were rewarded with exemption on the main tour for that season. [9] The leading money winners were also granted exemption on the tour, [10] and until 1986 the Order of Merit winner was automatically qualified into The Open Championship. [11] [12] In the mid-1980s the circuit suffered as local economies struggled, with prize-money payments from Ivory Coast and Nigerian tournaments being reduced and delayed, culminating in the removal of the East African legs in 1987. [13] [14] As the European Tour schedule expanded further through the 1980s, the Safari Circuit became further squeezed, and the Nigerian and Ivory Coast opens were moved into December. In 1991 the five remaining tournaments were added to the new second-tier Challenge Tour schedule, although for a few years the "Safari Circuit" was still regarded as distinct tour. [15] [16]
 | This list of sports fixtures or results is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2023) |
| Season | Order of Merit winner | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Mark James | [17] |
| 1978 | ||
| 1979 | John Morgan | [18] |
| 1980 | Brian Waites | [19] |
| 1981 | Brian Barnes | [20] |
| 1982 | David Jagger | [21] [22] |
| 1983 | Gordon J. Brand | [23] |
| 1984 | Ewen Murray | [24] |
| 1985 | Bill Longmuir | [25] |
| 1986 | Gordon J. Brand | [26] |
| 1987 | Gordon J. Brand | [26] |
| 1988 | Vijay Singh | [27] |
| 1989 | Vijay Singh | [27] |
| 1990 |
The Nigerian Open was a golf tournament in Nigeria, played between 1969 and 1999. It was generally played at the Ikoyi Club in Ikoyi, Lagos. From 1997 to 1999 it was played at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja. It was an fixture on the Safari Circuit until 1993, and also a Challenge Tour event between 1990 and 1993.
Maurice Bembridge is an English golfer. Early in his career he had some success on the British PGA, winning the 1969 News of the World Match Play and the 1971 Dunlop Masters. He would go on to win six times on the British PGA's successor circuit, the European Tour. He also had some success overseas, winning the New Zealand Golf Circuit's Caltex Tournament in 1970 and the Kenya Open three times. In addition, Bembridge broke Augusta National Golf Club's course record at the 1974 Masters Tournament with a 64. Late in his career, Bembridge had some success on the European Senior Tour, winning twice.
Brian J. Waites is an English professional golfer. Although he turned professional in 1957, he played little top-level golf for the next 20 years, but then has considerable success, winning twice on the European Tour, five times on the Safari Circuit and playing in the 1983 Ryder Cup. After reaching 50 he had further success as a senior, winning the PGA Seniors Championship twice, and winning four times on the European Senior Tour.
The Zambia Super League, known as the MTN Super League for sponsorship purposes, is the top association football league created in 1962 by the Football Association of Zambia. The winners of the league each season receives ZMW1,000,000 ($55,555) and a copper trophy engraved with their team name.
Malcolm Edward Gregson is an English professional golfer. After a promising start to his career as an amateur and assistant professional, he had one exceptional year, 1967, when he won the Harry Vardon Trophy and played in the Ryder Cup, but had only limited success afterwards. After reaching 50 he played on the European Senior Tour, winning five times.
The Kenya Open, currently titled as the Magical Kenya Open for sponsorship reasons, is a professional golf tournament in Kenya founded in 1967.
The Zambia Open is a men's professional golf tournament played in Zambia, that has been part of the Sunshine Tour since 1996, and was co-sanctioned by the European-based Challenge Tour from 2001 to 2004. It was also an event on the Challenge Tour between 1991 and 1993, having previously part of the now defunct Safari Circuit.
Rugby union in Zambia is a minor but growing sport. The Zambia national rugby union team is currently ranked 67th by World Rugby. The Zambia Rugby Football Union has 9880 registered players and three formally organised clubs.
Gordon Alexander Caygill is an English professional golfer. He had considerable early success as a young professional from 1960 to 1963 but then had a lean period, partly due to a stomach ulcer. He made a comeback in the late 1960s, winning two tournaments in early 1969, and gained a place in the 1969 Ryder Cup team.
Harry Bannerman is a Scottish professional golfer best known for playing in the 1971 Ryder Cup.
Bernard Chanda was one of Zambia's greatest strikers and was the league top scorer three times. Nicknamed 'Bomber,' he played for three of Zambia's biggest clubs – Roan United, Mufulira Wanderers and Rokana United, and is remembered for scoring a hat-trick in the 4–2 semi-final victory over Congo at the 1974 African Cup of Nations tournament. Chanda was voted Zambian Footballer of the Year in 1974 and is fourth on the list of all-time goal scorers for Zambia in international matches behind Godfrey Chitalu, Alex Chola and Kalusha Bwalya with 29 goals.
Craig Bryan Defoy is a Welsh professional golfer. He finished fourth in the 1971 Open Championship.
The Cock of The North was a golf tournament held in Zambia. It was part of the Sunshine Tour in 2000 and 2001. The tournament was founded in 1954 and was held at the Ndola Golf Club in Ndola.
The Ivory Coast Open or Open de Côte d'Ivoire was a golf tournament in the Ivory Coast. It was founded in 1980, and was an event on the Safari Circuit the following year. It was an event on the European-based Challenge Tour schedule in 1990 and 1991, and from 1996 to 1999. It has been held at President Golf Club, Yamoussoukro and Ivoire Golf Club, Abidjan.
James Ewen Murray is a retired Scottish professional golfer who played on the European Tour. He is now better known as a commentator for Sky Sports Golf channel.
The Lusaka Open was a men's professional golf tournament played at Lusaka Golf Club in Zambia between 1969 and 1979. It was one of three Zambian events on the Safari Circuit schedule.
The Mufulira Open was a men's professional golf tournament played at Mufulira Golf Club in Mufulira, Zambia between 1970 and 1984. It was one of three Zambian events on the Safari Circuit schedule.
Thomas Craig Maltman is a Scottish professional golfer. He had some successes in Scottish events, winning the Scottish Assistants' Championship three times and winning the Tartan Tour Order of Merit in 1989 after winning the Sunderland Sportswear Masters and the Ram Classic that year. He played on the Safari Circuit, winning 1989 Zambia Open and the 1993 Kenya Open.
Leonard Peter Tupling is an English professional golfer. As an amateur he won the Boys Amateur Championship in 1967. In 1969, he was the leading amateur in the Open Championship and played in the Walker Cup. As a professional, he is best remembered for winning the 1981 Nigerian Open with a 72-hole score of 255, at the time a new world scoring record in professional golf.
William Torbet Gray Milne was a Scottish professional golfer. As an amateur, he played in the 1973 Walker Cup. He turned professional soon afterwards and had immediate success, winning the Lusaka Open and the Northern Open before the middle of 1974, as well as a large prize for making a hole-in-one in the Cock o' the North tournament. He played on the European Tour from 1974 to 1980 but struggled for success, his best result being runner-up in the 1979 French Open. From 1981 he became a club professional, playing twice in the PGA Cup.