In 2002, a young Thomas Aiken announced his decision to turn professional. In the six tournaments he played on the European Challenge Tour and DP World Tour that year, he never made a single cut. It was a tough transition to the pro ranks for the extremely talented amateur.

So Aiken decided to come home and play the Sunshine Tour. In 2004 he teed it up at a new series on the Tour – the Vodacom Origins of Golf, where he won three out of the six tournaments. The career of one of South Africa’s most successful professionals was up and running.

Such has been the impact of a Vodacom Origins of Golf series that since that first season in 2004, it has been shaping and defining the careers of South Africa’s most talented professionals.

That same year in 2004, a young golfer from Albertinia won his first professional title at the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Arabella. Louis Oosthuizen’s career changed forever from that moment. That week he also met Zack Rasego, who caddied for him at that victory and later when he won The Open Championship at St Andrews.

As the longest-running series of pro-am tournaments on the Sunshine Tour, the Vodacom Origins of Golf has a unique place in South African golf history. It has excelled in its ability to provide so many touch points for growth in areas of the game.

From the first year it teed off, it has sought to redefine the traditional pro-am experience, and as such has led the way in terms of its innovation in this space and become one of the most sought-after invitations in the local game for the way the amateurs are treated.

Every tournament has also hosted the local South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) chapter for a golf clinic with the professionals. The impact is evidenced by Jacquin Hess’ career; he was a young golfer who attended one of these clinics before going on to become a Sunshine Tour pro.

“The Vodacom Origins of Golf has been one of the most influential series of tournaments in the history of our Tour,” says Thomas Abt, commissioner of the Sunshine Tour. Abt’s career has also benefited from the series ‑ he worked on that first Vodacom Origins of Golf series in 2004 before rising to become Sunshine Tour commissioner.

“When it teed off in 2004, the vision was for it to offer an unrivalled pro-am experience and for the Sunshine Tour to serve as a partner with Vodacom in achieving its business objectives through golf. This series has achieved this and so much more. It has launched the careers of many of South Africa’s brightest young professionals and has travelled to the country’s most iconic courses. It has also done an incredible amount of good work for charity.”

Selwyn Nathan, the executive head of the Sunshine Tour, was the man with the vision to offer Vodacom something in golf that was unrivalled.

“When we came up with the concept, it was against the background that although Vodacom was involved in golf in South Africa, we felt there was more we could do for their VIP clients,” he says.

“But these things don’t just happen. We’ve had leaders at Vodacom who over the years have taken this series forward and supported its vision. Our leaders and staff at the Sunshine Tour over the years have also all worked on this series and helped move it forward.”

Gallery below

IMAGES: TYRONE WINFIELD/CARL FOURIE/SUNSHINE TOUR