Barney blends history with competition at Kimberley Golf Course

AS THE warm October air sweeps across the Northern Cape, golfers and enthusiasts are marking their calendars for one of the region’s longest-running sporting traditions: the Barney Barnato Golf Tournament. 

Hosted annually at the historic Kimberley Golf Club, the event goes way beyond being a weekend of swinging a club and marching after a tiny white ball on the greens and fairways, and, perish the thought, the rough and bunkers. 

No, the Barney is a celebration of competition, heritage, and community spirit.

A legacy forged in diamonds

Named after Barney Barnato, the self-made tycoon born in London’s Whitechapel district in 1851, the tournament captures the daring energy of Kimberley’s diamond rush era. 

Barnato rose from humble beginnings as a street performer to become one of South Africa’s great mining magnates, rivalling Cecil John Rhodes in the high-stakes battle for control of the Kimberley mines. His ventures left an indelible mark on the city, and more than a century later, his name continues to echo through the fairways.

Each October, golfers from across the country gather to honour that legacy — not through speeches, but through the focus of play, the camaraderie of competition, and the thrill of the game that carries throughout the course.

The course and the challenge

At the heart of the tournament lies the Kimberley Golf Club, an 18-hole, par-72 layout that first opened its doors in 1890. 

One of the oldest courses in the country, it blends semi-desert terrain with wide fairways, sparse tree cover, and the occasional gusty wind. The course demands precision and patience, rewarding careful play while punishing lapses in focus.

“Kimberley’s course is a real original,” a veteran participant once remarked. “It rewards the calm and punishes the careless — but every round feels like a piece of history.”

Drone fly-over of the Kimberley Golf Club by Danie van der Lith / DFA.

Three days of spirited play

The 2025 edition will kick off on Thursday, October 30, launching three days of golf across multiple divisions. Players will vie for top honours and prize money, but the event’s true draw lies in its atmosphere — equal parts rivalry and reunion.

The tournament is notably inclusive. The ‘Mini Barney’ day, a shorter-format round for younger or less experienced golfers, ensures the next generation is part of the story. It reinforces the event’s role not only as a sporting spectacle but as a family-oriented tradition.

Between rounds, players enjoy the relaxed Northern Cape hospitality that gives the event its charm — casual braais, music-filled evenings, and the laughter of long-time friends reconnecting over a shared love of the game.

A community celebration

Over the years, the Barney Barnato has grown into a fixture that brings together locals, visitors, and businesses. Spectators will no doubt be lining the fairways or gathering around the clubhouse to watch the final rounds and cheer on the eventual Barney champion for 2025.

The tournament also contributes to Kimberley’s tourism appeal, drawing visitors who explore the city’s historic landmarks, from the Big Hole to the preserved architecture of the old mining quarter.

For competitors, the Barney is a celebration of perseverance, friendship, and it holds pride of place for competitors, especially since history is woven into the competition that unfolds on practically every fairway.

And to be sure, Kimberley is preparing for its usual October celebration.