Simon Hobday

For the Sunshine Legends Tour, Hobday embodies exactly what “legend” means: world-class ability, a deep connection to Southern African golf, and a personality that made the game more fun for everyone—players, caddies and fans alike.

Few figures in South African golf are remembered with as much affection as Simon Hobday. Born in Mafikeng in 1940 and nicknamed “Scruffy” for his unpolished, larger-than-life style, Hobday became a cult hero wherever he played.

He won 17 professional titles across three continents, including the 1971 South African Open, two European Tour events (the German Open and Madrid Open) and six Sunshine Tour titles, establishing himself as one of the region’s finest ball strikers.

As a senior, Hobday’s legend grew even further. Between 1993 and 1995 he captured five titles on the U.S. Senior/Champions Tour, highlighted by his major victory at the 1994 U.S. Senior Open at Pinehurst, where his mix of fearless shot-making and self-deprecating humour won over American crowds.

Tributes after his passing in 2017 all echoed the same themes: a fantastic swing, a charismatic personality and a man who brought laughter and colour to every fairway he walked.