"The course is looking good – in fact I don't know if I've ever seen it looking this good – and nine of the 10 top-ranked players in the country will be here, so we're going to see some real international quality golf," says Rita Herholdt, president of Southern Cape Women's Golf Association (the host province).
The Championships will get under way on Monday, 26 May.
It promises to be a feast for golf lovers, as there is free entry for all spectators on practice and competition days.
Twenty four teams of three players each will tee off in two divisions: 12 teams in the A-division, playing for the Swiss Team Trophy, and the B-division teams chasing the Challenge Trophy in the 72-hole Stroke Play event.
Herholdt said that the field includes Carrie Park (ranked first among the 10 top-ranked players in the country) and Magda Kruger (second) – both playing for Gauteng North A; Ji Sun Kang (3) and Cara Gorlei (6) playing for Western Province A; Michaela Fletcher (4) playing for Kwazulu Natal A: Monja Richards (5) playing for Mpumalanga; Kaleigh Telfer (7) and Lara Weinstein (10) playing for Gauteng A; and Mae Cornforth (8) playing for North West A.
"Only number 9, Bianca Theron, won't be with us," said Ms Herholdt.
Sunday, May 25 is reserved for practice rounds.
Mossel Bay Golf Club manager, Louw Strydom, said that the course is in 'absolutely fabulous condition from tee to green'.
"Going into their main flowering season, the fynbos and the aloes - and the springbuck that roam freely on the course - all seem to be rejoicing in the good rainfall we've had in recent weeks.
"But it's going to be a challenging game: the course will be playing long and the slick greens will add to the difficulty factor, especially if we get any wind."
The teams making up the A-Division of the 72-hole Team Championships include Gauteng North, Boland A, Ekurhuleni A, Gauteng A and B, KwaZulu-Natal A, Mpumalanga A, North West A and Western Province A and B.
The Challenge Trophy will be contested between Border, Eastern Province, Ekurhuleni B, Free State & Northern Cape, Gauteng C, Limpopo, North West B, Western Province C and host province Southern Cape, who will field two teams.The tournament has received the support of the Municipality of Mossel Bay, which recognises the power of sport both as a force for unity amongst people, and as an important driver of tourism - and therefore as a driver of the economy of the town.
Executive mayor Alderlady Marie Ferreira welcomed the participants.
"A love for golf presupposes a love for the outdoors and the natural environment. I can therefore hardly think of a venue suited better than Mossel Bay for a major golf tournament such as the Women's Golf South Africa's 2014 Team Championships," she said.
She thanked Women's Golf South Africa for selecting Mossel Bay as the venue for the event, and the Southern Cape Women's Golf Association for its work in ensuring the tournament's success.
Alderlady Ferreira will host a prize-giving lunch for the players and officials on Wednesday.
Mossel Bay Tourism's Marcia Holm welcomed the players and officials – and called on visitors and locals to support the event.
"The Mossel Bay Golf Course is known as the course where you can see the sea from every tee – but it's also known as the friendly club, and they always make everyone feel at home.
"Golf is one of the town's most popular attractions, and I suspect that many of the spectators will want to play Mossel Bay themselves after the tournament is over – so it's worth reminding you that the Club is offering 18 holes with shared golf cart hire at a hugely discounted rate during the month of May as part of Mossel Bay's Mild Season," she said.
Ms Herholdt said that the Southern Cape Women's Golf Association appreciates the support that Mossel Bay and its municipality give to sport in general in the town.
"We wish all the players good golfing over the next few days; may all your drives go straight and may all your putts find the bottom of the cups," she said.
The Mossel Bay Golf Club will host the SA Women’s Team Championships from 25 to 28 May.
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