GUIDE · YEAR END 2026 Year end function ideas for Pretoria and Johannesburg teams, 2026.

Twelve year end function ideas, from a golf simulator in the car park to a cooking class, each with who it suits, whether it is indoors or out, and what to watch out for. Written for teams in Pretoria and Johannesburg planning for December.

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SEE THE TWELVE IDEAS

By James Engelbrecht, DriveHaus · Updated 19 October 2026

HOW TO CHOOSE

Five questions before you book anything

The right year end depends less on what is fashionable and more on who is coming. Answer these first and most of the list below sorts itself.

01 How many people? Twelve people can do almost anything. Two hundred need something that runs as a queue or in parallel, not one activity everyone does at once.

02 How big is the budget? Be honest about whether it is modest or generous per head. A modest budget spent on one good thing beats a generous one spread thin.

03 Where will it be? Your own office or car park saves a venue and travel. A venue gives you catering and a wet weather plan.

04 Golfers and non golfers? Pick something the least sporty person will enjoy, not just the keenest. The best ideas level the field.

05 Drinkers and non drinkers? Plan something for the people who are not drinking, and a safe way home for the people who are.

THE TWELVE IDEAS

Year end function ideas that work in Gauteng.

01 A golf simulator at your venue Our own idea, so read it with that in mind: a full golf bay built into a trailer, towed to your office park or venue and run for the whole function. Longest drive and closest to the pin on a live board everyone follows on their phone. How it works for a year end.

Best for: Mixed teams of golfers and people who have never held a club; one attraction among several at a big function
Indoors or out: Outdoors in the car park or garden, or a hall with the headroom
Watch out for: It needs 8m × 6m of firm, level ground, a route in at least 3m wide with 2.8m of clearance, and 3.5m clear overhead where the roof goes up. December dates go first.

02 A cooking class A chef runs the team through a menu and everyone eats what they made.

Best for: Teams of up to about twenty who like to talk while they work
Indoors or out: Indoors
Watch out for: Dietary needs, and a teaching kitchen booked well before December

03 A wine or gin tasting A guided tasting at a venue or in your boardroom, often paired with food.

Best for: Smaller, relaxed groups and client evenings
Indoors or out: Indoors or a covered terrace
Watch out for: Non drinkers need an equally good alternative, and everyone needs a safe way home

04 A braai with a live band The classic South African year end, and it still works.

Best for: Any size, especially when families are invited
Indoors or out: Outdoors, with a wet weather plan
Watch out for: December thunderstorms, and noise limits at residential venues

05 An escape room Small teams locked in a themed room with an hour to solve their way out.

Best for: Small teams who like puzzles, four to eight at a time
Indoors or out: Indoors, at a dedicated venue
Watch out for: Large teams have to split across rooms and time slots

06 A food truck day at the office Two or three trucks in the car park and a long lunch for everyone.

Best for: Big teams who cannot all leave at once, staggered through a working day
Indoors or out: Outdoors, in the car park
Watch out for: Building management rules on trading, parking and gas

07 Go karting Heats, a final and a podium.

Best for: Competitive teams who want a winner
Indoors or out: Indoor or outdoor tracks
Watch out for: Waivers, closed shoes, and the people who would rather watch

08 A quiz night Teams, a host, a few rounds and a prize.

Best for: Any size, and teams with a real mix of personalities
Indoors or out: Indoors
Watch out for: A good host makes it; a weak one sinks it

09 Axe throwing A coached session at a dedicated range.

Best for: Small groups who want something different
Indoors or out: Indoors, at a dedicated venue
Watch out for: Safety briefings, closed shoes, and keeping it before the drinks

10 A charity build or community morning A morning at a school, shelter or garden project, then lunch together.

Best for: Teams who want the year end to mean something
Indoors or out: Usually outdoors
Watch out for: Plan it with the charity, not around it

11 A picnic at a garden venue Blankets, a long lunch and lawn games for an unhurried afternoon.

Best for: Relaxed teams, and families
Indoors or out: Outdoors
Watch out for: Shade, and a plan for the afternoon storm

12 Awards and a formal dinner Recognise the year properly, with a proper meal.

Best for: Teams that want to thank people by name
Indoors or out: Indoors
Watch out for: Keep speeches short, and give guests something to do before dinner

RUNNING A GOLF SIMULATOR YEAR END

How the afternoon actually runs.

If idea one appeals, this is a typical four hour booking for an office year end:

An hour before: the trailer arrives and opens into the bay in about 30 minutes, tested before anyone walks out of the building.
First hour: open play as people arrive. First timers are coached through their first swing and are airborne within a minute.
Middle of the afternoon: longest drive and closest to the pin go live on the board, and everyone follows it on their phone.
Last half hour: final shots, then the winners are announced at prize giving.
Next day: a ranked results sheet for the internal newsletter, with no contact details on it.

One to four players a round, five to ten minutes a round, so roughly 30 to 50 people play in four hours. More detail: golf simulator hire for corporate events and team building.

WHEN TO BOOK IN 2026

December dates go first.

Most teams want the same two or three Fridays, so work backwards from the date:

Eight weeks before: choose the date and the venue, and check availability for the entertainment you want most.
Four weeks before: confirm the headcount, book the entertainment and send the invitation.
Two weeks before: final numbers, dietary needs and a run sheet shared with every supplier.
The week of: check the weather, confirm arrival times, and name one person on the day who makes decisions.

YEAR END QUESTIONS

Questions from our clients.

When should we book a year end function?

Eight weeks ahead for a December Friday, because the same few dates are what everyone wants. October and November dates are easier, and an early December week is often the sweet spot.

Indoors or outdoors in December?

Gauteng afternoons in December bring thunderstorms, so an outdoor plan needs cover or a fallback. A covered golf bay keeps playing through light rain; lightning stops everything outdoors until it passes.

How do we include golfers and non golfers?

Choose activities where beginners can win or at least laugh: a simulator, a quiz or a cooking class all level the field. Separate prizes for first timers help.

How long should a year end function run?

Three to five hours suits most teams: long enough to relax, short enough that people leave wanting more. A golf simulator booking has a four hour minimum.

What are some ideas for a year end function for a small group in Pretoria?

Under about fifteen people, pick one shared experience: a tasting, a cooking class, an escape room, or a private golf session where everyone plays every round. In Pretoria a golf simulator can come to the office or a garden, with travel included within 50 km of Pretoria East.

Next open date · checking…

Going with idea one?

Tell us the date, the venue and roughly how many people. James checks the diary and sends a written quote today, usually within two hours.

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