As a South African, by choice, this President’s Cup raised the bar for the bi-annual competition. After a strong start by the Americans, Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen led the comeback that eventually came down to the last hole of the last match to determine the outcome after three days of play. The Jack Nicklaus Signature provided the kind of shot-making that you wanted to see in a Cup match. The greens complexes brought out the players imagination and execution – unfortunately for the homeboy, Sang-Moon Bae, the chip up the final slope came up short.

The Ryder Cup will forever be The Ryder CUP; the President’s Cupis getting better and better. Give Nick Price the credit he deserves working with players from six different countries and six different languages! Americans only have to understand their different accents – and of course, Zach Johnson is the easiest to understand as he comes from IOWA where we have NO accent!

Great Teams for the Links CUP

While Mother Nature blew just under hurricane strength last weekend, the Links Cup was put on hold for one week. Postponing the event was always going to affect the numbers as some of the players wouldn’t be available. But, fortunately other members have come to the party and we are back to 24 players – 12 representing South Africa under the leadership of Vlam Michau, who will lead from the front as he fashioned a little 71 (nett 67) yesterday and – 12 representing the Internationals under the leadership of Keith Simpson, the current R&A Matchplay Champion. On Friday, we will combine the member get-together and dinner with the opening ceremonies of the Links CUP. Come one and all for a great night and then a great weekend of golf. Oh, following play on Saturday, we’ll join forces as one nation rooting for the Bokke in the Bar.

CHARITABLE Activities at The Links

Over the next two weekends we will be the host site for two great charitable events.
First up is the SANCCOB wine and food pairing evening for our penguins! See the inserted poster for more information – rugby and then food and wine for a great cause.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Next week, the Veranda becomes a Casino for charity as our Rotarians host MONTE CARLO ROYALE
Dress up and order your martinis “shaken and not stirred”.

Thinus Talkin’
When it’s breezy, swing easy
Playing golf here at St Francis Links you will have to deal with a fair amount of wind.

Players generally do not struggle playing downwind or with crosswinds, they struggle playing into a strong wind.
The first important element to realize and remember is that the height you hit your shot is the most important thing, not the club you use. For instance: My ball is 135 meters from the hole, normally a 9 Iron. The wind is directly into me at around 35km/h.

Generally I would guess around a 3 or club wind. 6 Iron. The problem is that I would have to hit a 6 Iron hard to get it all the way to the hole. When I hit it hard the ball goes higher because it has more spin.

I encourage all of you to go to the range when it is windy and practice controlling your trajectory.

Instead of hitting the 6 Iron hard I opt to hit a smooth 4 Iron. How to:
1. Grip down on the club, almost halfway.
2. Move your ball position towards the right foot.
3. Lean slightly forward(left side) so that there is 70% of your weight
4. Swing smooth and easy

I encourage you to begin your journey to better golf, contact me 0827643044 or pro@stfrancislinks.com %20“>%20var%20addy27856%20=%20%27pro%27%20+%20%27@%27;%20addy27856%20=%20addy27856%20+%20%27stfrancislinks%27%20+%20%27.%27%20+%20%27com%27;%20document.write%28%20%27%3Ca%20%27%20+%20path%20+%20%27%5C%27%27%20+%20prefix%20+%20addy27856%20+%20suffix%20+%20%27%5C%27%27%20+%20attribs%20+%20%27%3E%27%20%29;%20document.write%28%20addy27856%20%29;%20document.write%28%20%27%3C%5C/a%3E%27%20%29;%20//–%3E%20%3C/script%3E%20%3Cscript%20language=%27JavaScript%27%20type=%27text/javascript%27%3E%20%3C%21–%20document.write%28%20%27%3Cspan%20style=%5C%27display:%20none;%5C%27%3E%27%20%29;%20//–%3E%20%3C/script%3EThis%20e-mail%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.%20You%20need%20JavaScript%20enabled%20to%20view%20it%20%3Cscript%20language=%27JavaScript%27%20type=%27text/javascript%27%3E%20%3C%21–%20document.write%28%20%27%3C/%27%20%29;%20document.write%28%20%27span%3E%27%20%29;%20//–%3E%20%3C/script%3E”> pro@stfrancislinks.com
See you on the practice tee!

Thinus Keller
PGA Head Golf Professional

October 17 – SANCCOB Benefit Event – Food Pairing-Auction. See the invite for more info. October 24 – Ladies Member/Member October 23 Monte Carlo Evening. Click here to view poster October 25 – Interclub at St Francis Links November 21-22 – Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend

ST FRANCIS LINKS “MAJORS” AND “SPECIAL EVENTS” FOR 2015
Note the date changes!

January 3-4: Men’s Member-Member Partnership, Scott Keevy and Martin King, Champions
April 11: 1st Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions, Ernest Muller
April 25-26: Club Championships, Men’s Champion, Sean Botha; Ladies’ Champion, Janine VD Merwe
June 21: 2nd Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions, Linda Muller
July 11: Sanlam Cancer Challenge – SFL Qualifier
July 18-19: Men’s Invitational Derek Ryan and Francois V Vuuren, Champions

July 19: 3rd Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions (SFL) Norman Pretorius August 1: Ladies’ Invitational Margot McGregor and Louise Robertson, Champions August 9: 4th Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions (SFL) August 11-25: Spring Programme – Course and Clubhouse Closed August 29: Sanlam Cancer Challenge FINALS at Uitenhage October 9-10: Links Cup (The Internationals) November 21-22: Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend November 27-29: Nicklaus Champion of Champions (St Francis Links)

Then there will be times when we need to promote St Francis Links and St Francis Bay.

The Sunshine Tour returns to SF Links this year as the Vodacom Origins of Golf presented by Samsung returns with a new format. Television coverage will generate a 26-minute special on Supersport. *Whenever the course is closed for play, we will make arrangements for you to play golf at area courses.

November 1-4: SA Ladies’ National Mid-AM – SFL

“PGA MAJORS 2015”

PGA Tour
April 9-12: The Masters, Augusta Georgia, USA (Jordan Spieth, Champion)
June 18-21: US Open, Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington, USA (Jordan Spieth, Champion)
July 16-19: Open Championship, The Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland (Zach Johnson, Champion)
August 13-16: US PGA Championship, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin, USA (Jason Day, Champion)
October 8-10: The President’s Cup, Jack Nicklaus GC Korea, Songdo IBD, Incheon City, KOR

Southern and Eastern Cape PGA EVENTS FOR 2015

This year the Southern & Eastern Cape PGA has put together a fantastic schedule with 12 regional events taking place across our region. Our Professionals would love to take you to as many of the events listed below as possible. Let us know when you are available.

18 – 22 October: Pinnnacle Point National Pro Am
2 November: The Links @ Fancourt
16 November: Plettenberg Bay
30 November: Pinnacle Point.

Proudly St Francis Links Look beyond the cost-saving narrator with his hair in his face and embrace OUR St Francis Links so ably presented by The African Travel Channel. As we approach our 10th year, we are upgrading our library of images, videos, our website and everything else we can to keep the great St Francis flag flying high.

Click to watch

Jeff, Liezl and The St Francis Links TEAM