It’s hurting everyone…including all of us who serve YOU!

6 weeks into this, and we are all looking for answers that will allow us to find our sense of community again. I am aware that this time apart raises questions about our actions and our future. Fortunately, we got on our bellies in 2009 and have always started our budgeting from a zero base and run the estate and all departments as efficiently as possible. Over the years, we have garnered the respect of the golfing community through the quality of our course and the golfing experience we provide. When we re-open, in all likelihood, be for members only for the foreseeable future. Without the outside events we have secured in the past, we are budgeting for a very conservatibe ride.

Our Chairman, Chris Kelway, sums it up best in his letter to the members. We are blessed to have a great team here at The Links and a knowledgeable and supportive Board of Directors with a wealth of broad-based experience. No one could have predicted that this virus would result in the disfunction of everything we need and care about. Rest assured, we are, on a daily basis, looking for solutions to keep your dream investment alive, secure and well-looked after.

If you have not received the Chairman’s Letter here it is again.

Dear Links Property Owners and Residents,   ST FRANCIS LINKS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Update #7 – The Coronavirus (COVID 19) Message from our Chairman I am writing to all Property Owners of St Francis Links to communicate the actions the Board of Directors and the management team of St Francis Links are undertaking to address the multiple impacts of COVID-19 on our Estate and business in the short to medium term. At the outset we would like to express our most sincere appreciation to all who are resident on the Links Estate, for the responsible manner in which you complied with the stringent regulations during the Lock Down period and as Level 4 restrictions.  Your actions have really helped our management team ensure that the all-important security responsibilities we carry out every day, as well as other critical and essential duties remain our top focus activity during these turbulent times we all face. The Covid-19 period has been tough for all of us, and as we progress through Level 4, we all realise that a number of regulations imposed on us simply do not make sense. As many of us experience a sense of “cabin fever” and restlessness at this time, I urge everyone to consider the potential of what is expected to happen in our country with COVID-19 over the next 2-3 months, never mind the devastating effect on many communities experiencing lack of food and other basic needs.  We take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to all those property owners who have helped with food parcels whether it be for the Sea Vista community or other communities across South Africa. I do want to inform you that the Board of Directors and management team view the current and future impact of Covid-19 on our estate very seriously. Over the past 6 weeks we have jointly been working on a number of scenarios forecast to play out over the next 18 months through to 30 September 2021. We have been assessing the Covid-19 impact on both our business operating budget as well as our reserve investment portfolio.  This requires a re-work of our current financial year Operating and Capex plans as well as the next financial year’s Operating and Capex plans. We can tell you that we are assuming that no further business such as visitor golf, conferencing, weddings and other day to day income will flow to the Estate for the remainder of 2020 which means that our only source of income will be levies and subscriptions from you as property owners. We have tasked the management team to present at the next Board meeting the actions required to right size our estate and club business with the prime objective to balance the books in the current and next financial years. We confirm that the Board of Directors and management team are very focused to protect the interests of both our property owners as well as our employees and to minimise any impact on both stakeholders. We have regular interactions with the management team and are working to review a solid plan at a Board meeting in mid-June to review all the proposed changes. Further communication will follow to you all post the Board meeting. In conclusion we confirm that the Board of Directors and the management team are proactive in ensuring we conclude a solid strategy to get through these very uncharted times in our lives. Best regards Chris Kelway Chairman St Francis Links   7 May 2020

Liezl never stops…not even for her birthday…so I hid her phone!

During Lockdown, Liezl has spent a great deal of her time working with other volunteers to feed those less fortunate. Many of you, our members , have contributed to their efforts. They don’t require a permit because their efforts were approved. Why, because it was done right!

Happy, Happy, Happy, Liezl

 

Stay Safe!

 

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Club Championships April 24-26, 2020 (on hold)

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The 2020 Calendar and results

This year, we will be seeing more weddings, fewer golfing National events (due to rotation) and more member functions as our member play is the fastest-growing category in golf. We look forward to more sponsored days with ITEC and Selective Lighting/The Fire Works and the addition of a new partnership between Pam Golding Properties and Village Square SuperSpa

4-5        Jan         The Pam Golding Annual, SFBGC Champions, Series tied 7 all

7-8        Jan          Men’s Member-Member Partnership, Roger Smith and  Charlie Gilmore, Champions

8          Jan            ITEC Open Wednesday, Dr  Danie Cronjé and Mel Maubec, winners on 51pts 

18         Jan           Windhoek Pairs qualifying, Geoff Garratt and Ernest Müller,  winners on 49pts 

29         Jan           Pam Golding/ Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Gill, Hool, Garratt and Wilson-Jones on 87pts

12         Feb          ITEC Open Wednesday, Karl-Johann and Nyana Persson on 45pts

14          Feb           Valentine’s Day Dress-up Golf; Dinner with entertainment, The Gobby’s 45pts

26         Feb           Pam Golding/ Village Square SuperSpar Alliance,  Coesens, White, Gobby and Spangenberg 91 pts

12        Mar          ITEC Open Wednesday, TK and Percy Owen 51pts

25         Mar           Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance cancelled 

27         Mar           Ernie Els for Autism Golf Day rescheduled for a later date

3           Apr            Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun cancelled

8           Apr            ITEC Open Wednesday cancelled

11          Apr            Greensomes to be rescheduled

24-26   Apr            Club Championships on hold

1          May           Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

2-3       May            Pam Golding Ladies Open Weekend

13         May            ITEC Open Wednesday

21-22   May           Woodlands Dairy Charity Days for HOSPICE

24         May            Nomads at St Francis Links (10h30 off 2-tees)

27         May            Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

6          Jun            The Bard’au Ladies’ Invitational

10         Jun             ITEC Open Wednesday

12         Jun             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

17-19    Jun            Nomads National Order of Merit* – Juniors earning International points

5          Jul               Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

20         Jun            Foursomes

21-22   Jun             PGA Pro Pairs (SFL)

24         Jun            Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

8         Jul               ITEC Open Wednesday

17-19    Jul             Men’s Invitational

26-27   Jul             PGA Regional Finals (SFBGC and SFL)

29         Jul             Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

1-2       Aug            EP Amateur Championships (course closed)

7          Aug             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

8-9     Aug              EP Amateur Championships – Matchplay finals

20-3   Aug/Sep   Closed for Spring Programme

 4        Sep             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

9          Sep             ITEC Open Wednesday

25-27  Sep             LINKS CUP South Africa (Ryder Cup at Whistling Straights)

30        Sep             Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

2         Oct             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

3          Oct              Stulting Golf Day

14        Oct               ITEC Open Wednesday

28        Oct              Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

5          Nov            Eastern Province SENIORS

6          Nov             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

11         Nov             ITEC Open Wednesday

16         Nov            Men’s Muirfield Day (3rd Annual)

22         Nov           “The Trophy” – St Francis Links sponsored Amateur Champs

25         Nov              Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

25         Nov              Members’ Oscars

5           Dec             Ladies’ Member-Member

9           Dec              ITEC Open Wednesday

12         Dec              Ultimate Par-3 Championships

16         Dec              The Kromme-Enviro Trust Amazing Race

5-6       Jan             Men’s Member-Member Partnership

8-9       Jan              The Pam Golding Annual