Some take it sitting down and others never sit!
This past weekend we, The Links, teamed up with Bridge Club St Francis to host some of the top bridge players in our region. They provided the tools of the trade and we made sure their “off time” was well-looked after. More than 100 players sat in long competitive sessions over three days, breaking only for coffee and tea, some great meals and a little sleep. Our team made me proud as the compliments came from all corners with regard our food, our presentation and our service. I guess when teams took the time to book again for next year before leaving the venue, it was a great success for all – winners and non-winners.
Chef John prepares dinner for 120 The Ladies are serious!
The silence was deafening!
On Sunday Morning, another competition started – Expedition Africa 2017!
The event tested top athletes from around the world over 500 kms of terrain that varied from the Kromme River by kayak to the Baviaans on foot; mountain bikes featured at different as did the use of ropes and abseiling. These people did not sit for very long as the Swedish Team captured the overall title in 80 hours – 80 HOURS without a motor! We played a supporting role in the event by manning the last checkpoint station west of Oyster Bay at an amazing camping, fishing and 4×4 spot called Brakkeduine. We provided sweet and savory items of food for the wearing folks who had just completed section T-10 on mountain bikes – 13 to 17 hours in the seat on this section of the race. We greeted them with salty baby potatoes, Marmite, peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches, koeksisters and hot drinks – they were appreciative! The South Africans and Australians hammered the Marmite sandwiches! Our St Francis team worked 12+ shift from 6 to 6 am and pm and we felt proud to be serving these amazing athletes.
Hats off to Fasie Malherbe and Cape St Francis Resort for securing the event with sponsorship and hosting the athletes and supporters at the Resort. All of you need to search the internet and Facebook for the incredible pics and stories that came from this event in our region. It was an honour serving as supporters. Stephen and Heidi Muller and their team of volunteers were amazing – sleeping about as little as the athletes.
Our T-11 checkpoint and the team of volunteers (not pictured Kevern, Eugenie and Keith and Shelley Donaldson)
PhotoCredit : Bruce Viaene/Expedition Africa
The Winners – Sweden in 80 hours – phew!~
May 27 is the date for our Newest Golf Championship!
Foursomes is a golf competition format in which a team is comprised of two golfers, and those two golfers alternate hitting the same golf ball. That’s why Foursomes is also very commonly called “alternate shot.”
Pick your partners now and get planning for the 1st Annual Foursomes Champs!
Enter as a Men’s Team, a Ladies’ Team or a Mixed Team
Face of the week
Luzanne Erasmus
Luzanne started off at St Francis Links two years ago as a sculler in our kitchen and today she is a Pastry Chef in training. It has been a lifelong dream of hers to become a Pastry Chef and today her dream is slowly becoming a reality. She believes that dreaming won’t get you anywhere, you must work with a dream to make it reality.
Keep Reading…
More to remember!
This was our best year to date in almost every way:
- We finished our 107th home on the estate (57 are permanent residents)
- 15 homes are under construction
- 25 homes are in the planning or application stages
- We are financially sound with great lifestyle choices for the entire family
- To date, we are 500 rounds UP on budget
- Our golf rounds featured golfers from more than 20 different countries – from Wisconsin to New South Wales
- We moved up in the nation ratings to No. 7 in Golf Digest
- The UK rates us No. 6
- The Swedish press rate us No.4
- With our members, No. 1
Don’t stop yet!
Di and Chris Kelway have ticked the number 1 bucket on their list
…and its been a pretty good list!
Chris and Di explained it was like no sensation they had ever experienced anywhere – and they have been a few “wheres”. Running the London Marathon surpassed waving a St Francis Links flag on Mt Kilimanjaro, walking the Great Wall or climbing the steps to Machu Picchu in Peru.
They’ve seen a bit of the world and run a few kms between them but, in their words, nothing compared to 42 kms of non-stop 5-deep screaming supporters at the London Marathon – many shouting South Africa when they saw their jerseys. Di finished the race in a fantastic 3h51 that included a little dancing with the crowds along the way; she raced ahead of Chris to get this pic of him crossing the finish line. Well done, you guys!
Will be our sponsors for OPEN Wednesday (2nd Wednesday) with meat and added prizes. Invite your friends to enjoy SA’s best with special rates for golf, snacks after the game and great prizes – Hey, Curry Night follows – stay or take away!
Monday Roll-up! Pitch up and play (9 holes from 3pm) let’s add you to the What’s app group
All day Saturdays-Morning and afternoon fields – the afternoon field will be booked from 12 noon backwards with emphasis on “ready golf” – Prizegiving and Happy Hour at 17h00
May 18-19 Woodland’s Dairy Golf Days for Hospice (course closed from 10am)
May 20 Stulting School Golf Day and Dinner (early times foir members)
May 27 FOURSOMES – pick a partner ans sign up!
June 3 Ladies’ Invitational
ST FRANCIS LINKS “MAJORS” AND “SPECIAL EVENTS” FOR 2017
Jan 2-3 Men’s Member-Member, St Francis Bay wins by .18 of a point! Well done!
Jan 7-8 The Pam Golding Annual, Derek Ryan and Scott Keevy, Champions
Mar 11 Greensomes over 18 holes (NEW) Sandra Marais/Ingvild Stiansen; Mauro Nettl/Yan Coesens
Apr 28-30 Club Championships – Ralph Richardson and Helen Bridges, Champions
May 7 Inter-Estate Challange (St Francis Links)
May 18-19 Woodlands’ Dairy Golf Days for HOSPICE
May 27 Foursomes over 18 holes (NEW)
Jun 3 Ladies’ Invitational
Jun 10 Sanlam – Links Qualifier
Jun 22 Els for Autism at St Francis Links (finals at Highland Gate)
Jul 2-3 National Junior Order of Merit
Jul 20-23 Men’s Invitational
Jul 23-25 The Annual “Road Trip”
Aug 6 Sanlam Cancer FINALS at St Francis Links
Aug 8-23 Spring Programme – Course and Clubhouse Closed
Sep 30, Oct 1 Links Cup
Nov 11-12 Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend
Dec 2 Ladies’ Member-Member
Dates for Mixed Events, as well as the Knock-outs to follow.
Seasonal packages are now on offer
It’s also the time of year for golf travel. We join others in advertising our course countrywide. The are are a couple of subtle differences between what you pay and what you receive in a golf package. We pride ourselves on over-delivering with personal services, additional opportunities, special events, shoot-outs and so much more. We’ll supply the braai or what you need to do it yourselves; we’ll serve your meals here or recommend the area establishments who will exceed your expectations (and of course, we’ll do the booking for you). Why? Because we can and we want to!
Why not sign up for the special events coming up in the future and expand them into a few days of play! Play in the Inter-Estate Challenge, enter the Ernie Els for Autism in June, start planning for the Invitationals – ladies and men; Invite your friends in for the best golf in SA (and beyond).
Every Great shot starts with a SMILE 
