Attracting National events that are good for Everyone!
There is no doubt that hosting the Vodacom Origins of Golf for many years helped to attract the Vodacom National Staff Championships. This is an event we attracted with the promise of great golf, great food, close accommodation and anticipating service. The 72 golfers who arrived from all over SA, were treated to all of the above. Many arrived on Thursday for practice round and rest came on Friday morning for two days of competitive golf and good fun. Some were competitive and most just had good fun! Daron Mann hosted the opening evening with some great Q&A with legendary cricket umpire, Rudi Koertzen, and former Rugby star, Robbie Kempson. The banter was top drawer and the night carried on for hours.
The golf resumed on Saturday afternoon with a complete flip-flop in the spring breeze from Easterly to Southwesterly, presenting a new golfing experience for the golfers. It all came down to the last putt on the 18th that ended with all smiles.
We presented and produced food and beverage for three functions going into the weekend in addition to 70 members and friends playing on Saturday. Starting on Thursday, LGSETA came to us for a three-day conference with meals,. hosting 120 delegates from three regions. On the same day, we served 70 for lunch in the Lighthouse Restaurant sponsored by Personal Trust and welcomed the early golfers for Vodacom and saw them to their rooms.
All in all, everyone was pleased and the team rose to the occasion (s) again and again.
Ladies’ Member-Member Championships – 1 December (Saturday)
Fairways and Greens (Charl talks about the greens)
Annual bluegrass (Poa Annua L)
Poa annua survives as a weed due to its high genetic variability, short life cycle, tolerance of compacted soil and rapid germination; each Poa annua plant produces between 1,000 and 2,250 seeds in a season that can easily spread from equipment, human or animal contact.
This is how I start this newsletter, isn’t it amazing how plants adapt to survive? As you read the above statement you should only read “Survival mechanism”. For one single plant to produce over 1000 to 2250 seeds per season is a nightmare on its own from a control point of view. When a plant can grow under very dry or wet conditions, doesn’t mind compacted soils and can spread easily, then you know you have a fighter on hand and it will not back down. It is these qualities that makes it one of the most competitive and most hated grass plants in the golf industry. It is also difficult for many to believe that Annual blue grass is the grass of choice for many top golf courses in America.
Over the past 21 years in the golf course industry I have learnt to manage Poa and not to fight it. We still get a good playing surface on our greens even though we have the distinct lighter color patches on our greens. Products such as Primo (a plant growth regulator) combined with Ethophon and helps us to produce better playing surfaces for our golfers. Primo promotes horizontal growth and helps to prevent those bumpy greens in the afternoon with the Poa plant growing faster and more upright than the bent under normal growing conditions. Ethophon controls seed production to prevent the plant from spreading even more rapidly. Unfortunately, seed gets planted on the greens by golfers walking on the green and the seed being transferred from the shoes to the soil, these are seeds on our fairways, from other courses and it also gets transferred by birds and other animals. The poa plant will forever be with us.
This year we have had the most Poa on the course than ever before, this is due to the drought that we have been in for a while now. The plant produces more seed when being put under stress like drought. More seed means more chance of survival. We will keep controlling and working with Annual bluegrass to produce a good playing surface for you to make it as enjoyable as possible for you.
Until next time, keep it down the middle.
Charl “Sup” Blaauw
Links Majors, Special Events and Results for 2018
Jan 2-3 The Pam Golding Annual (St Francis Bay wins – the overall is tied 6 games each)
Jan 5-6 Men’s Member/Member Partnership, Chris and Jandré Lessing, Champions
Jan 20 Windhoek Lager International Pairs (3rd Qualifying), Percy Owen and Norman Dyer
Jan 27-28 EP Champs (course closed) Altin VD Merwe, Strokeplay Medalist (74-68=142)
Feb 3-4 EP Champs (semi-finals and finals) Naldo Claassens, Champion; Hugo Maritz, Plate Winner
Feb 14 Couples/Mixed Golf – Valentine’s Dinner Ronnie and Sally Nienaber, best members
Mar 10 Greensomes over 18 holes Pete Maskew and John Wilson, Champions on 39pts
Apr 22-26 National Senior Inter-Provincials Central Gauteng, Senior Champions; Southern Cape, Super-Senior Champions
May 5-6 Club Championships, Lynn Slogrove and Brent Vos, Champions
May 13-16 Senior Women’s Nationals (SFL and SFBGC) , Free State wins the team title, Maggie Minnie (Boland), gross champion.
May 18-20 St Francis Bridge Invitational Everyone was a winner!
May 20 Nomads Monthly Game (11am Shotgun) 66 in the field
May 24-25 Woodland’s Golf Days 96 players on Thursday and 112 on Friday! HOSPICE wins
May 26 Foursomes over 18 holes Johann Spangenberg and Tom Grimsley; Lynn Slogrove and Margot McGregor
June 2 Ladies’ Invitational, Sandra Marais and Sonette Korff, Champions
June 16 Quarterly Couples/Mixed – US Open – re-scheduled
June 17 Father’s Day Golf and Lunch
June 21 EP Seniors
June 25-26 Nomads Coastal NOoM, Barend Botha over Aiden Senger, playoff 143 gross
July 7 The Inaugural Muirfield Day (foursomes and four balls) everyone was a winner!
July 20-22 Men’s Invitational, Hein Spangenberg and Eddie Nel, 98 points
Aug 20 to
Sept 4 Spring Programme (Club Closed)
Sep 23-29 Vodacom Origins of Golf (regional Finals) Alex Haindl – 12 Under Par
Oct 20-21 Links Cup South Africa wins 23-21
Nov 10-11 Pam Golding Ladies’ Open Weekend
Dec 1 Ladies’ Member- Member Partnership
Dec 8 Par-3 Championships
Dec 14-15 Pam Golding Annual (SFBGC host)
Dec 17 Kromme Trust Amazing Race
Dec 18 Food and Wine Festival
Dec 22 NSRI Golf Day and Pro Shop Pop a Balloon Sale
Jan 3-4 Men’s Member-Member Partnership
More to Come!
Itec are 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, sometimes Curry Night follows – stay or take away!
Monday Roll-up! Pitch up and play (9 holes or 18 Par-3 from 2pm) 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”
Monday Men’s Book Club – 5pm in Jack’s Bar (no reading required)
Ladies’ Tea (and Coffee) – Every Tuesday at 10am on the Veranda
Every Great shot starts with a SMILE!
Santa and the Links TEAM