Take the necessary precautions, but don’t get negative…
It’s day 5 and I am extremely proud of our members and, for the most part, our Village, for embracing the lockdown. Over the past few days, I developed new skills and polished up on some old ones.
With permission from the Government, we are continuing with essential services, the production of potable water ( which with the Estate more than 80% occupied, is under severe pressure). Kevern has restructured his team to work around the clock in shifts to monitor and maintain the workings inside.
Please limit your use of water at all times!
Andrew and I are working with members of the Board, our Chairman, Chris Kelway and past Chairman, Mike Wylie, to assess and plan for the future of the Estate. One essential service is maintaining the course at a level that will prevent disease and limit greater costs to repair the course in the future. Our Government also agreed to approve these measures with limited staffing. Putting Chef Jon and Head Professional, TK, on fairway machines may have redefined our beautiful mowing lines for a bit of time, but they, along with Charl, our SUP, Johan, our mechanic, Andrew, our FM and I, are all in to do the minimum required to keep everything in good shape. Personally, I could continue mowing greens and surrounds in the future as my mowing lines are spectacular!
Liezl and the DVG (Disaster Volunteer Group) along with other key community members helped to develop and outfit a shelter in the Bowling Club as well as the distribution of soaps and food to the residents of Sea Vista. She also fills the role of keeping you all up to date with real facts.
Here is a little video that shares what can be done during this period of lockdown. It’s all about attitude.
Be Safe, be positive and keep a sense of humour!
This picture was taken in 2019
We’ll be back to this soon!
Tim Elliott (Born on 1 April) is a great member, Director on our Board, a proper Blogger and Nobodies’ FOOL! Read his take on Covid-19
Louis Pasteur. A pioneer who we owe big time!
‘Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity” – Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur, a Frenchman, was born in 1822. He was a biologist, microbiologist and chemist renowned for his discoveries of vaccination and pasteurisation. His work and discoveries saved the lives of countless millions at the time and continue to do so to this day. What would he deduce of the Covid-19 pandemic in these modern times? Fortunately for mankind, we have a brace of brilliant people of the calibre of Pasteur working frantically to discover a vaccine and cure for this modern-day virus. Unfortunately, the indications are that a vaccine will not be developed before 2021 due to the extensive trials which precede the development and approval of any new vaccine.
There is a huge amount of information on all social media platforms about the virus and every news station on TV adds to the overload. No point in regurgitating statistics and anecdotal stories. Huge amount of information all there for viewing at leisure.
At times like these, it is often rewarding to try and see what lies beyond the obvious which at this point
In the USA, a parking lot for idle planes.
includes:
1. This virus will be around a lot longer than people like Donald Trump espouse. Much of what the Don says is as clear as mud!
2. Millions around the World will contract the virus. Some 80% will have mild symptoms and recover.
3. An unknown number of people will succumb to this virus and lose their lives. Primarily older folk and those with compromised immune systems.
4. The World may well be a very different place when this is all over.
There are some fundamental factors which will ensure that our World post Covid-19 will have a very different “feel” to it. What will the impact be of the following?
1. Millions staying at home with some able to continue their work remotely. Many will simply lose their jobs and source of income. Think tourism in SA which employs 1 in 23 people employed. Now shutdown.
2. Places of leisure e.g. pubs, restaurants, holiday resorts shutting down with no income stream. Along with countless small enterprises not operating and unable to pay costs and employees.
3. On line purchases growing exponentially threatening an already seriously wounded retail sector.
4.
A feature of many shop shelves Worldwide. This is Hong Kong.
Huge empty office blocks in major cities with massive rental costs for tenants not able to function at anywhere near normal income-generating capacity.
5. The list goes on and on……
This then begs the question. How could our World look after this all comes to an end?
No one has the answers but I suspect the way people work and live may well change irrevocably. Researchers at Imperial College London estimate that social distancing, self-isolation and rolling lockdowns could last until the third quarter of 2021. Get your head around that! Of great concern is how do people in densely populated townships across Africa practice social distancing?
Maybe panic buying will ease and supermarket shelves will be reasonably stocked. But maybe it isn’t a question of what’s available but how many people will be able to pay for it? Millions live week to week and huge job losses will shut down their ability to earn an income. So far, the focus has been on what will happen to hospitals as they struggle to deal with the growing numbers needing hospitalisation. What of those billions who simply run out of money? In Africa, mass unemployment means mass poverty means starvation beyond levels of the recent past.
Many people now work remotely from home and there must be a growing realisation that much of what traditionally has happened face-to-face in the office can be replaced by technology which is still on a steep upward curve. So, offices will shrink and people may just pop in a few times a week. Just maybe the fear that working from home means “I am not really contributing” will dissipate.
What will happen to business travel which in the past was a sort of “given” and hopping on planes was easily and readily justified? Airlines globally are in meltdown and many won’t survive. Maybe we will all see a plane trip as a very efficient means of spreading the virus and simply choose not to fly.
What about food production? We lived in a world where there were few borders or blockages to the flow of foodstuff but maybe in the future out of season fruits and vegetables will not be fulfilled by imports. Supply chains may well change beyond what existed in the past.
The age of on-demand delivery is already upon us and businesses like Amazon and their competitors will grow massively creating a huge smack for the traditional brick and mortar retailers. The knock-on impact on shopping centres and retail sector employees could be massive.
I ramble on but the reality is no one knows where our World, as we knew it, is heading. As economies contract from unprecedented collapses in supply and demand, the likelihood of a global recession increases and unemployment will spike. Already there is much talk about social necessity justifying paying people without expecting work in return and some countries e.g. Canada and Finland are experimenting with a type of universal basic income.
What about schools and universities? Social distancing is not an option for them so just maybe the emergency methods now in place will be around for some time into the future. By way of example, we have our seven-year-old grand-daughter with us and she is continuing her schooling remotely with her curriculum being emailed regularly by her school in Bryanston. The internet of things!
Is there a bright spot in all these unknowns? Bizarrely there is. Apparently, with industry and travel on hold in many countries, scientists are reporting massive drops in the release of nitrogen dioxide with China’s and Italy’s pollution levels down by 30 and 40 percent respectively. Maybe there will be a realisation along the way that countries will think “greener.”
A final word. Our World is constantly changing and evolving but Covid-19 may be the unintended trigger that accelerates social and economic change. As always there will be winners and losers but this time around those who lose opportunities to survive will need a shared responsibility to protect them. Therein lies a massive challenge for mankind.
What can we do as individuals? Maybe simple things like paying something weekly to our domestic servants and gardeners who have to stay at home. Donations to those in need via reputable channels.
Of course, the fascinating question is: What are individuals and families doing day by day to keep themselves busy and occupied? After all, we are only on Day 5!
Rescheduled for July 10
Club Championships April 24-26, 2020 (on hold)
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 July 10
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
