The PGA Championship 

sponsored in part by Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism, Dirk Ellis Motors, The PGA of South Africa, Cape St Francis Resorts, The Sunshine Tour, Allesveloren Wines, St Francis Links and SPAR.

We also thank all the volunteers – our members, the Nomads and members from St Francis Bay Golf Club

The PGA Championship received fantastic television coverage showcasing St Francis Links. But it didn’t end there. It also featured inserts throughout the coverage showing off St Francis Bay and its surroundings, our beaches and so much more. Dale Hayes and I both referred to The Bay Club and neighbouring clubs. The tourism inserts were brilliant, sharing the beauty of the entire region. OH, there was also a tournament played here at St Francis Links! 

The cream came to the top as the highest-ranked person in the field won the event, placing his name on the PGA trophy with SA’s greats. He showed his emotion with a proper fist pump on the last after holing out from off the green. Dean Burmester just became a Dad for the second time three weeks ago and the young family was here to watch!

Covid “Regs” deterred a number of fans from coming but the member and area support was great! Micah, Shaun and Troy all magically turned 12 and they loved the event. That’s what it’s all about!

Maybe this should be the Headline!

Our chairman, Chris Kelway, travelled to Dubai, on behalf of the Estate to receive our award as Best Golf Course in South Africa at the World Golf Awards. We were nominated with 20 other clubs and came home with the big prize. This award caps a great two years of amazing accolades ranging from the John Collier Awards for good governance and Environmental compliance to moving up in the rankings, achieving top PGA recognition and securing a tournament that deserves MAJOR status again. It all comes down to commitment, consistency and teamwork!

30 years in SA! The Ultimate “Road Trip”

So, if running a National Championship wasn’t enough, I decided to add two more days with a Pro-am on the tournament course and a second-day Pro-Pro event. 28 teams and Professionals were entered to play the Monday following the tournament. Charl and his team set up the course as it was played on Sunday. Rain (45mm in total) fell mostly after the field finished – great for the course, but a little dampening for some. Of the original 108 scheduled to play, 21 professionals including Wallie Coetsee, Jake Redman, Luke Jerling and Lyle Rowe who all played in the Championship, joined 63 members for an afternoon of golf. We provided croissants, quiche and other snacks with coffee and tea for everyone and followed with pizzas, onion rings and plenty of nourishment. Gary DeBruin (as usual) was on hand with Fitch&Leeds and some proper accompaniment.

I received emails, WhatsApps and calls from all who attended and they have renewed their Ambassador positions from around the country.

Meyer Du Toit summed up the feelings from all of the professionals –

Dear Pards,

I would like to thank you for the most amazing weekend. Your road trips are always one of the most memorable events in golf.

I would appreciate it if you can thank the following people:

Charl and his team did an amazing job presenting the course in the condition it was. I was even more impressed when we teed off on Tuesday morning that he and his team mowed all fairways and greens. That is commitment and I can assure you that it was noticed by all playing professionals.

The food was of the highest standard and the presentation, excellent. Please thank the Cape St Francis Resort and the Full Stop Restaurant opposite the resort for accommodating us. To Ernie Els for the wines that we thoroughly enjoyed. I don’t think one professional took it home and I’m convinced it was consumed that same evening.

Thanks to Langley Perrins from Global Golf for the most awesome jerseys we received as gifts. I can assure you we will wear it with pride and market your course.

Lastly, I would appreciate it if you can thank Louwtjie Nel from WBHO for their kind sponsorship. Without them, a tournament of this calibre won’t be possible and we can’t thank them enough for their continued support.

Jeff, you can be very proud of what you and your team achieved at St Francis Links. We thank you for being you and for being not only a mentor to me but to all Professionals in SA.

Pards, we can’t wait for the next tournament. Please take the day off as I’m sure you in serious need of some well-deserved rest.

Take care my friend and please send Liezl our love.

Meyer Du Toit

General Manager

Golfers of the Week

Warwick Wealth – Betterball – Steve Emary and Dunstan Hogan

Highlight of the Week

Fouché Swart and Cassie Lötter defeated Charlie Gilmour and Pandy Katakuzinos on the 18th hole to win the Men’s side of the Annual Knock-out!

 

Download the Zapper app and take a chance!

Thank you all for caring about your course – #leading the way! Adopt a hole (AAH) works.

 

 

We look forward to our sponsored days with ITEC and Selective Lighting/The Fire Works and Pam Golding Properties and Village Square SuperSpar events.

New events – Ladies’ and Men’s Medal will be played on the 1st Wednesday of every month

7-8        Jan          Men’s Member-Member Partnership, Mark Ward and Richard Sharwood, Champions

13         Jan            ITEC Open Wednesday, Hein Spangenberg and Yan Coesens, 51pts 

27         Jan           Pam Golding/ Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Hein Spangenberg, Yan Coesens, Daryl vd Vyver and David vd Vyver, 92 Points

3           Feb           Monthly MEDAL, Shaun Viljoen and Lynn Slogrove

10         Feb           ITEC Wednesday, Yan Coesens and Hein Spangenberg, 47pts

14         Feb           Valentine’s Day Dress-up Golf; Gavin and Jaunita Gobby, 41pts

20         Feb           Greensomes, Scott Keevy, and Deon Marais, 41 pts

24         Feb           Pam Golding/ Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Simon Haigh, Yan Coesens, Charl Blaauw, Hein Spangenberg, 86pts

3           Mar          Monthly MEDAL, Gross – Fred V Eyssen, Nett – Brett Wilson-Jones, 69, Stableford – Hein Spangenberg, 35pts

5           Mar          Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun, Graham Botha and Geoff Garratt, 24pts

6-7       Mar          Pam Golding Annual – SFL vs SFB, SFB, 37.15 ave, SFL, 36.83 ave (.32 difference)

10         Mar          ITEC Wednesday, Charlie Gilmore and Neil Jones, 44pts

20        Mar          Foursomes, Dave Micklem and Norman Rock, 40 pts

31         Mar          Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Norman Rock, Tim Elliott, Michael Barratt, and Ronnie Nienaber, 81pts 

2          Apr           Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun, Debbie McCracken and Michael McGahey, 24pts 

2-4      Apr           Easter Weekend

7          Apr           Monthly MEDAL, Rita Du Plessis and Malcolm White 

9         Apr            Masters Par-3, shotgun at 15h00 (sponsored by Fitch and Leeds), Graham Botha 

27-28 Apr           Ladies Championships, Medal, Lynn Slogrove (G), Rita DuPlessis (N)

1-2      May          Stableford Championships (Men and Ladies) Chris V Rensburg (A), Doug Cornish (B), Dave Hart (C), Lynn Slogrove (A), and Alison Bosch (B) 

7          May         Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun Ernest and Linda Muller (donated back). 

26       May         Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Brett Wilson-Jones, Norman Rock, Nico Van Rensburg and Gavin Gobby, 88pts (85%)

29-30 May         Pam Golding Ladies’ OPEN Weekend, Jaunita Gobby and Lettie La Grange, 86pts (85%)

2          Jun          Monthly MEDAL, Chris V Rensburg, Lynn Slogrove, Lesley Fisher and Carol Boonzaier 

4          Jun           Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun, Lesley Fisher and Gillian Hammond, 22pts c/i

16        Jun           Easy Life Kitchens/ Wednesday, Lesley Fisher and Susan Gray, 45pts c/i

23        Jun           Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance Noelie Pearson, Jaunita Gobby, Bimpie Olivier and Sue Gray

26        Jun           Windhoek Lager International Pairs, Norman Pretorius and Deon Marais

30-3    Jul            Nomads National Order of Merit (International Points) Rescheduled for October

7          Jul            Monthly MEDAL, Shaun Viljoen, Lynn Slogrove and Alison Bosch – Gross 

18-21   Jul            30th Road Trip (PGA Invitational) Rescheduled for November 

21         Jul            Easy Life Kitchens/ Wednesday – Jaunita Gobby and Bimpie Olivier

28        Jul            Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Charlie Gilmour, Neil Mulder, Dave Webber and Mike Anderson

6          Aug           Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun – Norman Pretorius and Graham Botha

14        Aug           Greensomes  –  Scott Keevy and Martin King

15        Aug           Nomads Annual Game

16 – 31 Aug          Hollow-tining Spring Programme (Course Closed)

1          Sep           Monthly MEDAL, Izzy Obray, Gillian Hammond, Scott Keevy

7         Sep           Colony Challenge – Gillian Hammond and Debbie McCracken

8        Sep            Warwick Wealth / Wednesday – Chris van Rensburg and Nic van Rensburg

10      Sep            Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun – Sally Nienaber and Barry Phillips

15       Sep            Easy Life Kitchens/ Wednesday – Steve Emary and John Hanley

17-19 Sep            Men’s 15th Invitational Member/Guest, Tony Gunton and Mark Fensham

25-26 Sep           Links Cup (Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits) South Africa 22 1/2 – 19 1/2 

2/3     Oct            EP Champs, Altin VD Merwe, Medalist 

6-8     Oct            Nomads National Order of Merit/ Dimension Data, Daniel Bennett

16       Oct            Ladies’ Invitational (postponed) 

20      Oct            Easy Life Kitchens / Wednesday – Jacques VD Walt and Nic V Rensburg

22      Oct            Colony Tastes of Africa – Geoff Garratt and John Joubert; Lynn Slogrove and sally Nienaber 

4-7     Nov           The 86th PGA Championship (Sunshine Tour Event)