TK, TK, TK wins for the 2nd year in a ROW!

It’s not proper to write about myself so I’ll start by heaping my praise on Thinus and our great TEAM here at St Francis Links! The PGA members of Southern and Eastern Cape have seen fit to nominate and award him as their (our) Professional of the Year for 2020. Only last Monday, he received his award for 2019 at Simola. So, to be sure, he has done it again and is now up for the National Award. This was the first time I was awarded as Club Manager of the Year as it is the result of the PGA modifying the awards and the selection process. I was blessed to be the National Club Professional of the Year three times in the past years. Thinus and I are all about TEAM and we have strong people around us who all understand our philosophy that you, our members, are royalty and your friends who come and visitors we attract, are treated as “members” for the day. At the Links, we focus on the experience and try to see that everything is in place from the daily course set-up to fresh towels on the cart when the rains come. We love hosting events for the members, our visitors and guests. We have a course that is one of the best on the planet and we have worked hard, over the years, on playability for better enjoyment. We also strongly believe that every person who comes through our gate is a potential new homeowner, ambassador or returning guest. Our world is all about hospitality, and providing it around a game we all love. For me, 1 September marked the start of my 30th year in SA. I am American by birth, and South African by choice!

We have spent the last 14 years building the “brand” know as St Francis Links. It’s working!

Our congrats to all nominees and winners! 

PGA Regional Awards – Southern and Eastern Cape

 

PGA Management

Brendon Timm, Humewood

Francois De Lange, Pezula

Jayde Tannous, The Pro Shop – George

Jeff Clause, St Francis Links

Nic Grundtvig, Fancourt

Peter Berman, Scratch Golf – Knysna

Ryan Reid, Fancourt

 

Club Professional

Cliff Barnard, Plettenberg Bay GC

Francois De Lange, Pezula

Jamie Kietzmann, Simola

Justin Roux, St Francis Bay GC

Quintin Byleveldt, Pinnacle Point

Thinus Keller, St Francis Links – 2 Years in a ROW!

Wynand Myburgh, Fancourt

 

Other Categories

Coach, Cliff Barnard, Nic Bakker, Peter Berman (winner), Roelof Roeloffze, Val Holland

Grow Golf, Cliff Barnard, Nic Bakker, Peter Berman, Roelof Roeloffze (winner)

Entrepreneur, Adam McKinlay (winner), Graeme van der Nest, Jayde Tannous, Peter Berman, Roelof Roeloffze

Meet Rauzhea Buys, St Francis Links Sous Chef

Rauzhea started working at the Links in 2017 as a student and he has an incredible story to tell below:

“My journey at the Links started when I took one faithful leap and relocated from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth in 2017.  I had decided that being a chef was my career, so I enrolled at the South African Academy of Culinary Arts, headed by non-other than world renowned pastry chef, Ralph Gottschalk. Under the tutelage of chef Ralph, I developed a great interest in the world of culinary arts. I was then introduced to chef Jon Hodder at the Links for the December season that year, and the rest, as they say, is history.  I am very proud to be the Sous Chef here today!

Along my journey at the Links, I received an amazing offer for work at a prestigious hotel in Cape Town, an offer I gratefully accepted in March 2020, before anyone knew a pandemic would hit the world.  Unfortunately, due to the rocky Covid-19 tremors, I lost my job as the hospitality industry was hit hard.  Amazingly, I received a call and then a warm welcome back by the people at the Links, who extended a helping hand, which I obviously could not resist. I currently lead a team of 8 dedicated people, producing what is some of the best food in the entire St Francis Bay area.  I have returned with vigor and enthusiasm … it is always good to leave through the front door, so you can also return that way!  I see myself as completing my degree in Food Technology one day and finally becoming a Food Scientist (YES! that is an actual profession). This is my one great dream and I know that I am currently laying the foundation to achieve that great desire.  Even though I am over 1000 kms away from my family, I am constantly surrounded by people I can call my second family.  So here I am, Rauzhea Buys, current Sous Chef at the Links, ready to take this industry by storm, and turn a few heads in the process.”

Shaun Leads the Under-11’s to victory

Shaun Viljoen was the best player on the day as the Eastern Cape Under-11’s beat the boys from Southern Cape and Border for the title!

I watched a rare eagle at 18!

You can click below to see all the results from the week past. But there is nothing like seeing a golfer’s face when he or she has just holed out from the tee or fairway. Yesterday Charl was on a mission on his first nine holes (10-18) coming to 18 level par off a 9 course handicap. He then holed his second shot with a 9-iron, spinning it back into the hole from the back edge of the green. But it was Hein and Yan who took “the meat” in ITEC Wednesday counting Charl and me out on 44pts. Debbie McCracken had a big smile last Wednesday when bettered Dr Lynn in the Silver Division Monthly Medal. Sally Nienaber took care of business winning the Bronze Division Medal. It was all Deon Marais on the same Wednesday when he fired a nett 67 (41pts) on his way to first place in IPS. TK joined Christopher Van Rensburg, Jacques VD Walt and Dave Hart and they won the 4-ball Alliance by 3pts on Saturday with 84pts in total.

Click here for the summaries.

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

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

22           Jul           ITEC Open Wednesday, Keith Simpson and Mark Ward 46pts

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

29         Jul             Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, The Gobby’s and the Nienaber’s 85pts

7          Aug             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun (postponed)

12        Aug             ITEC Wednesday – Izzy Obray and Madelaine Barry 

14        Aug             Greensomes   – Dr Lynn Slogrove and Sally Nienaber 42pts

26       Aug            Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Zietsman, Schoeman, Potas and Nel 93pts (C/I)

28        Aug            Foursomes  Maggie Langlands and Dave Hart, 40pts

 4        Sep             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun  Scott Keevy and Doug  Cornish 25pts  

5-6      Sep              EP Amateur Championships Kyle de Beer 32-38=70 Strokeplay

9          Sep             ITEC Open Wednesday Carol Boonzaier and Sally Nienaber, 46pts

12-13   Sep             EP Amateur Championships – Matchplay finals Kyle de Beer, Champion, Malan Potgieter, Plate

30        Sep             Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance Percy Owen, John Wilson, Ronnie Nienaber and Ernest Muller (Ghost) 86pts

2         Oct             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun Postponed

3          Oct              Stulting Golf Day A proper success with 80 players

14        Oct               ITEC Open Wednesday, Hein Spangenberg and Yan Coesens

17-18   Oct              LINKS CUP South Africa New date

24       Oct               Ladies’ Invitational new date!

28        Oct              Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

5          Nov            Eastern Province SENIORS

6          Nov             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun

7-8       Nov            Men’s Invitational – new date

11         Nov             ITEC Open Wednesday

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

20-21   Nov            Ladies’ Club Championships – new date

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