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Course Maintenance Update: A Week of Transformation at St Francis Links |
The past week at St Francis Links has been a testament to the dedication and expertise of our course superintendent team. With favourable weather conditions, Charl and his team have been working tirelessly to enhance the playability and long-term health of our magnificent course. |
Greens: A Foundation for Future Excellence |
Our greens have been the focal point of this week’s maintenance efforts, with the hollowtining process progressing exceptionally well. This crucial practice involves removing small cores of turf from the greens, which helps to alleviate compaction, improve drainage, and promote healthier root growth. The removed cores are then typically filled with sand, creating a more uniform and resilient putting surface. This aeration allows for better air and water penetration, which are vital for the turf’s health and vigor. |
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In conjunction with the hollowtining, the team has also begun the overseeding of our greens. Overseeding involves planting new grass seeds directly into the existing turf. This practice is essential for maintaining a dense, healthy putting surface, especially after disruptive processes like hollowtining. It helps to fill in any thin areas, introduce new, more resilient grass varieties, and ultimately ensures that when we emerge from this course closure period, our greens will be in an even stronger position, offering a superior playing experience. |
Fairways: Enhancing Playability Through Verticutting |
Moving from the greens, our team has also been actively working on the fairways, implementing a process known as verticutting. Verticutting, or vertical mowing, involves using specialised blades that cut vertically into the turf, rather than horizontally like a regular mower. This process serves several important functions:
- Thatch Removal: Verticutting effectively removes thatch, a layer of dead and decaying organic matter that accumulates between the green vegetation and the soil surface. Excessive thatch can hinder water penetration, nutrient absorption, and create an ideal environment for pests and diseases.
- Improved Air Circulation: By cutting into the turf, verticutting improves air circulation around the grass blades, which is crucial for preventing fungal diseases and promoting healthy growth.
- Enhanced Water and Nutrient Absorption: The vertical cuts create channels that allow water, nutrients, and fertilizers to penetrate more easily into the root zone, leading to a healthier and more vibrant turf.
- Promoting Upright Growth: Verticutting helps to stand up the grass blades, leading to a cleaner cut and a more consistent playing surface. This can significantly improve the roll of the ball on the fairways.
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Charl has been diligently keeping our members updated on all these happenings through various group communications. We encourage everyone to keep an eye out for his informative and educational videos, which provide valuable insights into the intricate work involved in maintaining our golf course. |
Golf Guesses and Gimmies: A Night of Triumphs, Trivia, and (Slightly) Bent Rules! |
What a night! Our inaugural “Golf Guesses and Gimmies” Quiz Night, and the turnout was nothing short of spectacular. With 80 enthusiastic members gracing the clubhouse, filled with laughter, friendly competition, and perhaps a few groans over missed answers. If you weren’t there, you genuinely missed out on an evening that proved golf isn’t just about birdies and bogeys, but also about brains and banter!
The quiz, crafted to challenge even the most seasoned golf aficionados, covered a delightful range of topics.
From the rich tapestry of “Our Golfing World – and the history of the game” to the often-misunderstood nuances of “Golf Equipment – How to use (and not use it)”, every round offered a chance to shine or, in some cases, to learn something new (and perhaps embarrassing). The cinematic side of golf was explored in “Golf and the Cinema”, (The Quiz Master’s personal favorite). And, of course, no golf quiz would be complete without a deep dive into “The Rules and How to Apply (and Bend ’em)” – a topic that certainly sparked some lively debate! Finally, we celebrated our beloved home with “St Francis Links – the home we love,” testing everyone’s knowledge of our own hallowed grounds. Do you think you could have taken on the challenge and beaten the best? |
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A massive congratulations is in order for our champions of the evening, PAR EXCELLENCE! Despite a few “controversial points being denied by our very strict Quiz Master” (we’re looking at you, Norman), their superior knowledge and quick wit shone through, securing them the coveted title.
We are thrilled by the success of this event and are already planning more fun activities for our members going forward. Be sure to follow us on our social media channels to stay updated on all upcoming events and ensure you don’t miss out on the next opportunity to test your golf prowess! |
Titleist takes over St Francis Links for the day |
Are you not convinced that your clubs are perfect for you?
Well, mark your calendars. On Monday, August 25th, our very first fitting day with none other than the undisputed heavyweight champion of golf equipment: Titleist!
That’s right, folks, the brand synonymous with precision, performance is in town – here to elevate your game from “not bad” to “wow, you are good.” Whether you’re a seasoned scratch golfer, a weekend warrior aiming to shave a few strokes off your handicap, or a budding beginner just trying to keep the ball out of the water hazards (we’ve all been there!), this is your time.
The brilliant minds behind Titleist’s cutting-edge technology, the very same “gents who fit the best in the world,” will be on hand to analyze your swing, understand your needs, and build a set of clubs that fit you like a glove. Simply email the Pro Shop to confirm your attendance, or click the button below. |
Hollowtining and away games |
Our amazing course maintenance team are busy with the task of hollowtining and reseeding from the 18th to the 31st of August 2025.
This means, sadly, that the course will be closed during this period. We know, we know, it’s a tragedy of epic proportions! But fear not, Golf Enthusiasts because we’ve cooked up some delightful alternatives to ease the pain of losing our beloved course for this very worthy (and necessary) cause.
We’ve arranged some away golf trips and reciprocity with surrounding courses to keep your swing in tip-top shape. Nazeem will be hosting a group of 20 to play at Wedgewood on Thursday, August 21st, teeing off between 8:30 AM and 9:10 AM. The green fees are R280, and the cart fee is R340.
Carel will be hosting a group of 20 to play at Pezula. The date is the 28th of August and times are to be confirmed.
Please email the Pro Shop if you would like to join either.
And, to keep your game sharp during the course closure, we’ll be keeping the range open from 08h00 to 17h00 daily, except Mondays when it will be closed. We have also been approached by several courses that will be offering improved rates over this period. The courses offering improved rates are: Wedgewood, St Francis Bay, Humewood, Knysna, and Goose Valley. |
Get ready to get Eclectic! |
We’re thrilled to announce our Eclectic Competition, running from 1 June to 30 September 2025.
For those new to the term, “eclectic” isn’t just a fancy word for “a bit of everything” – it means you get to pick your best score on each hole over the entire competition period. In short – golf’s greatest hits! This isn’t a one-and-done deal, however, you need to be consistent!
To truly conquer the eclectic, you need to be out there, rain or shine. Every individual Strokeplay/Stableford round counts! That seemingly insignificant tap in on a blustery Wednesday could be the difference between bragging rights … or some banter being sent around in “The Bunker” (that’s the new lower section in Jack’s Bar!)
Overcoming these “obstacles” is what separates the contenders from the “I’d rather join the knitting club” crowd. To keep you on the edge of your golf carts, we’ve got real-time leaderboards set up on ScoreCapture.
Check them out regularly to see where you stand and who you need to beat. |
A Little Bit of Housekeeping |
Handicap and Entering Scores Notice |
We have noticed an increase in rounds not being closed or entered correctly the past 2 weeks and would like to remind golfers that it is their responsibility to enter a score – Any penalty rounds incurred will not be removed or adjusted going forward – this will have a negative effect on your handicap.
We ask that you please be mindful and enter your scores.
In addition to this – if you have more than two penalty rounds in your list of active scores relating to your handicap calculation, we will not allow you to enter club competitions.
Should you be interested in playing at any of these courses, please inform us by sending an email to Proshop@Stfrancislinks.com and we will secure that booking for you. |
More Events to Look Forward to |
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Introduce her to golf |
A new skill to MASTER
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The social connections and fun of golf are major drawcards for women taking up the game, but there’s also a new skill to master and to draw confidence from. |
If you know a woman who you think could enjoy the health, lifestyle, social and fun benefits of golf, please introduce them to us. Or let them know we’ve got great coaches and fun introductory programmes. |
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