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| St Francis Links – Betterball Matchplay Knockouts is back – Enter now! |
| Get Ready for the St Francis Links – Men and Ladies – Betterball Matchplay Knockouts, proudly brought to you by Kwikelec! |
| Defending Champions (2024): |
| Previous Years Winners: Debbie McCracken and Madelaine Barry emerged victorious in the ladies category.
On the men’s side, Archie Bell and Kevin McNaughton claimed victory in the knockout competition.
Are you ready to showcase your golfing skills while having a blast with friends? St Francis Links is excited to announce the upcoming Betterball Matchplay Knockouts for both men and ladies! This is your chance to team up, compete, and enjoy the beautiful game of golf on our championship course! |
| What is Betterball Matchplay? |
| In a Betterball format, each player on a team plays their own ball throughout the round. At the end of each hole, the best score between the two players counts as the team’s score. This format not only encourages teamwork but also allows for some friendly competition as you cheer each other on! |
Open to all members of St Francis Links.
- Format: Men’s and Ladies’ teams will compete in separate brackets.
- Sponsorship: A big thank you to our sponsor, Kwikelec, for making this event possible!
- Prepare for Fun: Gather your gear, practice your swings, and get ready for an unforgettable experience!
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just starting out, every member in good standing is welcome!
We hope to see you there! Grab your partner and let’s make this event one for the books!
Entries will close on 7 April 2025 – Fixtures Go live on 9 April 2025 |
| Relay Ambulance Services provide much-needed AED training! |
| Relay EMS Ambulance Services visited the Links this week, and offered free, informative hands-on AED and CPR training to our staff, parkrun volunteers, St Francis Paddling and St Francis Runners representatives and Seal Point Board Riders members! They also offered free vitals checks to our property owners. One can never be too careful! Call them in case of emergency, wherever you are in the Eastern Cape at 0861 061 061. Thank you to their team! |
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| Golfing in the Wind |
| Golf Tips for wild winds at St Francis Bay |
| Golfing in windy conditions can feel like trying to play chess on a rollercoaster, challenging but oh-so-rewarding when you get it right!
Here are some light-hearted yet practical tips to help you improve your striking and control your ball flight and trajectory when the wind decides to join your round. |
| First things first, accept that the wind is part of the game.
Instead of cursing it under your breath, think of it as an additional opponent. Channel your inner zen master and embrace the challenge! |
| Low and slow for the win. |
| When the wind picks up, it’s time to keep it low and steady.
Take more club, and swing it easy: opt for one club more than you normally would, swing it slow and easy to keep that spin rate as low as possible, helping the ball not get as influenced by the wind.
Ball Position: Move the ball slightly back in your stance. This adjustment promotes a more descending blow, helping with that initial launch angel. |
| Focus on Your Follow-Through |
| Your follow-through is crucial when battling Mother Nature.
Finish Low: Aim for a lower finish position after your swing. This helps ensure that you’re not launching the ball too high into the wind.
Tempo Trap: Don’t get too punchy! Maintain a smooth and controlled swing, rather than trying to muscle through it. Think of it as dancing with the wind instead of wrestling with it! |
| Understanding how wind affects your shots is key.
Check Wind Direction: Are you facing the wild West, or East the Beast? Before each shot, take a moment to assess which way the wind is blowing.
Adjust Aim: Work with the wind, not against it.
Try moving the ball in the air (IF you can) with the wind, not against it.
Wind off the left, aim left with that natural fade. Wind off the right, never a better opportunity to hit the first draw of the year! We believe in you! |
| Finally, practice makes perfect! Spend some time at the driving range hitting balls in different wind conditions.
Experiment with different clubs and techniques until you find what works best for you.
Don’t forget to have fun while doing it, after all, laughter is great for keeping those nerves at bay! |
| By incorporating these tips into your game, you’ll be well on your way to mastering those windy days on the course while keeping a smile on your face!
Happy golfing! |
| Your March weather report |
| March has come and gone, and most of our foreign visitors have said their goodbyes!
Let’s break down the key highlights weather-wise from this past month. |
| The wind direction played a significant role in our weather patterns throughout March. The west was the clear winner, dominating the winds by blowing 20 times out of the 31 days. This consistent westerly wind likely contributed to the unpredictable weather that St. Francis is known for. |
| The average wind speed recorded for March was 11.61 km/h. This figure gives us a good idea of how breezy it was on most days, making it perfect for those who enjoy a little wind while playing golf or enjoying outdoor activities. |
| One of the standout moments of March occurred on 16th March, when we experienced our highest wind speed of 55 km/h from the West North West. Coincidentally, this was also the day we hosted our league fixtures! Despite the blustery conditions, our Scratch league team performed brilliantly, showcasing their skills even amidst challenging weather. |
| As for temperatures, March brought us an average temperature of 16.94°C. This mild temperature is quite pleasant and ideal for both locals and visitors alike as they enjoyed their time in St. Francis. |
| World Golf Awards nomination! |
| We have been nominated in the 12th annual World Golf Awards for:
South Africa’s Best Golf Course 2025: St Francis Links
Voting is now open and members of the golf community – consumers and industry executives alike – can vote for the brands they consider the very best in golf tourism.
The full list of World Golf Awards 2025 nominees can be viewed on the website where votes can also be cast.
Voting runs until midnight 1 October 2025. The winners will then be notified and the 12th annual World Golf Awards will take place in beautiful Madeira, 12-13 November. |
| St Francis Links Masters! |
| The totals from both days will be combined to determine the overall winner of the St Francis Links Masters Event.
Additional Activities
In addition to the main event, we are excited to announce a special shootout on Friday after the Par 3 Contest. This will take place from the top terrace and promises to be an exciting highlight of the weekend, with great prizes up for grabs!
Refreshments
Join us for some delightful traditional snacks during the event! We will be serving some Masters treats like Pimento Cheese Sandwiches and Pink Lemonade.
Prize Giving Ceremony
The culmination of our event will feature a prestigious green jacket awards ceremony for the winners.
Join Us!
We would love for you to be part of this memorable occasion. |
| 2025 Majors at St Francis Links |
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| Lower handicap and better players know they should avoid missing on the short-side. |
| Ahead of the Par 3 Challenge, think about your game management on approach shots. Now, several weeks out from the event, is a good time for a swing assessment and some improvements to practice. |
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| Upgrade time? |
| DOES IT MATTER? |
| You’re asking, does it matter if you upgrade your clubs? We’ll answer that question with two other questions:
Were you fitted for the clubs you’re using?
How does it feel when you hit the perfect iron shot? The sweetest feeling in golf? |
| The fact is that the speed of prototyping and testing in product development has accelerated to allow brands to find better designs quicker.
At Srixon there have also been breakthroughs in the forging process. The new i-forge process takes feel in the ZXi irons to a whole new level. |
| But don’t waste your investment in innovation. |
| A survey conducted by the Sports and Leisure Group reported that 56% of golfers who had their metalwoods and irons fitted saw a 5 shots or more reduction in their scores. |
| Five shots or more better is about a lot more than a scorecard or victory in a money game. It’s about your experience every time you play. If you want a better experience, then an upgrade with a fitting is the answer to your question. |
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