Level 1 means MORE opportunities!
At St Francis Links, we made the decision before re-opening that we could and would skip our annual Spring Programme to get as much play in as possible this year. What we didn’t expect was the amount of play and support that we have seen. The course is awesome and our members are playing more than ever. With travel restrictions in place early on, most of our play was member play; then the golfers started coming in from all over the Province. We were able to host the EP Champs with nearly a record field and quality golf. We experienced quite a decline in Cool Season golf last year and subsequently budgeted for less golf this year in July, August and September. August rounds nearly doubled budget and September rounds were nearly triple the budget! What a great way to finish the financial year off!
Well, to be blunt, we smashed it with local business.
Now we are able to return to some sense of normality with face masks and temp checks, continuing. Groups are booking and the annual events are back on the calendar. Starting with the Links Cup, 16-18 October, followed by the return of the SPAR Mystery Tour and the rescheduled Ladies’ Member-Guest Invitational 24 October and completing the month with a fundraiser for Nico Malan and the Trophy le Coque (the men vs the ladies) on the 31st! This Saturday, despite the foul weather, all will be raising funds for Stulting School with 80 players in the afternoon. That all adds up to a great way to start our new financial year.
With Challenge comes Opportunity
The lockdown was hard on everyone but it also saw a significant increase in residents on the Estate – from 55% occupation to over 80%.
Many who were here have stayed on and some have already made plans to live here – great for the Estate, the Community, the area schools and local businesses. Work from home -HERE!
Our local Real Estate agents are all smiling about the renewed interest in property. And…many are young families!
Community
Speaking of Growth!
This year saw another 22 homes completed on The Links with 17 under construction and a further 18 approved and awaiting construction! An additional 14 are in the planning and submission stages. The community grows and everybody wins and lives in the most special place in SA!
Meet Chantelle van Vuuren
Chantelle is our Assistant Food and Beverage Manager at St Francis Links. She tells us more below about herself and her journey here:
“I started working at the Links when I was 16 years old as a casual for holiday money and to give me some direction for a career choice after school. I was hooked from the start and knew this is my ultimate career choice.
When I was in my matric year, I handed in my CV to Liezl in the hopes I have proven myself through the years. Hard work got me to where I am today as an Assistant Food & Beverage Manager and the rest is history. I am a person who loves interacting with new people, I am extremely outgoing and a kind-hearted person. There’s never a mundane day or day without surprises at the Links and I love this. Everyday there are new challenges to overcome and new people to meet.
I am a proud mother of a young little boy, John Graeme (14 months old) and recently got engaged to my best friend since high school and boyfriend of 3 years Aaron Haldane.
I love working at St Francis Links, there is something special about this place that I can’t explain. The people I work with makes it fun and less stressful. St Francis Links will always be my home away from home! My philosophy in life: “a dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, tears, determination and hard work!”
What a little advertising brings!
Many of you joined the fun by entering Golf Champs, the golf game where you picked four players to “back” in the Majors. When you opened the site to view the pools, make your picks or check the results you saw this…
The best stop on your next Road Trip…St Francis Links
and this…
The US Open pools were joined by thousands of golfers from around the world; more than 12, 500 people viewed the site and saw our logo and ad. Money well spent!
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
3 Oct Stulting Golf Day
14 Oct ITEC Open Wednesday
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