New Homes brings more activity to our Community

My emphasis in this piece is on COMMUNITY! The word Community is what we are all about –

Community is a feeling, a spirit  – gees! It An estate community represents social and lifestyle options that appeal to all ages. At St Francis Links, we pride ourselves in providing a clean, safe and attractive estate for all ages. As we grow, more options for growing the community are looked into. We love our youth – family life keeps everyone young. The addition of the Leisure Centre, walking and cycling trails to the already acclaimed golf course and Clubhouse have attracted more investment over the years. 

Our fantastic golf course is equalled in beauty and conditioning by the rest of the estate. We take pride when a person the ilk of Gary Player says, “this is the best balance of golf and residential components I have ever seen in the world. I mean that!” And then he repeated it to Mike Wylie after the golf and to everyone else that was within earshot. With our dune ridges forming natural divisions throughout the estate combined with the ample corridors for golf (many courses feel like you are playing withing rooftops) makes for a great balance of space. Add the black and white architectural theme that mirrors the old village and we have the recipe for architectural and landscape harmony.

When I stand on the first tee with new guests and tour people on the estate, I often refer to the “balance” between man and nature that exists here. 

What Jack Nicklaus provided in his design was 18 unique golfing experiences – using the entire estate as his base. Each hole stands alone in character and the entire experience builds in quality from the first shot. The multiple tee locations offer a length of play for all golfers – short hitters to long and everyone in between. The ride or walk through the 18 holes also features a story of our fauna and flora through signage – explaining in places, the history of the dune systems to the medicinal values of the plants. 

A couple of week’s back we toured the estate with our staff – the kitchen team, the waitrons and housekeepers joined the outside services team and our professionals to see and learn more about our estate community. With the final group, I had the opportunity to retell a story that I used with the staff at Fancourt years ago – because the message remains the same…

I explained that for an estate like ours to be great and attractive to all – there are components that are required to ensure success…

• First you need the location – and for those who had not ever had the ability to travel far, I explained that this is some of the most beautiful land in the world – the dunes, the mountains, the ocean , the clean air, the moderate climate all make our location very special!
• The people who become our ambassadors – these are the people who show and tell the world about us – the Jack Nicklaus’s who married the course to the land, the sportsman and women who have come and played or participated, the brides and grooms, the conference goers and the “road tripping” groups, the locals and the internationals and, of course – OUR MEMBERS! These people, when their stay is memorable, tell others!
• The architecture – Our Clubhouse that just feels good in side, the homes on the estate that fit so well with the surrounds and even the roads and verges, tidy and neat, all contribute to our success

but the single most important ingrediant in this recipe for success is –

• YOU, our staff, our team of employees who ensure the memories are for life, that people want to be a part of our community – for a short stay or for a lifetime – to raise their children in a spacious, safe and friendly atmosphere and to retire in a peaceful and secure enviroment. 

Community comes with participation, the sharing of good ideas, the sense of being welcome and the knowledge that everyone cares. Community also comes challenges and opportunities – let’s continue to work together for the benefit of everyone! 

Home building on the estate continues and with it comes the reward of new residents on the estate –
now with nearly half of the homes permanently occupied. We continue to welcome the increase in
young families! The entire estate benefits from all of the new residents. Currently:
• 14 homes under construction
• 24 properties have transferred this year (since 1 October 2015)
• 8 transfers are pending
• 91 homes are complete and 43 are occupied permanently.

  
Ernie and Ben

Another “Happy Camper”

Dear Sir,
Strokers Golf have been in existence since 1989. Once a month the group of twelve members get together and have a competitive but friendly round of golf. To date we have played in the excess of 90 courses country wide of which the bulk of the courses being situated in the northern provinces of the country since all twelve members reside in the Gauteng province. Twice a year we travel to what we call the ‘getaway tour’ and normally the courses played will be located in the coastal regions. The ‘getaway tour’ occurs every May and September of the calendar year.

This year we built up the courage to tackle the links courses located in the Eastern Province. The tour started with a round of golf at Humewood on the 7 May and our wishes were fulfilled when the weather played its part in issuing gale force winds and light rain for our baptism of fire. The experience was unforgettable and the excitement was quickly damped when scorecards were presented. Scores were to put it ‘mildly’ pathetic and loss of golf balls were extremely high. The spirits were dampened and the trip back to St Francis bay was quiet and trip was long.

We had a booking to play St Francis Links the following day and you could sense amongst the guys that fear had settled in since everyone we spoke to mentioned that St Francis Links is more challenging than Humewood however, we were presently surprised by what St Francis initially threw at us. The friendliness of the staff from the signing point at the gate all the way to the guys that collected our bags from the car, the reception ladies, the staff at the pro shop and not forgetting the staff manning the bar. The courtesy and professionalism show by all to make our experience unforgettable has not been witnessed anywhere in all the courses that we have played.

I would like to convey my gratitude to all at St Francis Links for firstly presenting the course in a pristine condition affording us the experience of not only a challenging round of golf but for engraving in our mind the warm friendly environment shown to us by all the fantastic staff.

Warm Regards
Paul Carvalho

…and a great review on Trip Advisor

Thanks for the Support

Our Board of Directors recently accepted the resignation of tow of our homeowner Board Members. Dr Danie Cronje and Ernest Muller both brought a wealth of experience and knowledge tou our Board. Both resigned sighting personal reasons at a time when the Club and Estate are in real growth. Dr Cronje has offered his continued support for the financial processes here and that support is greatly appreciated. Ernest can now get stuck into building their new home! I would like to personally thank them both as I have gained so much knowledge from them. We have a successful and growing estate and it is our Board of Directors to thank as the give us, your management team the support and guidance we need!  

Ernest Muller and Dr Danie receive a small gift to show our appreciation – the peppermint dessert was a bonus, Dr! 

 UPCOMING EVENTS

Proudly Sponsored – ITEC SOLUTIONS and Harcourts will be our sponsors for OPEN Wednesday (2nd Wednesday) and Harcourt’s Wednesday (3rd Wednesday) with meat and added prizes. Invite your friends to enjoy SA’s best with special rates for golf, snacks after the game and great prizes – Hey, Curry Night follows – stay or take away!

March (every Tuesday) – 10am Coffee Break for our lady members

May 18: Harcourt’s Wednesday
May 26-27: Woodland’s Dairy for HOSPICE
May 29: Interestate Challenge at Mossel Bay

ST FRANCIS LINKS “MAJORS” AND “SPECIAL EVENTS” FOR 2016

Note the NEW Dates for 2016:

April 9: 1st Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
April 23-24: Club Championships
May 29: Interestate Challenge at Mossel Bay
June 18: 2nd Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
July 9: Sanlam Cancer Challenge – SFL Qualifier
June 26: Inter- Estate Challenge at Oubaai
July 15-17: Men’s Invitational – Special NEW Friday event and Shoot-out

Proud Sponsors of the Ladies OPEN Weekend and the ANNUAL

July 17: 3rd Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
July 30: 4th Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
July 31: Inter-Estate Challenge at Goose Valley
August 6: Ladies’ Invitational
August 6: 5th Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
August 8-23: Spring Programme – Course and Clubhouse Closed
August 21: Sanlam Cancer Challenge FINALS
August 21: Inter-Estate Challenge Simola
September 24: Final Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions 
September 25: Inter-Estate Challenge at St Francis Links
September 30, October 1-2: Links Cup
October 30: Inter-Estate Challenge at Pezula
October 30-November 6: Vodacom Origins of Golf FINALS (Sunshine Tour – course Closed)
November 19-20: Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend
November 25-27: Nicklaus Champion of Champions (Serengeti)
November 27: Inter-Estate Challenge FINALS at Pinnacle Point

December 9-11 – 10th Year Anniversary Activities (watch this space)

2016 International Events

US Masters – Augusta National, Georgia – April 7-10 – Danny Willett, Champion
US Open – Oakmont CC, Oakmont, Pennsylvania – June 16-19
Open Championship – Royal Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland – July 14-17
US PGA – Baltusrol (Lower Course), Springfield, New Jersey – July 28-31
The Ryder Cup – Hazeltine, Minnesota – September 30 to October 2

If you love other, let them know! Renewal of our vows – May 7, 2016

Every Great shot starts with a SMILE