Nearing the end of year 14

Please watch the video of Jack Nicklaus at our opening day press conference before going any further into the newsletter. It sets the stage…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SSx8YzEp40

 

In December 2006, about a week after we opened, Ernie Els defeated Trevor Immelman in weather that was some of the best we have ever seen in December to win the SA Open at Humewood (-24) . That was the same weather we opened St Francis Links with. Our 1st 10 days were amazing; then, on about the 20th, the westerly came in hard and, the course that looked and played so well, turned like an angry lion. To make it worse, the course wasn’t knitted to the cart paths so there was dust to deal with as well. I’ll never forget a golfer coming off after the round that day wearing wrap-around sunglasses. When he removed them, he looked he’d come out of a coal mine with only white around his eyes. We lost a few friends in the beginning, as the combination of wind and a new course proved tougher than the designer planned on.

With his permission, we started clearing around bunkers and widening landing areas immediately. While the course played perfectly with a camera, the golf scores were not as memorable. The fabulous layout, shot-making, aesthetics and conditioning still saw us earn “best new course in SA”.  Jack Nicklaus loved the land as stated in the interview and insisted that as good as the land was at the time, the course would evolve with time. Mother Nature has helped that process by moving the sand in the bunkers to new locations, often increasing the faces of the bunkers in size and scouring the bases deeper at the same time. Many of our bunkers have been “cleaned up” and repaired to their original look and feel. Others have been made smaller or divided to offset the damage from the wind. The golf course has been widened immensely through the years to account for the coastal breezes and better playability. One of the biggest changes over time is the amount of bush that has grown in on the sides – Bitou, Slangbos and Blombos.

Before we opened, conservationists lodged their objections against the development. One reason was the fact that we were and are still the home to some very special plant life.  Areas were designated as protected areas to ensure the survival of the rare indigenous plants. Today, there is more indigenous plant life than ever before. Recently, Professor Cowling came and assisted us by assessing our environmental management plan. Simply put, he felt that while it all looked good, maybe there was now too much of the Bitou, Slangbos and Blombos; by thinning and clearing, the smaller fynbos and plants could thrive as well. The programme has started.

There is no doubt that the look is amazingly different than day one – hopefully, you agree the evolution has been a good one. It’s hard to believe we are still raising a teenager.

TK…TK…TK talks golf

The moment of impact

Everyone wants to hit the ball further and more accurate. The only way to consistently do this it to have a consistent impact position. Easy? No. Possible? YES

What should happen?

1. The golf club should be moving towards the ball on the correct line
2. The clubface should be aiming to your target, back to its original position, square to the target line
3. The club should be traveling towards the ball at the correct angle
4. The club should be moving as fast as possible

There are many factors that are important to develop a consistent impact position however I will discuss only one factor this week

Setup

Starting with a good setup will enable you to deliver the club in the correct position at impact. I took 2 pictures of Micah van Eyssen, one of our up and coming talents. My view is that he has one of the best golf swings I have seen. He practices (important) and receives weekly lessons from PGA Professional, Christo Krugel. The first picture shows Micah at address. You can see how the left arm is straight, the arm becomes an extension of the shaft the hands are opposite the ball. The club head is behind the hands and the shaft is pointing towards his left hip. The second picture shows Micah at impact. Notice how the left arm is still straight, hands have moved in front of the ball, club head behind the hands and the shaft pointing towards his left hip. Micah has cleared his left side and is textbook at impact. Notice the extension and width.

The below pictures prove that setup has a direct influence on the impact position.

The left arm is not an extension of the club and the shaft is not pointing towards the left hip. You can see that the mistakes made at address have carried through to impact. The golfer pictured above can hit the ball pretty well, however he struggles with consistency.

 

For more information, book a lesson with me on pro@stfrancislinks.com or 0827643044 and we can get you on a path to become consistent.

Thinus Keller
PGA Head Golf Professional
St Francis Links

Golfing Highlights

Two formats that we seldom use are Better ball Bogey (minus 1 for a nett bogey or worse, zero for a par and a plus 1 for anything better. Better ball Bonus Bogey at least awards the players who make nett eagles with 2 plusses and the rare nett Albatross with 3 plusses. It’s the inevitable dropped shots that hurt as a minus now appears on the card. When I see scores like plus 10 (equal to 46 points) when there are potential minuses involved, I reckon the handicaps are off or the course is too easy. HUMMMM…11 players shot par or better nett with Super Dave Webber out in 68 nett. There were 11 two-clubs with Christoper van Rensburg making two. 21 four-points (++) were achieved on the day with Hein (the legend in his own mind) making 3, nett eagles in the first six holes.

OK, we are going to stop “softening” the course and all winners will be automatically cut OR we’ll just keep promoting fun and fair golf, playing from the tees that best suit your game and carry on.

I am sure a vote is not required.

Click here for Saturday’s Bonus Bogey Plus results

 

Winter SALE!

 

Our friends from Global Golf, suppliers of Cutter&Buck, AHEAD, Ernie Els, Rhode Island and others have sent their latest winters garments and we are prepared to offer specials from the start. In addition, the popular puffer jackets and vests have been reduced to go! Perfect for our cool morning and fresh winter days, take advantage of what’s on offer. Hey, shoes and eyewear are on sale, too!

 

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Hi Charl

CONGRATS on winning our first prize – we loved your video. You will receive your prize within the next 10 days. We appreciate your support & all you do for our industry.

Video –

OPEN all through August with no Spring Programme closure…Now is the time to be working from home – HERE! 

 

 

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This year, we will be seeing more weddings, fewer golfing National events (due to rotation) and more member functions as our member play is the fastest-growing category in golf. We look forward to more sponsored days with ITEC and Selective Lighting/The Fire Works and the addition of a new partnership between Pam Golding Properties and Village Square SuperSpa

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

17-19    Jul             Men’s Invitational (postponed)

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

29         Jul             Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

1-2       Aug            EP Amateur Championships (postponed)

7          Aug             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

8-9     Aug              EP Amateur Championships – Matchplay finals

 4        Sep             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

9          Sep             ITEC Open Wednesday

25-27  Sep             LINKS CUP South Africa

30        Sep             Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

2         Oct             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

3          Oct              Stulting Golf Day

14        Oct               ITEC Open Wednesday

28        Oct              Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

5          Nov            Eastern Province SENIORS

6          Nov             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

11         Nov             ITEC Open Wednesday

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

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