Mother Nature wins the 1st round…Autism will win the match!
The forecast for Thursday is shocking and we don’t want anything to have a negative effect on the Els of Autism Day – for that reason, it has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 5th with great prizes, great golf and the chance to play in the SA Open Pro-AM (after qualifying for the national finals at the Els Signature, Highland Gate near Dullstoom).
Weddings – back to back!
Our team was in top form this weekend as two great weddings followed each other. The first wedding took a twist when all of the wedding chairs, tables and other pieces came from Joburg in a pantechnicon Thursday night, nearly 12 hours late. Our troops, including Charl and some of his guys combined with the front and back of house, to move the furniture from the front gate to the Clubhouse in shuttles before working late to get it all in order. On Friday morning, it was all in place for the beautiful bride and groom (no one knew the better).
Friday was a special day. When wedding guests are truly joyful and in their song and dance, demonstrate their best wishes for the new couple, then our job is made easy! Congrats Zimasa and Luvoyo Maxengana and thank you for choosing St Francis Links!
Following the wedding, it was all taken down…by 7h30 the next morning the new wedding venue was compete – only the cut flowers were being added at that time! The ceremony was also held in the Lighthouse Restaraunt and it was in place, as well!
We were so happy to host Links home owners Marius and Cornelia’s daughter’s wedding on Saturday. Bridal couple Nadia Alberts and Chris Els will have many happy memories and friends at the Links … and Saturday’s memory is a keeper! Congrats from all of us!
The ceremony was all on time, the Boks beat France as the younger attendees watched and all was good in Linksland!
Keep Reading…
More to remember!
This was our best year to date in almost every way:
- We finished our 109th home on the estate (58 are permanent residents)
- There were four property sale last week alone
- 15 homes are under construction
- 24 homes are in the planning or application stages
- We are financially sound with great lifestyle choices for the entire family
- To date, we are 900 rounds UP on budget
- Our golf rounds featured golfers from more than 20 different countries – from Wisconsin to New South Wales
- We moved up in the nation ratings to No. 7 in Golf Digest
- The UK rates us No. 6
- The Swedish press rate us No.4
- With our members, No. 1
The Invitational – our Annual Men’s Member Guest
July 21-23 – Invitations are in the mail to you – please fill in your partner’s details and send them back!
Fairways and Greens
Keeping them perfect!
At St Francis Links we strive for the best playing surface we can provide year round. Although we have high peaks and low ones as the climate changes, we try to keep the course as consistent as we can. The green surfaces are crucial to keep the same seeing that this is where most rounds get won or loss when it comes down to the crunch.
We maintain the green firmness and speed by dusting the greens with a thin layer of sand once a week. This drastically promotes good ball roll and speeds up the greens. The sand also helps to dry out the surface of the green and this helps to control algae to a degree. Once a month we will tine the greens with a small solid tine, this is the process where we punch the greens full of small holes to promote air movement and drainage on and below the green surface. We will follow the tining with a light roll and a dusting to finish the process.
I hope this gives you more insight into what we do to give you the best playing surfaces we can offer.
In the meantime, happy golfing and keep it down the middle.
Charl Blaauw.
Don’t stop yet! New Events are listed below!
Will be our sponsors for OPEN Wednesday (2nd 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!
Monday Roll-up! Pitch up and play (9 holes or 18 Par-3 from 2pm) let’s add you to the What’s app group
All day Saturdays-Morning and afternoon fields – the afternoon field will be booked from 12 noon backwards with emphasis on “ready golf” – Prizegiving and Happy Hour at 17h00
June 21 Sticky Fingers Dinner and Members’ Get-together
June 22 Els for Autism (winners advance to Highland Gate) Rescheduled for October 5th
June 23 Monte Carlo Royale (Fundraiser for St Francis College)
July 2-3 SA Junior Order of Merit
July 12 ITEC Open Wednesday
July 14 Members’ Get-together
July 18 67 Minutes for Madiba – Extreme Golf Fundraiser
July 21-23 The Invitational – annual Men’s Member Guest
July 23-26 The PGA “Road Trip”
ST FRANCIS LINKS “MAJORS” AND “SPECIAL EVENTS” FOR 2017
Jan 2-3 Men’s Member-Member, St Francis Bay wins by .18 of a point! Well done!
Jan 7-8 The Pam Golding Annual, Derek Ryan and Scott Keevy, Champions
Mar 11 Greensomes over 18 holes (NEW) Sandra Marais/Ingvild Stiansen; Mauro Nettl/Yan Coesens
Apr 28-30 Club Championships – Ralph Richardson and Helen Bridges, Champions
May 7 Inter-Estate Challange (St Francis Links)
May 18-19 Woodlands’ Dairy Golf Days for HOSPICE R400 000-00 raised for Hospice
May 20 Stulting School Day R280 000-00 raised on the day
May 27 Foursomes over 18 holes (NEW) Margot McGregor and Dr Lynn Slogrove, Champions
Jun 3 Ladies’ Invitational Dr Lynn Slogrove and Noeline de Ridder
Jun 10 Sanlam – Links Qualifier
Jul 2-3 National Junior Order of Merit
Jul 20-23 Men’s Invitational
Jul 23-25 The Annual “Road Trip”
Aug 6 Sanlam Cancer FINALS at St Francis Links
Aug 8-23 Spring Programme – Course and Clubhouse Closed
Sep 30, Oct 1 Links Cup
October 5 Els for Autism at St Francis Links (finals at Highland Gate)
Nov 11-12 Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend
Dec 2 Ladies’ Member-Member
Dates for Mixed Events, as well as the Knock-outs to follow.
Seasonal packages are now on offer
It’s also the time of year for golf travel. We join others in advertising our course countrywide. The are are a couple of subtle differences between what you pay and what you receive in a golf package. We pride ourselves on over-delivering with personal services, additional opportunities, special events, shoot-outs and so much more. We’ll supply the braai or what you need to do it yourselves; we’ll serve your meals here or recommend the area establishments who will exceed your expectations (and of course, we’ll do the booking for you). Why? Because we can and we want to!
Why not sign up for the special events coming up in the future and expand them into a few days of play! Play in the Inter-Estate Challenge, enter the Ernie Els for Autism in June, start planning for the Invitationals – ladies and men; Invite your friends in for the best golf in SA (and beyond).
Every Great shot starts with a SMILE 