The Summer Wellness Expo!
This past Saturday, our local businesses focused on wellness and strutted their stuff here at St Francis Links, once again, with charity benefiting from the day. It was a very spacial day, well-displayed by the presenters and well-attended by the community. Food and drinks were provided by The Links and the SPCA will receive a check for their causes. There were demonstrations and exhibitions throughout the day and all who participated were better off for making the effort.
Our local photographer, Christopher Scott (@chrisscott’sphotography) , captured the day’s events and I have put together a little collage to share. Same time next year!
…It’s Ladies’ Night (and days), Oh, what a Night!
This weekend we will be sharing 144 ladies between ourselves and St Francis Bay Golf Club as we host the Pam Golding Annual Ladies Weekend. 28 Golf Clubs are represented in what will surely be a great weekend. Our insurance providers, Bay Union, are sponsoring a Hole-in-One prize on the 17th hole and Dirk Ellis Motors will be providing the car, a new VW UP, valued at R190 000-00! Annemarie is once again putting up R5000-00 in shopping at her boutique for the first ace on the 8th hole at St Francis Bay. Locals Spas and other businesses have also complimented the weekend with great prizes. Richard Arderne, who has underwritten the prizes for a number of years, is awarded the title sponsorship for Pam Golding.
Last year’s event with the theme, Lady in Red, had them all dressed up for the night!
Where would we be without him…
The man who convinced Lionel Donnelly to develop a golf course came to see the finished product. My friend, Iain Banner, who worked for many years with Gary and Mark Player, before recruiting all of the members of the world sport’s academy for the Laureus Aawards with Johan Rupert. Iain returned to SFL after many years away to realize the dream that he discussed with Lionel years ago. What he saw as we toured the course with a couple of his mates (riding mates), blew him away on a calm day! Iain and I have been part of the Gideon DuPlessis Charity Day for many years. This year, he managed the auction and we raised another R750 000-00 for Child Welfare in George.
Years ago, Iain was involved with Lionel and Robbie Marshall in discussions about St Francis Links – land that he reckoned was destined for a great golf course and development. After we got on carts and toured for a few minutes, he was on the phone to Lionel, then Mike and finally, a message for Robbie sharing his pleasure!
Welcome Iain, Fernando and Miguel to St Francis Links – better than you imagined, hey!
Iain Banner and friends ride in to the his dream that came true…The great Roger Federer has received 4 Laureus Awards
The Laureus World Sports Awards is held annually, celebrating the most remarkable men and women from the world of sport along with their achievements from the previous calendar year.
To find the winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards a Nominations Panel of the world’s leading sports editors, writers and broadcasters vote to create a shortlist of six nominations in five categories – Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Laureus World Team of the Year, Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year and Laureus World Comeback of the Year.
The nominations for two additional categories – the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year and the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability are produced by Specialist Panels.
The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy then vote by secret ballot to select the Award winners in all seven categories.
Though the Awards bring a high profile focus onto the very best of professional sport, it is also those at the most grassroots level that benefit too.
And these projects have already helped to improve the lives of more than one-and-half million young people through the use of sport.
Member News and Events
DOMESTIC WORKERS – NOW AND IN SEASON
We wish to remind all property owners that domestic workers (housekeeping and gardeners) must be pre-registered with the HOA. This is especially important with the season coming up as security is compromised when domestic workers try to gain access and have not been registered with us or when home owners drive their domestic workers into the estate without registering them. Please ensure that any tenants (December rentals) also arrange registration of their workers this season. If your domestic worker no longer works for you, please also inform us so that we can de-register them. To register or de-register, please mail reception@stfrancislinks.com and supply a copy of their ID book, contact details as well as listing the days on which they will be working or advise us to deregister them.
Golfer’s Breakefast leads to good ideas!
Last Wednesday, we invited the golfing members to breakfast to share ideas that will improve participation in our scheduled golf days at the Club. As you all know, golfers and “improving” golfers play the game for a variety of reasons and competing is not always at the top of the list. When asked, “Why do you play golf?”, the vast majority says the play for comaraderie before winning, exercise and anything else. When you are a small “playing’ club as we are, on many days, selecting a format that is appealling to all, is not always easy. As much as any competiton format with a entry fee with prizes appeals to most of you, others will stay away for the same reasons – pressure on performing for the partner or team, pressure on understanding all of the little bets that acompany a “friendly” wager or simply playing with people you are not comfortable with. Many of you are quite happy to play with your mates and carry on. 1/3 of the golfers who play golf don’t have a handicap, and couldn’t be bothered – hit a bad shot and drop another ball – great. Yet, there is also a feeling of fitting in and playing “with the girls” or “with the guys”. The problem arises when you attempt to make that jump from “social” to “competitive” – the jump can feel massive. We all need to remember when we took that jump ourselves and be inviting to others whenever possible. We, the team, will always try to make a plan for members who wish to join on a given day – just let us know when you are available.
Members Breakfast Minutes (summary)
Date: 01/11/2017
Inter-Estate
• Put together a list of players (possible players) and create a What’sAPP group for Inter-Estate
• Make available for non-golfers (who may wish to travel)
• Send calendar via email and circulate monthly, doing the final circulation a month before to get the final amount of sign ups.
• Show of hands: 9 members interested
Alliance
• Drawing names to create a variety of players playing with one another
• Individual stableford
• Suggestions:
– happy hour after play
– making bigger table seating available
• Comments/Complaints:
– Starting tee time in the heat of the day (referring to Wednesdays – this is to attract the working members, as well.
Note: We recommend establishing another WhatsApp group for all who want an early game – we’ll make a plan.
Club Draw Ideas
• Members in agreement with amending the competition fees to R50 once a month for the draw
• If member that wins the draw is not at prize giving, they will revoke set prize and prize will roll over to the next draw
• Joker draw where tickets are purchased (R5) and then drawn for a chance to turn the Joker – accumulating pot with sponsosored prizes as well (monthly)
Comps throughout the year
• Eclectic
• Gross Eclectic
• Betterball scores over 15 games
• Match play
• Knock outs (single, pair, mixed)
Golf trips
• St Francis links golf team offer to administrate members road trips including accommodation, assisting with the process
Please. Please, Please note: When traveling for golf, let us do the introduction and establish the best rate.
Tee Sheets (Wednesdays)
• Prize giving to commence at 6pm (work backwards from 12h30)
• 2 tee starts – men and ladies finish at the same time
Monthly Programme for Wednesday play
1st Wednesday – Make your own fourballs or enter the draw
2nd Wednesday – Open Wednesday – special prices for members bringing guests on the day
3rd Wednesday – Drawn Fourballs – enter the men’s, ladies’ or mixed draw.
4th Wednesday – Monthly Road Trip or enter the draw (this month – Nov 22, Fynbos)
5th Wednesday – Make your own fourball or enter the draw
There is more worth reading!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Happy to all of our members with birthdays this week
8 November – Ken Gammie
11 November – Steven Bluen, Reginald Evans
12 November – Joachim Mennen, Kin Flanagan
14 November – Judy Errington
Click HERE for the entire Festive Season Itinerary!
More to remember!
This was our best year to date in almost every way:
- We finished our 119th home on the estate (55% permanently occupied)
- 20 homes have been completed this year.
- 10 homes are under construction
- 20 homes are in the planning or application stages
- We are financially sound with great lifestyle choices for the entire family
- We just played our most rounds in a single year!
- Our golf rounds featured golfers from more than 20 different countries – from Wisconsin to New South Wales
- Over R1M raised for charity this year
- 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
Don’t stop yet! New Events are listed below!
Itec are 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”
Nov 8 ITEC Open Wednesday
Nov 11-12 Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend
Nov 22 Wednesday School Party after golf (Awards Night)
Nov 27 Windhoek Lager International Pairs (here)
Nov 29 Road Trip to Fynbos
ST FRANCIS LINKS “MAJORS-SPECIAL EVENTS” & RESULTS 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, Champions
Jun 10 Sanlam – Links Qualifier
Jul 2-3 National Junior Order of Merit Wilco Nienaber, Champion (ranked No. 3 in SA)
Jul 20-23 Men’s Invitational Derek Ryan and Pieter Jerling, Champions
Jul 23-25 The Annual “Road Trip” Brian Wessels, Individual and Pards Cup Champion
Aug 6 Sanlam Cancer FINALS at St Francis Links, Gillian Hammond finished 2nd Nationally
Aug 8-23 Spring Programme – Course and Clubhouse Closed
Sep 29-Oct 1 Links Cup – South Africa (29-19)
October 5 Els for Autism at St Francis Links R232 000 raised on the day
Nov 11-12 Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend (ALMOST FULL)
Dec 2 Ladies’ Member-Member (PLEASE ENTER)
Every Great shot starts with a SMILE 
The St Francis Links Team