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We need to be open for all the right reasons!

There was a scare last week when the rumor mill kicked up a gear stating that COVID-19 was on the rise again and the provincial borders could be closed. That rumor reached my friends in Northern Ireland, one who spends 6 months a years here. He panicked. I panicked.

Then the President answered the question asked in parliament. He said the borders would stay open! Phew!

If you speak to real estate agents who also rent properties, the word is we are going to hum this holiday. Schools are starting later and everyone wants to come to the coast and St Francis.

Unfortunately St Francis Links, will not be able to provide the extra entertainment, live shows, New Years Eve or even Christmas lunch with the social distancing measures that remain in place. We will look after you all for breakfast, lunch and golf. We will welcome you with open arms (at a distance) and we will continue to follow the protocols defined by Government.

Closing the borders would simply kill more businesses and create more upheaval than the risk of spreading the virus.

In the lockdown, our estate residency increased from 56% to over 80% and many have stayed on. Our golf rounds have shot through the roof and it feels great!

October was the first month of our new financial year. When we started planing for this bizarre year ahead, we were still in lockdown and expected very little light regarding tourism, travel and trade. We are still in lockdown where international tourists are concerned. Even our “swallows” are still in the north. Thanks goodness our COVID-19 rates in this area remain very low and people are traveling in to see us. We had a number of great groups in the month, the first coming from Cape Town, then more came and then, even more! Yeehaw!

We have seen great support from the members playing in the sponsored days and this weekend, totaling near 60 in the Le Trophee du Coq (men vs the ladies). This week we will host the Eastern Province Seniors, then The Fireworks/Selective Lighting day on Friday, followed by another very well-attended Men’s Invitational on the weekend!

Keep safe by wearing your mask and washing your hands – Keep the Borders OPEN!

Look who’s back and who is happy!

Great Advertising for St Francis Links

Photo Journalist, Mark Sampson and Blogger, Harry Olivier both made their way here recently and gave us a huge “punt” on social media. Enjoy the pictures that Mark shot with the drone and watch the video Harry put on Twitter. Hey, it all helps to bring more great people here!

Meet the TEAM – Divan (Divot) Ehmke

(Assistant Golf Professional at St Francis Links)

I graduated as a PGA Professional in 2014 where I then took up a position outside of the golfing industry to grow myself and build up experience in different environments. I worked myself up to a national manager position where I oversaw 24 branches nationwide which means a lot of traveling each week and not a lot of time to play golf which is a very big passion of mine. So I made the decision in 2019 to make a return to the golf industry where I can be involved with golf daily.

That is when the position at St Francis Links opened up and I just knew that I needed to apply for this position.  I couldn’t ask for a better place to live and work. I have been working at The Links for the past year and a half and been loving every moment working alongside the Links family in the most spectacular place that we call home. I have learned so many things since I started working here but the most important one that I will always carry with me is that doesn’t matter what, always appreciate the small things around you and don’t take anything for granted.

To top it off I recently got engaged to my best friend and the best future wife, Elizmari Roux,  that I could ever ask for!

The Men Ruled (this time)

Le Trophee du Coq was played for the second time this past Saturday and the men were dominant this time around. Sally and Ronnie Nienaber hosted the event. Sally and her team organized vouchers from everywhere to enhance the event. In year one, the ladies claimed the trophy and this year the men stormed back, winning by nearly 4 points per match. In the Pam Golding/SuperSpar Alliance, the ladies, Madelaine Barry, Margot McGregor, Lynn Slogrove and Sally Nienaber captured top honours!

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 Postponed

3          Oct              Stulting Golf Day A proper success with 80 players

14        Oct               ITEC Open Wednesday, Hein Spangenberg and Yan Coesens

17-18   Oct              LINKS CUP South Africa South Africa, 28-16!

24       Oct               Ladies’ Invitational, Jaunita Gobby and Lettie La Grange, 47pts

28        Oct              Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Madelaine Barry, Margot McGregor, Lynn Slogrove and Sally Nienaber 94pts

31        Oct              Le Trophee du Coq, The Men 41, 14 – 37, 7 

5          Nov            Eastern Province SENIORS

6          Nov             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun

7-8       Nov            Men’s Invitational,

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