Take the place of the Internationals and discover SA GOLF!

This past Sunday night and Monday, I spent time in Knysna and at Simola Estate. Thinus and Christo were playing in the Monday Scratch Golf/Investec Pro-Am and I was going up to salute my friend, Alistair (COACH) Beaumont, at his farewell / retirement party. We stayed in the Simola Hotel with brilliant views of the heads and surrounds below. I originally left Fancourt in 1997 to start Simola with Liezl and Ola Grinaker. His dream to shuttle guests to and from the George airport in his Jet Ranger helicopter to this amazing piece of ground near his blueberry fields, came crashing down, after back-to-back floods destroyed the course.

It all happened during my notice period at Fancourt. I resigned and was going to a place where there was no golf course. Liezl and I stayed on at Simola while Ola tried desperately to raise funds to resurrect what would have been South Africa’s first Jack Nicklaus Signature course. That was an extra incentive for me as I was the Director of Golf at a Jack Nicklaus Signature in Texas before coming to Fancourt. Simola required another 8 years to be rediscovered and revamped beautifully by Avril Kaschula and the Osner Family. What they finished makes everyone proud, especially me!

Today Simola is one of the great golfing destinations in South Africa. The investment opportunities have grown with the project, as well. Hey, I’m not suggesting anything – just another success story to share!

Yesterday, TK played with local members and Christo took members through from here to what was the only PGA Pro-Am this year. We also attended our Annual General Meeting of the PGA where TK was finally presented with his certificate for 2019’s Regional PGA Professional of the Year. So, when you see him, you can pat him on the back again.

When you want to travel for golf, please use my contacts around the country to assist with bookings and rates. We have developed great relationships over the years and now is the time to see all that South Africa offers in golf holidays. Fancourt has a great package on the table now that I can’t even better. Do what Gavin and Jaunita Gobby did, they booked the Fancourt package and I set them up for golf and accommodation at Simola. Whatever your travel plans were, now is the time to see and experience our own great SA! With no international travel, there are special places to go and special prices to enjoy!

Hats off to the hardy ones!

Keith Simpson and Ashley Parker are not afraid of a little weather. You won’t keep Deon Marais or Danie Cronjé off the course either. Saturday morning featured a couple of proper downpours but 45pts from Simpson and Parker made it look like a piece of cake. Danie swept the par 3’s by making the only two, 2-clubs on the day.

WE’RE BACK TO DOING WHAT WE DO BEST – HOSTING!

Richard Gill is an entrepreneur and he has been presenting great golf to golfers for more than 20 years. I first hosted him at Fancourt 23 years ago. He has since created the Corporate Cup hosting golf events throughout the year. He hosts the annual finals at Fancourt and the winners there go to Mauritius where he hosts another great event. Richard has organized trips to Augusta and the Masters. He’s looking at a trip to the Ryder Cup in Rome and this year I finally got him here after years of trying. He built an itinerary that featured golf in the Garden Route before “peaking” here at St Francis Links!

And then we hosted Stulting!

80 players signed up for the day, with dinner and fundraising to follow. The forecast was horrific with expected wind and rain. Then someone said a little prayer and the Big Man listened. It didn’t blow and there was very little rain. Sponsors were on the course with activation stations and the modified Alliance format with scrambled drives had everyone thinking they were winning! The Supporters Club and our team produced a proper day for the school!

Meet the TEAM

Isaac Woni

 

Isaac has been working for the Links for the past 2 years as a golf attendant. He tells us more about himself below:

“I was born in Humansdorp and went to King Williams High School in Keiskammahoek.  My love for golf started at the age of 16 when I got my first job  at Zwartenbosch Golf Course.  At the Links I take care of the driving range, cleaning and replacing of golf balls, cleaning of clubs and managing the tee box.  I am a proud dad of two beautiful children, a boy who is 25 years old and a girl who is 22 years old.  I am a family man and my family means the world to me! In my free time, I play golf.  I am trying to get my handicap to a single figure, right now it is 18. I also like watching television and I enjoy teaching my son how to play golf.    I love working at the Links, it makes me happy to see our guests happy and to assist where I can. I treat my colleagues like my second family as I am with them most of the time.”

 

Do we need to call you???

Next up is the Links Cup

 

 

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

17-18   Oct              LINKS CUP South Africa New date

24       Oct               Ladies’ Invitational new date!

28        Oct              Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

5          Nov            Eastern Province SENIORS

6          Nov             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun

7-8       Nov            Men’s Invitational – new date

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