Great for The Links, the Village, and the area!
2018 will be a year for the record books finishing with 2, sold-out ABBA shows, 3, back-to-back-to-back weddings and renewals, a great night of comedy with Gino Fabbri returning and the legendary South African band, Watershed! Christmas Lunch is sold out again and tee-sheet, with morning golf for the members, their families and friends, is filling up!
This past year was our best. We built homes and welcomed new families onto the Estate. We hosted a number of prestigious events, pushing our rounds over 19 000 (up 17%). Chef Jon spread his wings and presented amazing dishes to accompany SA’s best wines. More couples made memories, tieing the knot here at The Links. Others came for conferences, concerts, birthday parties and kids functions. We added a jungle gym to the Leisure Centre, replaced rye-grass tees with bent-grass (smooth enough for putting) and continued our efforts to improve play-ability (with plenty of good comments for the effort). The water treatment plant is in and will be able to provide potable water for all of the residents on the estate. 12 years down the road and we are financially strong, secure and offer the perfect destination for locals, nationals and internationals for holidays to home building.
On Monday, The Mantis Group, led by Executive Chairman, Adrian Gardiner, launched the St Francis Links Hotel, by Mantis with 1 and 2-bedroom suites available for purchase. The Hotel will be managed and operated by the Mantis Group.
Charity Days, Senior Nation Inter-Prov Champs, Central Gauteng, Brett and Lynn, Norman gets his ACE, as does Gavin, PJ Powers lets rip, Ladies’ Seniors come from all over SA, Chris and Robyn get new wheels, Sandra wins two Majors and the Order of Merit!
The Around-the-World theme for the Pam Golding Ladies’Open Weekend had them styling, the men dressed for Muirfield Day, the Links Cup had all the flags flying, parkrun drew thousands, Clive shared stories of the Bushmen, Hein won the Men’s Invitational, a number of Oscars and the Order of Merit, I travelled to Slovenia with Anita to sell our region, Alison and Sandra capture the Ladies Member-Member, another junior champion and Richard Arderne supports us all!
In the year ahead, home building will continue on a brisk pace. We will reach 150 homes with more than 60% of permanent residents living on the Estate. We expect a more challenging year than last as the Cape Town water crisis is now experiencing the effect. I am told revenues are down and bookings are down as much as 40%. There is a ripple effect to the Garden Route and on to us. The Christmas holiday for many is shorter with schools commencing earlier in January. But I also think that our two trips to IGTM (International Golf Travel Market) will bode well for our future in the Eastern Cape.
On behalf of the entire team here at St Francis Links, Happy Holidays! Be safe!
We are extremely proud to have presented the wedding venue for four of our own. Eugenie and Kev were married in June and Christo and Lea followed in August!
The St Francis Links HOTEL by Mantis
Adrian Gardiner, Executive Chairman of the Mantis group, was on hand to welcome potential buyers and launch the St Francis Links Hotel, by Mantis.
The Hotel will consist of 60 1 and 2-bedroom suites, modeled after the successful hotel development at Pearl Valley, where the 2nd phase was launched recently. The Clubhouse will be home to reception manned 24/7, the Food and Beverage services, AquaSpa and of course, the home of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course! Pam Golding Properties will handle the sales for the Hotel. Neil Fox is the lead person. Neil Fox <neil.fox@pamgolding.co.za>; Saria Blaauw is assisting and they are dividing their time at The Links
St Francis Links Claims the Friendship Trophy
Links golfers score a decisive victory in the 13th Annual played between to neighbouring Clubs
St Francis Bay golfers Barry Swart and Johann Coetzee claimed the overall prize in the Pam Golding Annual played on both courses over the weekend. Their 87 points saw them walk away with two nice golf bags. But the next four spots went to Links players and their team average of 77 points was nearly four shots clear of the players representing the Bay Club. this was the 13th staging of the event that was purposely planned as our very first event here at The Links. It was our intention to start a bond between the Clubs from day one! Special thanks go out to Richard Arderne from Pam Golding who has generously sponsored the event for a number of years. We would also like to thank Anton Prinsloo from Srixon, Cleveland for providing the prize table. Richard Vauqulin, Captain of St Francis Bay Golf Club hosted the prizegiving and was assisted by Saria Blaauw from Pam Golding! Same time, next year!
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The layout combines every element of shot making with its undulating terrain, greens and surrounds as well as it varies in length and direction. St. Francis Links will challenge all who play it and reward those who respect it
Links Majors, Special Events and Results for 2018
Jan 2-3 The Pam Golding Annual (St Francis Bay wins – the overall is tied 6 games each)
Jan 5-6 Men’s Member/Member Partnership, Chris and Jandré Lessing, Champions
Jan 20 Windhoek Lager International Pairs (3rd Qualifying), Percy Owen and Norman Dyer
Jan 27-28 EP Champs (course closed) Altin VD Merwe, Strokeplay Medalist (74-68=142)
Feb 3-4 EP Champs (semi-finals and finals) Naldo Claassens, Champion; Hugo Maritz, Plate Winner
Feb 14 Couples/Mixed Golf – Valentine’s Dinner Ronnie and Sally Nienaber, best members
Mar 10 Greensomes over 18 holes Pete Maskew and John Wilson, Champions on 39pts
Apr 22-26 National Senior Inter-Provincials Central Gauteng, Senior Champions; Southern Cape, Super-Senior Champions
May 5-6 Club Championships, Lynn Slogrove and Brent Vos, Champions
May 13-16 Senior Women’s Nationals (SFL and SFBGC) , Free State wins the team title, Maggie Minnie (Boland), gross champion.
May 18-20 St Francis Bridge Invitational Everyone was a winner!
May 20 Nomads Monthly Game (11am Shotgun) 66 in the field
May 24-25 Woodland’s Golf Days 96 players on Thursday and 112 on Friday! HOSPICE wins
May 26 Foursomes over 18 holes Johann Spangenberg and Tom Grimsley; Lynn Slogrove and Margot McGregor
June 2 Ladies’ Invitational, Sandra Marais and Sonette Korff, Champions
June 16 Quarterly Couples/Mixed – US Open – re-scheduled
June 17 Father’s Day Golf and Lunch
June 21 EP Seniors
June 25-26 Nomads Coastal NOoM, Barend Botha over Aiden Senger, playoff 143 gross
July 7 The Inaugural Muirfield Day (foursomes and four balls) everyone was a winner!
July 20-22 Men’s Invitational, Hein Spangenberg and Eddie Nel, 98 points
Aug 20 to
Sept 4 Spring Programme (Club Closed)
Sep 23-29 Vodacom Origins of Golf (regional Finals) Alex Haindl – 12 Under Par
Oct 20-21 Links Cup South Africa wins 23-21
Nov 10-11 Pam Golding Ladies’ Open Weekend
Dec 1 Ladies’ Member- Member Partnership Sandra Marais and Alison Bosch
Dec 8 Par-3 Championships Martin King and Dr Lynn Slogrove
Dec 14-15 Pam Golding Annual (SFBGC host) St Francis Links
Dec 17 Kromme Trust Amazing Race
Dec 18 Food and Wine Festival
Dec 22 NSRI Golf Day and Pro Shop Pop a Balloon Sale
Jan 3-4 Men’s Member-Member Partnership
More to Come!
Itec Golf Days 2018 sm
menu
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, sometimes 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”
Monday Men’s Book Club – 5pm in Jack’s Bar (no reading required)
Ladies’ Tea (and Coffee) – Every Tuesday at 10am on the Veranda
Every Great shot starts with a SMILE!
Santa and the Links TEAM