“The Game of a lifetime” is best learned when you are young (or young hearted)
Micah Van Eyssen, trophy winner!
I was one who was exposed to golf at a young age (4) and could not get enough of it as a junior. My first golf course was from tree to tree and yard to yard (fortunately, we did not have fences). So here I am nearly 60 years later still loving (and hating) the great game of golf. I am sure I peaked as a player at about 15 when I could play all the shots without fear. Today, I am sure that I have forgotten more than most people have ever learned. As frustrating and challenging as the game can be, we all come back for more. The biggest challenge for adults who play the game is managing failure. We make mistakes in life and we learn from them, adjusting and modifying our actions to avoid making them again. Success seems to be measured in achievement, no matter what the size. Happiness comes from solving problems and we all know that life gives us enough problems to solve. Golf can seem like one giant problem that sometimes has no solutions – BUT, maybe we are simply forgetting to be kids when we play. Kids only cry when someone is watching. When they fall and no one is watching, they simply brush themselves off and go again. For a kid, giving up is not on the cards. And with any form of success, the success is the result of commitment. Practice leads to paralysis; perfect practice leads to success. I am reading a very clever book called The Art of Not Giving a F^&%. Don’t be put off by the title as it’s not what it seems. This bestseller emphasises that one should embrace the journey, embrace the fact that there will be problems along the way. It’s up to us to make sure the problems we face are those we can solve – and solving problems brings happiness. This book comes at a good time for me as GOLF seems to be the problem, yet I am not embracing the journey by going to the range and working it out. As a kid, I practised and practised some more. As a golfer with a great future behind me, I need to play like I did when I was young, focusing on “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” rather than “I hope I don’t”. As a kid, I set goals for improvement and scoring. I played games from the greenside for hours and it paid off. As adults, few of us dedicate our time to “the scoring shots” and that is what this course is all about. When I was young, my first scoring goals were based on averaging 5’s. If I could average 5’s I could shoot 90. Then I moved on to 4’s on the 3-pars and 6’s on the 5-pars. That brought my target down to the low 80’s. By the age of 12, my short game was steller and although I couldn’t reach some of the par-4’s in regulation, I could chip or pitch and putt. As we reopen the course after a superb spring programme, I look at this time as the start of a new season. In IOWA, where I grew up, the new season followed about 5 months of snow and cold. I could always start with a clean slate and a great attitude. Let’s all be kids again and approach the great game with commitment and baby steps to little successes. I need to hear my own words, Every great shot in GOLF (and in life) starts with a SMILE. Play one great shot at a time.
Christo is great with the kids and one of his students is Fred and Kelly Van Eyssens’ son Micah. they started together when Micah was four and now he is six and swinging the club beeeeautifuly
Christo posted this…
Those who frequent our practice facilities will know Micah van Eyssen. He has been a committed junior golfer for a few years already and now he has the competitive “itch”.
Congratulations, Micah, on finishing third in the annual SA Kids Championship hosted by San Lameer Country Club. Just as an important part of the team, Fred (super dad), was with him on the bag.
Looking forward to seeing more achievements from this young golfer.
Micah signing his card and properly dresses in SFL apparel!
Links CUP | September 27-28 | Sign UP!
Dear Jeff
Our grateful thanks once again for allowing the St Francis Bay Bird Club to visit one of our most popular birding spots in the area. You have no idea how much they look forward to visiting The Links.
Not only are the birds plentiful and of a wide variety, but it is also so pleasant to walk through beautifully manicured surroundings and to enjoy the tranquillity and ambience of the whole place. So much care has been taken in planning and constructing the many beautiful paths. The odd wooden bridge provided for people to cross depressions was also much appreciated.
We were impressed with the new security system that you organised for the birders. No longer was there a queue at the gate as our people were able to come through at their leisure to meet in the parking area. Being given a one-time pin also made access through the booms quick and efficient so no birding time was wasted.
The Chairman of BirdLife Eastern Cape, Corne Erasmus, attended the outing with us and was most impressed with the whole place. The birding was good, as usual, and finding a Long-crested Eagle made the day for several folks who had not seen this bird before. Photographers were hard at work clicking away and jostling to find the best angle.
Thank you so much.
The list of birds we saw is attached.
Kind regards and best wishes
Yvonne
Yvonne Bosman (Chairman)
BIRDS SEEN AND HEARD ON ST FRANCIS LINKS 23 AUGUST 2019
African Darter
African Hoopoe
African Palm Swift
African Stonechat
Amethyst Sunbird
Bar-throated Apalis
Black Crake
Black-collared Barbet
Black-headed Heron
Black-headed Oriole
Blacksmith Lapwing
Black-winged Kite
Bokmakierie
Brown-throated Martin
Burchell’s Coucal
Cape Bulbul
Cape Glossy Starling
Cape Grassbird
Cape Longclaw
Cape Robin-Chat
Cape Shoveler
Cape Wagtail
Cape Weaver
Cape White-eye
Common Moorhen
Common Starling
Common Waxbill
Crowned Lapwing
Egyptian Goose
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Fiscal Flycatcher
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
Grey Heron
Kelp Gull
Hadeda Ibis
Karoo Prinia
Kittlitz’s Plover
Laughing Dove
Lesser Swamp Warbler
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Little Grebe
Long-crested Eagle
Neddicky
Neddicky
Olive Bushshrike
Olive Thrush
Pin-tailed Whydah
Red-eyed Dove
Red-knobbed Coot
Red-knobbed Coot
Red-necked Spurfowl
Red-winged Starling
Reed Cormorant
Rock Martin
Sombre Greenbul
Southern Boubou
Southern Fiscal
Speckled Mousebird
Speckled Pigeon
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Spotted Thick-knee
Streaky-headed Seedeater
Three-banded Plover
Water Thick-knee
White-breasted Cormorant
Yellow Bishop
Yellow-billed Duck
Book NOW and tell your friends!
The St Francis Links HOTEL by Mantis – SHOW UNITS are under construction
The proposed St Francis Links Hotel by Mantis is being sold as a sectional title scheme. Now, three units are being built as show units to promote sales.
The show unit, comprised of one, two-bedroom unit and two, one-bedroom units will be completed for the season.
The Hotel will consist of 60 1 and 2-bedroom suites, modelled 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 are handling 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
Our events
Ernie and Linda Müller and their Team from Selective Lighting are making Fridays extra special at St Francis Links. Once a month, they host the Selective Lighting/The Fireworks Friday Competition. We shotgun start the players for 9 holes. Starting times are based on the season, 14h30 in the “Cool Season” and 15h30 in the summer months. Be a part of growing the Club and join us for nine and some good times after golf! Please enter in advance for numbers.
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 (and ends) with a SMILE!
Santa and the Links TEAM
