Central Gauteng is the team to beat
This weekend, top male senior amateur golfers will be arriving in St Francis to compete in the National Senior and Super-Senior Division “A” Inter-Provincial Championships. St Francis Links was selected by Eastern Province as their host Club for the event that will consist of 8 teams of 8 players in the senior division (50+) and 6 teams of 4 in the super-senior division (60+). Each morning from Monday to Thursday, the teams will compete in foursome play with singles following in the afternoons. All players and team management are staying at Cape St Francis Resort with the main Opening and Closing functions at The Links.
Central Gauteng has dominated the IPT over the past years and they will prove to be hard to beat again this year. Keep and eye on Western Province and Southern Cape as they made the effort to come early and play the course – we all know that playing the course makes a HUGE difference.
Greg DeDonker, Administrator for EP Golf, is delighted to see the National competition coming here as it has been the site for the EP Champs 11 times. “It’s a perfect course for matchplay!” St Francis Links will provide all of the risk and reward that makes matchplay golf so special. Early forecasts indicate that Mother Nature will play her part on a couple of the days of play. Charl and his team are simply fine-tuning the course now; Thinus and I will set the course up with all conditions accounted for – the Union officials will have the final say regarding course set-up.
PHOTO – The 2017 SA Senior Inter-Provincial champions Central Gauteng; credit Pieter Els.
Back, left to right – Greg Gleeson, Richard Bruyns, Jaco du Plessis (manager), Richard Bruyns and Derek Reyneke.
Front, left to right – Steve Williams, Schalk Naude (captain), Jock Wellington and Stephen Johnston.
As always, please contact the Golf Team on 042 200 4420 for assistance in playing other area courses next week. The course and range will be closed from Sunday to Thursday, 22-26 April.
There’s MORE
Club Champs are around the corner – May 4-6
Please fill out your entry forms for the 2018 St Francis Links Club Championships for Men and Ladies, to played over 36 holes on Saturday and Sunday, 5 and 6 May.
The 2017 Champions, Helen and Ralph with the other gross and nett winners.
W(HOA)…News from the Estate! Next Get-together is May 8th
Last week’s get-together was well-attended with a good deal of positive interaction. We welcomed Pierre Conradie, our consulting electrical engineer for the past 13 years and Ray Nolan from Specialized Solar Systems who presented the alternative energy supply options available now to Links owners. Whle it was, at times, a rather detailed and technical discussion, it also opened the door to good questions and further discussion.
Charl discussed a number of opportunities coming on for the Estate, some which were asked about in the Member’s Forum. We have initiated the recycling programme with a good response from the residents. Bush clearing and fire breaks are ongoing. The upgrading of speed bumps are scheduled. Road repairs for pooling rain water has been addressed with solutions coming. We are also looking at improvements to the front and back entrances to the Estate. The Glovent system hardware has been ordered with exciting advancements coming for access control.
PJ Powers is the first musical event on the books in an initiative to present great South African talent through Rock Lily Productions and Michael Kimmings. She is appearing with Tigger Reunert on the 26th of May.
The next Get-together is May 8.
The Year Ahead – Your planner for 2018
Please take note of the dates and post them where you will see them and ENTER!
Links Majors and Special Events 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 (90) (course closed)
May 5-6 Club Championships, Helen Bridges and Ralph Richardson, defending
May 13-16 Senior Women’s Nationals (SFL and SFBGC) (courses closed)
May 18-20 St Francis Bridge Invitational
May 20 Nomads Monthly Game (11am Shotgun)
May 24-25 Woodland’s Golf Days
May 26 Foursomes over 18 holes
June 2 Ladies’ Invitational
June 16 Quarterly Couples/Mixed – US Open
June 17 Father’s Day Golf and Lunch
June 21 EP Seniors
June 25-26 Nomads Coastal NOoM
July 7 The Inaugural Muirfield Day (foursomes and fourballs)
July 20 Oakley X-Over
July 20-22 Men’s Invitational
July 22-25 PGA Road Trip – Pards Cup
Aug 20 to
Sept 4 Spring Programme (Club Closed) FINAL DATES – PLEASE TAKE NOTE
Sep 23-29 Vodacom Origins of Golf (regional Finals) NEW
Sep 28-29 formerly Links Cup / Ryder Cup (Paris) (new date TBA)
Oct 6 Quarterly Couples/Mixed Golf
Nov Pam Golding Ladies’ Open Weekend (date – TBD)
Dec 1 Ladies’ Member- Member Partnership
Dec 8 Par-3 Championships
Dec 14-15 Pam Golding Annual (SFBGC host)
Dec 17 Kromme Trust Amazing Race
Dec 20 Food and Wine Festival
Dec 22 Year-end Couples/Mixed – Pro Shop Sale
Jan 3-4 Men’s Member-Member Partnership
Important Note: We endeavour to keep our “Majors” on the same weekend each year to encourage the best participation. We are forced to move the Annual Club Championships back a week this year because we were the chosen course in the Eastern Cape to host the National Senior Inter-Provincials, a tournament featuring the country’s top golfers. It finished on Thursday the 26th, leaving no time for practice or course preparation. I apologize and the Champs will return to the last week in April in years to come.
http://www.Leadingcourses.com – Please rate St Francis Links
April Birthdays
1 – Tim Elliott, Peter Browne
2- Leigh Bradfield
3 – Christiaan Serfontein, Keith Stacey
4 – Jan Joubert
5 – Dustin Hogan, Justin Collen
6 – Theo Vos
7 – Jo Viviers, Michael Schottler
8 – Richard Towell
9 – Ewin Collen
10 – Michael Barratt, Rob Birch, Saria Blaauw
11 – Bruce Brooker
17 – Maggie Langlands, Renier De Waat, Renthia Buitendag, Robyn Roberts, Silvio Scribante
19 – Charles Lourens, Kevin Pietersen, Tom Donnelly
21 – Geoffrey Roberts
25 – Andrew Payne
29 – Dirk Ellis
30 – Johanna Hubsch, Judith O’Hara, Michael Holden, Walter Ehinger
More to Come!
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”
Monday Men’s Book Club – 5pm in Jack’s Bar (no reading required)
Ladies’ Tea (and Coffee) – Every Tuesday at 10am on the Veranda
April 20 -24 National Seniors and Super Seniors IPT (course closed)
May 4-6 Club Championships
May 26 PJ Powers and Tigger Reunert
Check this out – 1-stop shopping!
Every Great shot starts with a SMILE!
Santa and the Links TEAM