Light to Read project spear-headed by Links Member!
Gary Carroll and Chris Kelway (Links homeowner and Director) left IBM after jointly delivering 70 years of business expertise to IBM. At the time of departure from IBM both agreed we needed to focus in giving back to Society and more specifically Education. Chris stated, “In our opinion we felt we wanted to have the biggest impact in young children (ages 4 – 13)- namely pre- Primary and Primary School learners We also had a strong desire to focus on renewable resources such as energy. We combined these desires to drive a solar light program under a Light to Read banner meaning that learners could have a proper solar light after darkness descends to be able to read and do further learning. Remarkable results achieved among some 3000 children across South Africa and a further 450 impacted today at Sea Vista Primary“.
He continued…
We launched, in 2016, a Light to Read Project, whereby we provide every Learner in a low to no income environment a solar light. Every learner is permitted to take the solar light home and allows them to read and do homework after dark. We have already influenced 3000 learners in Gauteng and KZN and wanted to pick a School in the Eastern Cape.. hence Sea Vista Primary and we concluded that this was a good fit considering my relationship with St Francis.
We tracked improvements with the Learners and some very quick wins were as follows::
1.Homework completion rate improved from 20% to 65% within a matter of weeks
2. Literacy improvement for the Learners has improved over 400% in a 6 month period.
For a Learner with limited energy source at home, this is an incredible benefit as the Learner can use a proper source of light to read and learn after darkness descends.
The School owns the solar light and the Learner is able to utilize the solar light at home, based on a continued code of good conduct.
Normally we would also donate a reading book to each Learner, but with the Rotary Club of St Francis Bay driving the Sea Vista Community Library Centre, the School will link our Solar Light to Read program with the Library Project.
St Francis Links, working with Village Square Super Spar, Woodlands Dairy and MC Brothers, very kindly provided a hot dog, fruit and a cold drink in containers and paper bags, to each learner at the handover ceremony. As not all of the children were not in attendance the remaining lunches were taken to the children at Talhado School in Sea Vista.
The funds raised for the Light to Read program come from individual and private company donations and the program has no involvement from anyone in the Department of Education or Government. It is aimed at the Primary School Learner to provide this Light To Read assistance at as early an age as possible.
Ladies’ Member-Member Championships
A win for Sandra Marais and Alison Bosch capped off a great year for Ladies’ Golf. Both ladies played extremely well coming into the event and carried their form to victory. When Dr Lynn Slogrove and partner, Beth Jaskolski, arrived in pink tops with matching pink war-paint (sunblock), I think the girls in red, got red hot with fire! They went out on the front nine smoking, earning 26 points in the betterball and modified betterball. 47 points on the card, placed them one point clear of the formidable team of Margot McGregor and Sharon Noble, who ended on 46. In third place, the team of Avril Laird and Denise Perry came though with 45 points. The defending champions, Linda Müller and Gillian Hammond finished nicely on 43 points. Give credit to those behind the scenes this weekend as spring winds forced the event to move from Saturday to Sunday without losing a player. Chef Jon adjusted his timing and presented a luncheon of the highest quality. I think the ladies said it best:
Thank you for a wonderful day Ladies! Really enjoyed it! Jono & team , the food was delicious, what an exceptional lunch! Thanks for the extra effort! Links team , thx for re-organizing! Super glad I could play today ⛳
Really so lovely! I had a wonderful day, and it continues to impress me how amazing all of you are. We are so grateful for our time here.
Thank you Thinus & your team for reorganizing the golf & for making it a great day.
Thanks Clive!
It wasn’t Africa’s bush…it was St Francis Links bush and it created the perfect venue for the Monday School escape and another great talk about the Bushmen from Clive Horlock. The Golf guys set it all up for the golfers and, after they played the Ultimate Par-3, made their way to a special area behind the 5th tees. The golfers brought camp chairs and drinks and our guys braaied the Boeries! you can see from the smiles that all was good!
Good-bye Golf Digest SA
This month we took an ad in the final issue of Golf Digest, thanking Stuart McLean for his contributions to golf. The Golf Digest Top-100 has enabled us to grow with National and International recognition. Stuart has traveled the world playing and writing about the best courses and destinations on offer. His good words for St Francis Links came without prompting. On behalf of the members at St Francis Links, we thank you Stuart and Barry and the team who have provided so much good reading. Let us know where you’ll be reporting on the great game of golf!
Message from the Head of Sport Department (New Media) Cat Anderson.
“History was made last week, as we went to print with the very last issue of Golf Digest SA.
We marked the occasion by paying respect to the team behind this iconic title, and specifically to honour two of the golfing industry’s legends – Stuart McLean and Barry Havenga.
The team that lovingly curated 260+ issues over 22 years has included Chantel Kleinsmidt both at the start and the end of the title’s lifespan as the incredible Managing Editor.
In more recent years, since joining our New Media family – Mark Serra and Marcus Viljoen gave it an entirely new lease on life with its dynamic design, whilst the super force sales guru, Elna -Louise Coetzer hit target upon target.
In a time when titles are closing around us, we should all take a moment to praise the title that didn’t limp across the finish line.
Golf Digest closed in a position of pride. At no point did its page count drop, its design standard compromise, it’s production values cheapen, it’s editorial sell-out.
Quite the contrary – it held its head high.
So today we celebrated with pride.
We commemorated with respect.
Today, it was an honour to say goodbye.”
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
Dec 14-15 Pam Golding Annual (SFBGC host)
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 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