The PGA TOUR vs Mother Nature (the unwanted participant)
Monday…
This week’s forecast features a little challenge for the Pro-Am participants on Day Two and the players in the Vodacom Origins of Golf FINAL later this week. “Mom” seems to be in a mood as she has decided to challenge the AM’s with a perky easterly on their second day and the Pros with a persistent westerly for their three days of play. Charl has the course peeking for this week (he actually has the course peeking every week) and the entire team is ready to serve all of the guests and players.
Well, we have played in all conditions – I guess SA’s professionals will get to show their stuff. Watch for updates as the week progresses.
Tuesday
As I finish up this week’s newsletter, the sun is shining and the easterly is just starting to let the boys know who is boss. Tuesday’s weather turned out great and the Ammies and Professionals were all singing with praise for the course. Last night’s function at Walskipper was another real winner and regardless of what she (Mother Nature) brings today, I know we have made a great impression. Tour Commissioner, Selwyn Nathan, played the Links for the first time and made a point of telling me just how good he thought it was (psssst, please bring us more events).
Tour Professional, Ryan Cairns joined the band…5am starts ensured a smooth day!
Wednesday
After a day’s play, the leading score in the Pro-am was 45 in near perfect morning conditions. The afternoon still produced good scores and some really good comments. This morning former champion, Keith Horne went out in 31 with a drop on seven and helped his amateur to 46 points. At noon we measured the gusts to 47 kms in warm sunny conditions; somehow, I don’t think yesterday’s morning players are going to fair as well today.
Tomorrow, play for the professionals will get underway at 6h20 in and effort to get all of the players off the course before tomorrow afternoon’s weather comes in.
Right now the match between Mother Nature and Man is a draw…watch for updates!
St Francis Links features
The annual Jack Nicklaus calendar features our St Francis Links on their front cover. The legendary Grant Leversha has helped us “into” the calendar twice before. This time it shows our pictuesque 14th hole from behind the tees. After his shoot last year, I forwarded some pics to them in Amarica and they followed up with Grant for more! Wait until they see what he has done this week after completing his shoot of all 18 holes.
How many of you would like one? I can Place a bulk order!
Special Holiday Charity Event
KROMME ENVIRO-TRUST
(ST FRANCIS)
PAR 3 AMAZING RACE FUNDRAISER
The Kromme Enviro-Trust has a vision for a rejuvenated Granny’s Pool area. This key link between Port St Francis and Main Beach has been allowed to deteriorate into a state of gloomy squalor. What should be another jewel of a St Francis coastal amenity is a rubble-strewn, pockmarked eyesore.
A dynamic young architect has drawn up a vision for a leisure park at Granny’s Pool, connected to the Port and Main Beach by walkways to create a continuous flow along our beautiful coastline. The leisure park features picnic and braai facilities, a renovated tidal pool, upgraded showers and toilets and designated pedestrian and vehicle areas. The focal point is a new natural history museum and coffee shop in the Heritage Centre.
The Kromme Enviro-Trust is fund-raising for the capital to initiate realisation of this vision. The coffee shop will provide a small portion of ongoing funding. A large amount – R1.1m – will be needed to complete the project, but it can be accomplished stage by stage, starting with the museum/coffee shop. And each stage will be an improvement on the last, until we have once again restored this St Francis jewel.
The Oscars!
St Francis Links pays tribute to our stars!
All participants from our Wednesday school and everyone else who would like to share an evening of entertainment, great food, drink and laughter, should make a plan to be here on Wednesday, the 23rd of November! Who leads from the front and who knows how to pick a partner. Who are our Order of Merit winners and our major champions? Join us as we celebrate the highs and not-so-highs from this year’s golf.
Keep Reading
The Kids are the real winners!
For the past 11 years, I have had the pleasure in assisting my friend, Gideon DuPlessis with his charity day at Fancourt
What started out as a day of golf at The Links with a small auction after, has grown to one of the most charitable events ion SA. More than 1500 children benifit from the day as all of the money raised goes to George Child Welfare. This year, I MC’d the evening function with Ard Matthews (Just Jinger) and we raised R1,1M in the auction! That’s pretty good going!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Proudly Sponsored – ITEC SOLUTIONS will be 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!
(every Tuesday) – 10am Coffee Break for our lady members
November 9: ITEC open Wednesday – special rates for your guests and “the meat”
November 19-20: Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend
November 23: Wednesday School “Oscars” night – our annual awards!
ST FRANCIS LINKS “MAJORS” AND “SPECIAL EVENTS” FOR 2016
Note the Date Changes for 2016:
April 9: 1st Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
April 23-24: Club Championships, Sean Botha and Janine VD Merwe, repeat Champions
May 29: Interestate Challenge at Mossel Bay (4th from 7)
June 4: Ladies 10th Annual Invitational – Helen Bridges and Jean Fynn, Champions
June 18: 2nd Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
July 9: Sanlam Cancer Challenge – SFL Qualifier
June 26: Inter- Estate Challenge at Oubaai
July 15-17: Men’s Invitational – Leslie Krause and Hermanus Potgieter, Champions
Proud Sponsors of the Ladies OPEN Weekend and the ANNUAL
July 17: 3rd Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
July 30: 4th Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
July 31: Inter-Estate Challenge at St Francis Links
August 6: 5th Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
August 8-23: Spring Programme – Course and Clubhouse Closed
August 21: Sanlam Cancer Challenge FINALS
August 21: Inter-Estate Challenge Simola
September 24: Final Qualifier for the Nicklaus Champion of Champions
September 30, October 1-2: Links Cup – South Africa are again the Champions
October 2: Inter-Estate Challenge at Pezula – St Francis Links were the winners!
October 30: Inter-Estate Challenge at Goose Valley NEW DATE
October 31: Inter-Estate Challenge at Pezula NEW DATE
October 30-November 6: Vodacom Origins of Golf FINALS (Sunshine Tour – course Closed)
November 19-20: Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend
November 25-27: Nicklaus Champion of Champions (Serengeti)
November 27: Inter-Estate Challenge FINALS at Pinnacle Point
December 9-11 – 10th Year Anniversary Activities (watch this space)
2016 International Events
US Masters – Augusta National, Georgia – April 7-10 – Danny Willett, Champion
US Open – Oakmont CC, Oakmont, Pennsylvania – June 16-19 – Dustin Johnson, Champion
Open Championship – Royal Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland – July 14-17 – Henrik Stenson, Champion
US PGA – Baltusrol (Lower Course), Springfield, New Jersey – July 28-31 – Jimmy Walker, Champion
The Ryder Cup – Hazeltine, Minnesota – September 30 to October 2 – USA USA USA
Every Great shot starts with a SMILE 