Pearly Gates Country Club welcomes A NEW MEMBER
1 September 2006, a man with a bit of a French accent and a welcoming and warm smile picked me up at the airport in Cape Town. He introduced himself to me as Lawrence. Over the years that followed he could be called Larry, Gouldie, The Frenchman, Frenchie, French Toast or even Toast would get a smile and a reply. Lawrence Gould was at Fancourt with me and certainly played the role of “Host with the Most” even though his duties revolved around everything from marketing and PR to General Manager (he called it Polly filer) as he filled the role when Fancourt was between managers. He had a proud international career at a hotelier and certainly understood how to put the guest first and see to it that their needs and wants were anticipated and exceeded. That’s one reason we worked well together.
I keep saying he was and he did because we lost Lawraaaance this week to illness that reduced his life to living in a small care center. His wife and long-time companion, Peggy hails from America and started her career in South Africa in the late 1980’s. Frenchie loved Peggy more than anything in his life; He also liked golf, white wine and a good meal. My Peggy (a he called her) said it was living a good life that ultimately got the best My Larry (as she called him). You see, The Frenchman put others before himself always. He was a brilliant speaker, writer and storyteller. His motivational talks were some of the best I have ever heard. It was Toast who would start a session or conference by having you all stand and repeat after him, EVERY DAY, IN EVERY WAY, I’M GETTING BETTER AND BETTER” – and it better be loud or you’ll be doing it again and again until he was satisfied! I stole that from Larry and use it all the time.
Frenchman by birth, educated in England and South African, by choice! (sound familiar, another one from Larry). Gouldie was a dear friend, MC’d our wedding and married Peggy here on the lawn at The Links. That small and intimate day was followed by a great luncheon at a restaurant in Franschhoek a month later.
French Toast wrote many many articles through the years, but was probably best known for promoting South Africa and tourism through his books called The Larry Gould Guide to Golf first published in 1995, then again and again and again. By no accident, St Francis Links got a few more great words, pics and pages than most of the rest.
Who doesn’t have one?
Lawraaaaaance would be heard saying, “I’m a legend in my own mind”
No Frenchie, You were simply a legend!
ps. Not everyone gets into Pearly Gates CC
More than 150mm of rain came our way over the past few days and more than 200mm has fallen in August. It’s filled our dams, got the creek flowing but did not have a large impact in the catchments where it is desperately needed.
Winter SALE continues!
Come and help us clear the stock – even new winter wear is on sale!
Our friends from Global Golf, suppliers of Cutter&Buck, AHEAD, Ernie Els, Rhode Island and others have sent their latest winters garments and we are prepared to offer specials from the start. In addition, the popular puffer jackets and vests have been reduced to go! Perfect for our cool morning and fresh winter days, take advantage of what’s on offer. Hey, shoes and eyewear are on sale, too
OPEN all through August with no hollowtining closure … Now is the time to be working from home – HERE AT THE LINKS!
WE ARE COOKING and your favourites are back
Curry Wednesdays just got easier!
This year, we will be seeing more weddings, fewer golfing National events (due to rotation) and more member functions as our member play is the fastest-growing category in golf. We look forward to more sponsored days with ITEC and Selective Lighting/The Fire Works and the addition of a new partnership between Pam Golding Properties and Village Square SuperSpar
4-5 Jan The Pam Golding Annual, SFBGC Champions, Series tied 7 all
7-8 Jan Men’s Member-Member Partnership, Roger Smith and Charlie Gilmore, Champions
8 Jan ITEC Open Wednesday, Dr Danie Cronjé and Mel Maubec, winners on 51pts
18 Jan Windhoek Pairs qualifying, Geoff Garratt and Ernest Müller, winners on 49pts
29 Jan Pam Golding/ Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Gill, Hool, Garratt and Wilson-Jones on 87pts
12 Feb ITEC Open Wednesday, Karl-Johann and Nyana Persson on 45pts
14 Feb Valentine’s Day Dress-up Golf; Dinner with entertainment, The Gobby’s 45pts
26 Feb Pam Golding/ Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Coesens, White, Gobby and Spangenberg 91 pts
12 Mar ITEC Open Wednesday, TK and Percy Owen 51pts
22 Jul ITEC Open Wednesday, Keith Simpson and Mark Ward 46pts
17-19 Jul Men’s Invitational (postponed)
26-27 Jul PGA Regional Finals (SFBGC and SFL) Canceled
29 Jul Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, The Gobby’s and the Nienaber’s 85pts
1-2 Aug
7 Aug Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun (postponed)
12 Aug ITEC Wednesday – Izzy Obray and Madelaine Barry
14 Aug Greensomes – Dr Lynn Slogrove and Sally Nienaber 42pts
4 Sep Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun
5 Sep EP Amateur Championships (new date)
9 Sep ITEC Open Wednesday
12 Sep EP Amateur Championships – Matchplay finals
30 Sep Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance
2 Oct Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun
3 Oct Stulting Golf Day
14 Oct ITEC Open Wednesday
17-18 Oct LINKS CUP South Africa New date
24 Oct Ladies’ Invitational new date!
28 Oct Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance
5 Nov Eastern Province SENIORS
6 Nov Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun
7-8 Nov Men’s Invitational – new date
11 Nov ITEC Open Wednesday
17 Nov Men’s Muirfield Day (3rd Annual)
20-21 Nov Ladies’ Club Championships – new date
22 Nov “The Trophy” – St Francis Links sponsored Amateur Champs
25 Nov Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance
25 Nov Members’ Oscars
5 Dec Ladies’ Member-Member
9 Dec ITEC Open Wednesday
12 Dec Ultimate Par-3 Championships
16 Dec The Kromme-Enviro Trust Amazing Race
5-6 Jan Men’s Member-Member Partnership
8-9 Jan The Pam Golding Annual