Shame on you for supporting everyone but…
There is no doubt that Patrick Reed has the stuff that Champions are made of. He played the entire tournament with a controlled fire in his belly, played the shots and made the putts when they counted. Even after a start in the final round that would have unraveled a lesser player, he rolled a putt at pace on three, another from just off the green at 12 and knowing that Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler were charging, played a great second into 14 and holed a clutch putt there. Yet, it wasn’t over as he needed to two-putt 17 from center-front and stop the fastest down-hiller on the course close enough to save par from 3 miles (I mean, three feet). All that time you were hoping that Rory could find the putting stroke he lost on two, when he missed a game-changer for eagle. You were watching Paul Casey put on a show, Jordan flirting with the course record, Rickie hoping for a late mistake and Rory just losing the plot. Most of you were saying “anybody but Patrick Reed“. Even the Americans and the Press afterwords were less than impressed. But great golf and nerves of steel prevailed. He was focused on the golf and not what went on around him.
Word is they may cancel the Champions Dinner due to lack of interest. Patrick won’t mind because he prefers his own company. As a boy he practiced for hours, he led his University team to two National Championships and won three times on Tour before qualifying for his first trip down Magnolia Lane. His parents didn’t like his choice for his wife-to-be. He told them where to go – more to the point, where NOT to go, and that was anywhere near him. She carried his golf bag for his first three wins on Tour and her brother carries the bag now. I am sure the press and the public will look for reasons not to find Patrick Reed worthy of the Green Jacket, but he certainly displayed the will, the performance and the poise to be The Masters Champion. Look at the Leaderboard – it represents the best in the game today!
Tony Finau impressed me when he rolled on his left ankle after making an ACE in the Par-3 tournament on Wednesday. He not only played the tournament, he smoked the last nine on Sunday with birdies from 12-17 – scoring 2,4,3,4,2,3.en route to a closing 66 and a top-10 finish. Freddie Couples and Bernie Langer showed the boys they could still play. Tigger and Lefty finished well on Sunday wih nothing to lose. Now the talk begins about the potential of the 2019 Ryder Cup…
Potential US Ryder Cup Team for Paris 2019 (rankings following the Masters) 
There’s MORE
W(HOA)…News from the Estate! Next Get-together is April 12
Don’t forget to attend this Thursday evening’s members’ get-together. We will welcome Pierre Conradie, our electrical engineer and Ray Nolan from Specialized Solar Systems who will present the alternative energy supply option available now to Links owners. We will also chat about happenings and on-going future ideas and projects at hand. Feel free to submit any matters you’d like us to address, to me before Thursday. Join us for an easy supper and casual company afterwards! See you at 17h30 and please book for dinner (by mailing info@stfrancislinks.com).
March was another budget beater with Club departments turning over great business and managing their areas well. Note: We had more rain in March than any March since 2008 – unfortunately, it didn’t rain at the catchments.
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
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 11 ITEC Open Wednesday – special rates, prizes and snacks (R1500 in meat)
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