The 149th returns to Royal St George’s in Sandwich 

Unless you’re a real golf history nut, you wouldn’t remember Greg Norman nearly winning the Open Championship (not to be referred to as The British Open) at Royal Birkdale at the age of 53. His second win of two Open Championships came at Royal St George’s 15 years earlier when he shot 64 on the final day. In 2008, Padraig Harrington prevailed over Norman with a title-securing eagle 3 on the 17th. Most of you will remember the name Ben Curtis because he may have been the lowest ranked professional (400th) to win The Open. He kept it together at Royal St George’s to ease past Thomas Bjorn. One of the most emotional wins at RSG was Darren Clarke ten years ago. He was also a long shot but proved to good for Phil and DJ in the end. I met Darren at the Bell’s Cup at Fancourt and re-united with him at The Di-Data at Sun City. He called me by name. Only Nick Price had that kind of memory for names. Maybe there were long shots winning but there were also legends the ilk of Walter Hagen and Bobby Locke. This will be the 15th time RSG will be showing off their great and testing course.

Norman’s 64 at Royal St George’s was the lowest round ever played to win The Open. I don’t think there will be 64’s this week if the pre-tournament reports are true.  The course is in awesome condition; the rough is thick and if the wind blows, we’ll be in for a treat.

Ernie Els won the Open at Muirfield in 2002 and ten years later at Royal Lytham & St Annes. King Louis smashed the field at St Andrews. They lead the SA contenders who include Gracie, Christian Bezuidenhout, George Coetzee, Dylan Frittelli Jaco Ahlers;  Dean Burmester; Justin Harding; Garrick Higgo; Shaun Norris;  JC Ritchie; Daniel van Tonder and Erik van Rooyen. Check out these pairings for the first two days –

Enjoy!

Water, Water and No Water

We have been on a mission here at St Francis Links to prove that we and our residents are doing our utmost to conserve water. We are measuring water usage weekly. The users who are exceeding and average of 50 litres per household  (of 4) per day / 15 Kilolitres per month, are being contacted directly. We are working directly with the Munic to assist with water solutions. Last year, two new wells were drilled, one on the right of the 16th and another near the maintenance shed. The second is operating and sending water to town and the first will be connected soon.

In addition to conservation measures and additional supply, we are also using only non-potable water for building on the estate, saving thousands of litres. Meters are not even provided until homes are completed. All taps in the Club and Leisure Centre have water restrictors added.

Please, please, please do your part!

Support our town for TOWN OF THE YEAR! VOTE!

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New Dates for our Majors

Due to the Covid lockdown, we have been forced to reschedule the Men’s Invitational. What a shame as it was fully subscribed (with a waiting list) on 120. Please check that you are ok with the new dates and reconfirm your entry.

Men’s Invitational – 17-19 September 

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Players of the Week

Monthly Medal – Men – Shaun Viljoen (G), Malcolm White (N), Roger Smith (S);

Ladies – Silver – Lynn Slogrove, Bronze – Alison Bosch, Stableford – Lynn McMillan

Saturday School – Alliance – Jacques VD Walt, Tony Gunton, Chris V Rensburg and Rykie Rautenbach

Click Here for details of these events

Team Member of the Week – Louise Nieveldt

I Have been working at St Francis Links since 2008, so 13 years! I am a Housekeeper here at The Links but also enjoy helping out in other departments. For example, I assist the Halfway House during the turning time of golfers. I also assist the waitresses with clearing and sanitizing of tables when it is busy, polishing of glasses and whatever else is required. I love creating a clean and fresh environment because when our guests walk through the main doors. I want them to feel happy and safe. the expression “First Impressions Last” motivates me even more to keep the face of the company neat and tidy. Our guests need to feel free to come back for more of what the Links have to offer. What I love about St Francis Links is the management team. They give us lots of opportunities to grow and sending us for training to get more skills in the Hospitality industry. I am honoured to have such wonderful leaders like Jeff and Liezl.

I come from a family of 7, 3 sisters and 4 brothers, we are a very close family. Our father has sadly passed away when I was 7 years old, but by the  Grace of God, our Mother raised us into very good & respectful people. We were taught to love one another unconditionally. A few years ago we sadly lost our eldest brother, but that made us even stronger and closer.

I am a mother of 2 beautiful kids, a boy of 22 years old and a daughter of 14 years old.

 

 

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Thank you all for caring about your course – #leading the way

 

 

We look forward to our sponsored days with ITEC and Selective Lighting/The Fire Works and Pam Golding Properties and Village Square SuperSpar events.

New events – Ladies’ and Men’s Medal will be played on the 1st Wednesday of every month

7-8        Jan          Men’s Member-Member Partnership, Mark Ward and Richard Sharwood, Champions

13         Jan            ITEC Open Wednesday, Hein Spangenberg and Yan Coesens, 51pts 

27         Jan           Pam Golding/ Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Hein Spangenberg, Yan Coesens, Daryl vd Vyver and David vd Vyver, 92 Points

3           Feb           Monthly MEDAL, Shaun Viljoen and Lynn Slogrove

10         Feb           ITEC Wednesday, Yan Coesens and Hein Spangenberg, 47pts

14         Feb           Valentine’s Day Dress-up Golf; Gavin and Jaunita Gobby, 41pts

20         Feb           Greensomes, Scott Keevy, and Deon Marais, 41 pts

24         Feb           Pam Golding/ Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Simon Haigh, Yan Coesens, Charl Blaauw, Hein Spangenberg, 86pts

3           Mar          Monthly MEDAL, Gross – Fred V Eyssen, Nett – Brett Wilson-Jones, 69, Stableford – Hein Spangenberg, 35pts

5           Mar          Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun, Graham Botha and Geoff Garratt, 24pts

6-7       Mar          Pam Golding Annual – SFL vs SFB, SFB, 37.15 ave, SFL, 36.83 ave (.32 difference)

10         Mar          ITEC Wednesday, Charlie Gilmore and Neil Jones, 44pts

20        Mar          Foursomes, Dave Micklem and Norman Rock, 40 pts

31         Mar          Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Norman Rock, Tim Elliott, Michael Barratt, and Ronnie Nienaber, 81pts 

2          Apr           Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun, Debbie McCracken and Michael McGahey, 24pts 

2-4      Apr           Easter Weekend

7          Apr           Monthly MEDAL, Rita Du Plessis and Malcolm White 

9         Apr            Masters Par-3, shotgun at 15h00 (sponsored by Fitch and Leeds), Graham Botha 

27-28 Apr           Ladies Championships, Medal, Lynn Slogrove (G), Rita DuPlessis (N)

1-2      May          Stableford Championships (Men and Ladies) Chris V Rensburg (A), Doug Cornish (B), Dave Hart (C), Lynn Slogrove (A), and Alison Bosch (B) 

7          May         Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun Ernest and Linda Muller (donated back). 

26       May         Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance, Brett Wilson-Jones, Norman Rock, Nico Van Rensburg and Gavin Gobby, 88pts (85%)

29-30 May         Pam Golding Ladies’ OPEN Weekend, Jaunita Gobby and Lettie La Grange, 86pts (85%)

2          Jun          Monthly MEDAL, Chris V Rensburg, Lynn Slogrove, Lesley Fisher and Carol Boonzaier 

4          Jun           Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun, Lesley Fisher and Gillian Hammond, 22pts c/i

16        Jun           Easy Life Kitchens/ Wednesday, Lesley Fisher and Susan Gray, 45pts c/i

23        Jun           Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance Noelie Pearson, Jaunita Gobby, Bimpie Olivier and Sue Gray

26        Jun           Windhoek Lager International Pairs, Norman Pretorius and Deon Marais

30-3    Jul            Nomads National Order of Merit (International Points) Rescheduled

7          Jul            Monthly MEDAL, Shaun Viljoen, Lynn Slogrove and Alison Bosch – Gross 

16-1     Jul            Men’s 15th Invitational Member/Guest Rescheduled

18-21   Jul            30th Road Trip (PGA Invitational) Rescheduled

28        Jul            Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance,

6          Aug           Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun (postponed)

14        Aug           Greensomes   –

15        Aug           Nomads Annual Game

16 – 31 Aug          Hollow-tining Spring Programme (Course Closed)

1          Sep           Monthly MEDAL

3         Sep            Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 14h00 shotgun

15       Sep            Easy Life Kitchens/ Wednesday

12       Sep            Foursomes

25-26 Sep           Links Cup (Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits)

2/3     Oct            EP Champs (course closed)

9/10   Oct            EP Champs Matchplay finals

16       Oct            Ladies’ Invitational

20      Oct            Easy Life Kitchens / Wednesday