Great turnout for the 3rd Annual Championships
With nearly 60 members in the field, the 3rd Annual Ultimate Par-3 Championships were held on Saturday with some fantastic golf played on the day! Dr Lynn Slogrove and Martin King, both champions on the Championship Course, proved how important the short game is here at St Francis Links. Martin led the way with 53 gross off a 1 with 4, 2-clubs (1, 8, 15 and 17) and Lynn followed with 60 off 5 with 2 (2 and 14). Norman (The) Rock, runner-up to Martin also racked up 4, 2-clubs on the day (4, 9, 14 and 16). Denise Perry was runner-up in the Ladies’ Gross. ST Maarshalk proved that the strength in his game is not the driver as he powered to a nett 50, 4-under par! That proves that his overall course handicap must be hindered by wayward drives! Charl Blaauw, cut from a course handicap of 13 when he plays the white course to a 5 for the short course and blue tees, also proved that, without the driver, he can play! Charl won the second best nett on 53. Gillian Hammond won the best nett for the ladies and Alison Bosch was her runner-up. They shot 54 and 55 nett, respectively. There were no 2-clubs on their cards, just good play,
What makes it all work? faster format…great practice for the scoring shots…FUN (with a fancy pants theme), yet challenging, great for the social and competitive side of golf, inclusive for all players and available here nearly every day – A great course within a great course!
Please support and play in the Pam Golding Annual
The series is tied 6 all! We need you!
King Louis returns to the throne!
It was an emotional Louis Oosthuizen who raised the SA OPEN Championship trophy at Rand Park on Sunday. He won for the first time in three years and joined legends, Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els as the only South Africans to win both the SA Open and the Open Championship. I am exceptionally proud of Louis and have been a fan since I watched him play as a “wee” junior on the oil greens in Albertinia. I personally think the real turning point in his career, probably the biggest confidence boost, came when I managed the Southern Cape junior side at National Junior Inter-Provincials in the singles at Beachwood in Durban, I paired him against a giant of a 17 year-old, Wikus Myburgh. I think Louis chopped him down like a Sequoia tree, winning something like 4&3! From there it was mostly downhill, winning around the world, 12 times in Europe. I do find it odd that Louis was competing in the SA Open for the first time in years. I hope all of our boys make the effort in years to come – to feel the emotion he showed on Sunday!
King Louis – Open Champion and now, SA Open Champion!
The Dunhill Returns to a revamped Leopard Creek!
Mr Rupert can be proud of his course and new Par-3 Experience!
The Par-5, 13th adjacent to the Crocodile River and the Kruger Park. Take a trip to Sawgrass and their 17th on the Par-3 experience.
This week marks the return of The Dunhill at Leopard Creek. I had the opportunity to play the new course and the Par-3 course. Both are amazing and the Par-3, designed to resemble some of the world’s best short holes, is a real treat (and challenge).
from Dale Hayes Newsletter – don’t miss the Par-3!
Alfred Dunhill Championship…
This week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship is the final event of 2018 and it’s at the “new” Leopard Creek. Everybody wants to test out the new grasses. The word is that it’s looking phenomenal but the fairways now give more run, so the long hitters will have to be extra straight.
I think we will see a lot of 3-woods and long irons being hit off the tees, especially on the mid-length par 4’s.
The field is fairly similar to that of the SA Open in terms of the top players – Ernie Els, Branden Grace; Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Matt Wallace are all playing. Charl Schwartzel has an amazing record at Leopard Creek. He has had four wins, and four second place finishes, so he has to start out as the favourite.
For many players this is the highlight of their year. To play on a great golf course so close to the Kruger Park is special. I’m sure that people around the World, especially in colder climates, must be so envious of us walking around the golf course in beautiful sunshine and seeing animals in their normal habitat.
Don’t miss the fun Par 3 Competition on Wednesday, which will be covered live on Supersport: –
Wed, 12th – Par 3 Challenge – 13h00 -16h00 (SS1)
Thurs, 13th – 11h30 – 17h30 (SS1)
Fri, 14th – 11h30 – 17h30 (SS1)
Sat, 15th – 10h30 – 16h30 (SS1)
Sun, 16th – 11h30 – 16h30 (SS1)
Looking for some enthusiastic young Golfers
Special Events this week!
ITEC year end – Wednesday! Double Prizes TODAY! R3000 from ITEC
The Pam Golding Annual – Friday afternoon and Saturday morning
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