We are not Tour players!

Jeff ClauseSanta Says

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An interesting approach to more enjoyable golf

Have you noticed that we can no longer imitate our favourite tour players as we did when we were kids, copying their swings and occasionally matching their shots? Today, professional tour players play a game of length and precision that even the best amateurs cannot match. With technology, the tour player’s clubs and balls are matched to his game and even modified from course to course. In the recent US Open at Torrey Pines, the players were faced with different putting surfaces, Poa-annua. Some modified the loft on their putters to achieve a better roll on the ball. I recently saw Rory’s average distances with each club – check this out!

Typical iron yardages for Rory McIlroy:
4 iron – 220 yards
5 iron – 210 yards
6 iron – 200 yards
7 iron – 190 yards
8 iron – 180 yards
9 iron – 170 yards
Wedge – 160 yards
Listen, Rory is not the average tour player, but at the highest level, they are still playing a game today that most of us cannot relate to. They should be playing longer and tighter courses to really test their skills. That doesn’t mean you should. For tour players, male and female, many 5-pars are reachable, 4-pars surpassing 500 yards are not uncommon. Last weekend, the par-3’s were all 200 yards plus and most were hitting no more than a 6-iron.

Consider this…

I recently had a discussion with a friend about a course in America, a design that offers multiple options in length for maximum enjoyment. Longleaf Family Club is in the top-50 courses you can play in America. http://www.longleafteesystem.com/#our-purpose.

Only a day later, Brett Wilson-Jones sent me an article written by Corrie Visagie, the Club Captain at De Zalze. In his story, he also referred to Longleaf and took a good deal of time and research to compare tour players to members at DeZalze. I think you’ll find his analogy worth reading (and commenting on).  Check out the Longleaf story and his newsletter here.

What am I leading up to? Most golfers are still playing a course that is too long for their games. Even our forward tees are too long for some to enjoy. US Kids play course lengths as they work for age groups. Longleaf and others look at your length off the tee and to the green. Get over yourselves and men, your egos, and move up. Your index and your playing handicap from the Blue tees are nearly the same; when you move back you are playing a course that is nearly four shots harder than your index. Think about it.

It’s all about enjoyment.

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 


Great performances in the PGA 2X2 Pro-am at Pezula

TK finished in the top four with great scores of 72 and 74; he and Percy Owen came second in the Pro-am and Fred V Eyssen teamed up with the overall Pro winner, Morton Bredahl for a great finish.

The PGA 2X2 was a regional event attracting players and amateur partners from all over. Thinus, Percy, Divon and Charlie Gilmour represented The Links and Fred played with Micah’s coach, Morton.


Players of the Week

SuperSpar/Pam Golding – Alliance – Noelie Pearson, Jaunita Gobby, Bimpie Olivier and Sue Gray

Windhoek Pairs – rescheduled for 3 July (weather)

Click Here for details of this event and the Men’s Knockout!

 

Team Star of the Week –

I have been employed at St Francis Links for around about 8 months and I am really enjoying myself. When I first started working here it was rather unusual and interesting.  I have always had a love for food and for cooking. My passion for cooking has made it possible for me to do some travelling. At the Links, I am a Commis Chef and I love that every day presents a chance to learn something new and to grow even more. I love the energy and care which spreads throughout all the staff. There is honestly never a dull moment! I enjoy the company of good people and cooking is always a pleasure.

I have been all over the place, like I said I have done some travelling and worked both in Camps Bay, Western Cape and Cape Town Central at the Westin Hotel. I have never worked in any other department other than in the kitchen. When I was working at Woodlands Diary I always use to go behind the scenes where the food and dairy products came from to see how it all works and I was very interested.

My family is quite your normal modern family and we have close relationships with one another. I would like to end off with:

“ Always be kind to one another every single day. It does not cost a penny. Be respectful and go after your dreams and not people”.

Game drives and the great game of Golf at the perfect venue!

Download the Zapper app and take a chance!

 

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

 

 

The 2021 Calendar and results

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

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

7          Jul            Monthly MEDAL

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

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

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

     

 

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