We’ve had a great 1st Quarter

Jeff ClauseSanta Says

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Great events, great course and Great food!  

On Monday, we held our first Board Meeting for the year. It was suggested that I share part of my CEO report for the 1st quarter (Oct-Dec) as it is a fairly good review. 

General Summary – Links Golf Club (RF) Limited

All indications from tourism led us to believe that we would struggle to achieve the good numbers we experienced in 2018. With no Vodacom Championship or Ladies’ Weekend on the cards (we made the decision to move the event to May), I budgeted fewer rounds and slightly reduced income in golf and food and beverage for the opening two months. Fortunately, we lobbied for and were awarded the regional finals for the BMW Golf Cup International. This event is properly run by the team from Flooid (the events arm for Sail). While it was only a one-day event, the feedback was good and the organizers were very pleased, again, with what we produced on and off the course.

We were the favoured venue The Rugby World Cup, filling the bar and even the deck for the semi-finals and finals of the event. Winning is always good for business

 

The marketing of yearend parties really paid off in November with several local and regional companies choosing us. The Simon and Garfield Tribute Show with well-known local musicians was the first of a season of sold-out shows here. December started very slowly with no weddings this year. On the 17th, I looked at our figures to budget and we were on 17% in golf and nearly the same in F&B. Then the season kicked in and all our events in the Club were fully booked. The course, despite the lack of any proper rainfall, held up beautifully through the season. The type of golfer over the years has improved. There are still those who come for the annual family outing, but many of our golfing fans, line up multiple games, playing with members in many cases. As time goes on, we will continue to see the rising number of member-based rounds as we build and occupy more homes on the estate. As stated in the AGM, we delivered more lemons than ever, with most of our members in residence. Several homes were rented out with holidaymakers filling the beds.

One thing that reflects the current economy is the amount of time spent here after the games; in our early days, spouses and families would often join their golfing partners for lunch and drinks. Our SuperSpar is the busy place in the village with braais replacing what used to be a lot more time out. Having said that, we were extremely busy from Christmas through New Year’s, once again feeding the world on New Year’s Day.

Looking ahead, the forecast for the next couple of months looks great! January picked up where December left off with two great events to start the year. The Member-Member with Charles Gilmour and Roger Smith winning was made better by the fact that they had never played together before! St Francis Bay GC brushed the Links aside in the Pam Golding Annual levelling the series at 7 wins each! The internationals returned early, and we surpassed our budgeted revenue comfortably. F&B took a step in the right direction with a strong January, as well. There are 5 weddings coming up in February that will ensure another good month ahead. My friends in the industry are all feeling good support from the Internationals. The cricket series with England also brought a strong support group from the Barmy Army. Some played here before the PE Test and another group from the oldest and most renowned Cricket Club, Marylebone. Joe Root’s parents played in a match hosted by our members. Not only did our members enjoy the day, but Tom Norton also made history with our first albatross on a par4.

Work on the course

We started reshaping bunkers and adding sand to the blown-out bunkers to get the original sand level back.

Reeds in dams were cleared on the 18th and we will try to control the very aggressive growth pattern of the reeds in the future

The slab at the range was done to allow mats to be put down on the slab in order to rest the grassed areas.

Dam levels keep dropping and we are stretching the irrigation cycles to use the least amount of water as possible on the course.

Our new ride-on greens mowers arrived with the first cut 14 January 2020.

We focused on holes 1 and 6 where we cut back more bush and opened clear lines from the fairways to see the green.

Dry weather with not much rain for the near future keeps testing our ability to keep the course looking like the 5th best course in the country.

New distance markers for all tees will go on shortly which includes the par 3 course.

          


It’s NOT good-bye!

Mike Wylie has been our leader, our mentor and our Chairman of the Board at St Francis Links since we opened in 2006. On Monday, at the 1st quarter review, he stepped down as Chairman and we welcomed Chris Kelway, a long-standing homeowner member of the Board as our new Chairman. Mike has run the Board without forcing decisions or blocking ideas. He has led from the front through rough periods where the recession forced us to restructure. Throughout those years, we never produced negative results. Monday night we gathered to thank Mike with a special party at the Leisure Centre, another developer “gift” to the members when it was built.

Before the dinner, a number of us recorded messages to Mike, recalling what meant most to us about him. It was good fun and well-received.


 


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https://www.golfchannel.com/news/look-back-25-signature-moments-ernie-els-turns-50

 


Club Championships April 24-26, 2020


 

Now the Number 1 Jack Nicklaus Course in AFRICA


The 2020 Calendar

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

14          Feb           Valentine’s Day Dress-up Golf; Dinner with entertainment

26         Feb           Pam Golding/ Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

12         Mar            ITEC Open Wednesday

25         Mar            Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

27         Mar            Ernie Els for Autism Golf Day

                                 3         Apr            Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

  8         Apr             ITEC Open Wednesday

                                11         Apr              Greensomes

24-26   Apr             Club Championships

                                  1         May            Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

13          May            ITEC Open Wednesday

21-22    May           Woodlands Dairy Charity Days for HOSPICE

                               24         May            Nomads at St Francis Links (10h30 off 2-tees)

27         May            Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

  6          Jun            The Bard’au Ladies’ Invitational

10         Jun             ITEC Open Wednesday

                               12         Jun              Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

17-19    Jun             Nomads National Order of Merit* – Juniors earning                     International points

                                 5          Jul              Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

20         Jun             Foursomes

21-22   Jun              PGA Pro Pairs (SFL)

24         Jun             Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

  8         Jul               ITEC Open Wednesday

17-19    Jul               Men’s Invitational

                               27-28   Jul              PGA Regional Finals (SFBGC and SFL)

29         Jul               Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

1-2       Aug             EP Amateur Championships (course closed)

                                7          Aug              Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

  8-9     Aug             EP Amateur Championships – Matchplay finals

20-3    Aug/Sep   Closed for Spring Programme

                                 4        Sep             Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

  9          Sep             ITEC Open Wednesday

25-27    Sep             LINKS CUP South Africa (Ryder Cup at Whistling Straights)

30         Sep               Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

                                 2         Oct              Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

  3         Oct               Stulting Golf Day

14          Oct               ITEC Open Wednesday

28          Oct               Pam Golding/Village Square SuperSpar Alliance

  5          Nov             Eastern Province SENIORS

                                 6          Nov              Selective Lighting / The Fireworks – 15h00 shotgun

11           Nov              ITEC Open Wednesday

16         Nov               Men’s Muirfield Day (3rd Annual)

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

 

 

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