More than R67 000 raised in 67 minutes!
12 teams hit the links at St Francis Links for 67 minutes of speed, fun and some really great golf. Catherine Hempel and her team who support Talhado Children’s Haven, really did the leg work by getting 12 teams from the community together and 19 hole sponsors. Each team organized pledges or their own sponsors who backed them for holes played or points made. Then, at 15h00, we all met on the deck and I explained the format – straight alternate shot on each hole, with each team member allowed to move ahead to where the shot finishes, and then, advancing the ball forward by hitting it again, by throwing it, kicking it or if you were Annalize Ferriera, EP Billiards Representative, shooting it in with a pool cue!
The quality of golf and speed at which they played, amazed me as the Watermen from Liquid Lines played 22 holes in 67 minutes and made a good score in the process. Maggie Langlands, who developed the idea for the Kromme Trust Amazing Race held in December, motivated her team to the most points made – 47 as she had therm all running to 21 and 3/4 holes in the required time.
When I met with the players before play, emphasis was placed on safety as “speed kills”! Each group was allocated two carts per fourball and off they went. we laughed as Garth Perry stretched to get the ball and then stretched again to reach the hole.
Jo Brown, the Emcee extraordinar, gave more than 67 minutes of her time auctioning items donated for the day. Her special efforts saw the numbers rise to the magic R67 000 and more.
Everyone had a fabulous time, the charity was the big winner and we have a formula for success – see you next year!
Record entry for The Invitational
96 players have entered the 11th Annual Invitational and it looks like they are all in for a great weekend of golf on the course and golf on the television after play. The Open Championship is underway and the cream is already at the top with the reigning US Open Champion, Brooks Koepka out in 65. Coome to the Club and watch in a great atmosphere.
Seize the moment! Travel to Scotland…
Last Year I was involved in a golf day for charity that offered a trip to Scotland as an auction item.Our member and WBHO CEO, Louwtjie Nel, purchased the trip and took his two sons and a friend for golf last week. The trip was one for the bucket list as they played the OLD and some of Scotland’s best. Louwtjie sent pics from there and passed on their thanks to me for pushing him along in the auction and to Max Redman who was the organizer and their host. Max has the connections and the wherewithal to make it happen for you. He will do the organising and you and your mates enjoy the trip.
More to remember!
This was our best year to date in almost every way:
- We finished our 111th home on the estate (54 are permanent residents)
- Welcome to Don and Dawn Spear and Charles and Avril Laird
- 14 homes are under construction
- 26 homes are in the planning or application stages
- We are financially sound with great lifestyle choices for the entire family
- Our golf rounds featured golfers from more than 20 different countries – from Wisconsin to New South Wales
- We moved up in the nation ratings to No. 7 in Golf Digest
- The UK rates us No. 6
- The Swedish press rate us No.4
- With our members, No. 1
The Invitational – our Annual Gentlemen’s Member Guest
July 21-23 – Invitations are in the mail to you – please fill in your partner’s details and send them back!
More than 70 have entered already – this is going to rock!
Don’t stop yet! New Events are listed below!
Will be 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” – Prizegiving and Happy Hour at 17h00
July 22 Chef John’s Steak Night
July 21-23 The Invitational – annual Men’s Member Guest
July 23-26 The PGA “Road Trip”
ST FRANCIS LINKS “MAJORS” AND “SPECIAL EVENTS” FOR 2017
Jan 2-3 Men’s Member-Member, St Francis Bay wins by .18 of a point! Well done!
Jan 7-8 The Pam Golding Annual, Derek Ryan and Scott Keevy, Champions
Mar 11 Greensomes over 18 holes (NEW) Sandra Marais/Ingvild Stiansen; Mauro Nettl/Yan Coesens
Apr 28-30 Club Championships – Ralph Richardson and Helen Bridges, Champions
May 7 Inter-Estate Challange (St Francis Links)
May 18-19 Woodlands’ Dairy Golf Days for HOSPICE R400 000-00 raised for Hospice
May 20 Stulting School Day R280 000-00 raised on the day
May 27 Foursomes over 18 holes (NEW) Margot McGregor and Dr Lynn Slogrove, Champions
Jun 3 Ladies’ Invitational Dr Lynn Slogrove and Noeline de Ridder
Jun 10 Sanlam – Links Qualifier
Jul 2-3 National Junior Order of Merit Wilco Nienaber, Champion (ranked No. 3 in SA)
Jul 20-23 Men’s Invitational
Jul 23-25 The Annual “Road Trip”
Aug 6 Sanlam Cancer FINALS at St Francis Links
Aug 8-23 Spring Programme – Course and Clubhouse Closed
Sep 30, Oct 1 Links Cup
October 5 Els for Autism at St Francis Links (finals at Highland Gate)
Nov 11-12 Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend
Dec 2 Ladies’ Member-Member
Seasonal packages are now on offer
It’s also the time of year for golf travel. We join others in advertising our course countrywide. The are are a couple of subtle differences between what you pay and what you receive in a golf package. We pride ourselves on over-delivering with personal services, additional opportunities, special events, shoot-outs and so much more. We’ll supply the braai or what you need to do it yourselves; we’ll serve your meals here or recommend the area establishments who will exceed your expectations (and of course, we’ll do the booking for you). Why? Because we can and we want to!
Why not sign up for the special events coming up in the future and expand them into a few days of play! Play in the Inter-Estate Challenge, enter the Ernie Els for Autism in June, start planning for the Invitationals – ladies and men; Invite your friends in for the best golf in SA (and beyond).
Every Great shot starts with a SMILE