Tee to Green February 2012 by Ursula Vlismas

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February 2012 • www.teetogreen.co.za

A double dose for

Branden

Grace p3

• Oosthuizen claims Africa Open (again) p.6 • Rookies thrilled at SA Squad call up p.7

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EDITORIAL TEAM

Perspective seems in short supply

pparently, Ernie Els is a bit of a Smokey Robinson when it comes to a braai. “He’s useless. He’s got not clue,” says his good friend Des Terblanche, who has had many braais with Els, most of them so good he can’t remember them. Retief Goosen can handle himself over the

coals. “He’s pretty good. But then again, he’s a bit of a general handyman. He builds his own cupboards in his house and so on,” says Terblanche. Hennie Otto tops the leaderboard amongst the South African pros when it comes to his skills around a braai. “Hennie has an absolute passion for it. He can braai anything,” says Terblanche. So when Charl Schwartzel first told me he was planning to braai at the Champions Dinner at the Masters this April, I thought to myself that he had some pretty stiff competition. Schwartzel’s plan has received plenty of coverage around the world. But it also brought some unmerited criticism from those who feel it’s an extension of his love for hunting. You can read on page 4 of this issue what one American golf writer had to say about it, and the response to that. In a nutshell, Schwartzel has, unfairly I believe, become a target for the anti-hunting lobbyists, which is a shame for a man who is a gentleman of his sport and a fine ambassador. I don’t agree with much of what American politics represents, but that doesn’t mean I should hold a grudge against Davis Love III for declaring that his hobby is political

studies. Frankly, I know as much about hunting as Nataniël does about wearing khaki. I am a fisherman, not a hunter, because in fishing the worst you can do is jab a hook into your own finger. As a hunter I am liable to shoot myself before any buck. But in the world of professional sport, where good role models are in short supply, I think it’s out-of-bounds to keep taking shots at a good man who has a perfectly legal hobby, even if you don’t agree with it. If we’re headed down this road, then let’s take on Rickie Fowler, whose love of offroad motorbikes and the fossil fuels they burn up is a disaster for the eco warriors. Or every golfer with a private jet for that matter, whose carbon footprint stretches far beyond the fairways they walk around the world. Schwartzel needs nobody to defend him, but I do feel the good men of our game need to be celebrated. Because, as a famous artist once said, “Any a**hole can see just the bad in the world”.

Leon Plutsick • leonp@easygolf.co.za 082 8000 275 MANAGING DIRECTOR Rene Breuer • rene@easygolf.co.za 083 3255 080 ADVERTISING Erna Breytenbach • 0861 777 014 erna@teetogreen.co.za Andrea James • 0861 777 014 andrea@easygolf.co.za PROMOTIONS Marion Wentzel-Reprich marion@easygolf.co.za Tel: 0861 777 014 PRODUCTION Ofﬁce: 012 997 6887 Fax: 086 543 2339 Editor: Michael Vlismas michaelv@iafrica.com Production Manager: Ursula Vlismas ursv@iafrica.com PHOTOGRAPHS Grant Leversha Luke Walker / Carl Fourie Sunshine Tour

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Grace tees off 2012 with a bang

he year has certainly started with a bang for some! What an incredible January for young Branden Grace; Q-School in December,

CEO Easygolf Publishing (Pty) Ltd,

DISTRIBUTION Western Cape, Eve Starke 082 927 6328

“He’s useless. He’s got not clue,” says his good friend Des Terblanche, who has had many braais with Els, most of them so good he can’t remember them.

a win at the Joburg Open (an event we started in 2007) and onto the Volvo Golf Champions where he had originally been asked to play as a marker in the limited field European Tour event. Grace was part of the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation and he basically grew up on The Links. We wish him well in Europe this year. The Volvo Golf Champions was quite an event. I had the privilege of playing in the pro-am with golfing legend, Jose Maria Olazabal. What a gentleman. There could be no better choice for the captaincy of the European Ryder Cup team than him. Fancourt did a stirling job at The Links; they have certainly established themselves as the tournament destination of choice. The course itself was immaculate and really tested the Europeans, prompting Darren Clarke to quip that it was tougher than a US Open course and one of the most difficult he has ever played. The European Tour hadn’t even set it up at its most vicious. The new year also brings with it the second season of the Rhode Island/

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Tee to Green Open Golf series. These events have grown from strength to strength and our first event of the year, which kicks off at Bronkhorstpruit Golf Club, is almost sold out. The events have evolved into a series, with the winners of each event playing in a final in Johannesburg, the winner of which will win an all-expenses paid trip to Mauritius at a hosted event later this year. Be sure to book your spot now! I wish you all a great 2012 golfing season and may the golfing gods answer all your prayers. Yours in golf.

“Watching Phil Mickelson play golf is like watching a drunk chasing a balloon near the edge of a cliff.” - David Feherty

Southern Cape, Neil Tucker 084 557 5145 South Coast, David Rush 039 682 0155 Free State, Colin Sorour 082 990 7175 Printed by Paarl Coldset (Pty) Ltd, 83 Heidelberg Road, City Deep Production Park, City Deep. DIRECTORS: easyGolf Publishing (Pty)Ltd: Leon Plutsick. DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in Tee to Green are not necessarily those of the publisher. Although the utmost care will be taken, Tee to Green is not responsible for any articles/photographs/adverts supplied for publishing. Articles may also be shortened or included at the Editor’s discretion. While every effort is made to ensure all adverts are correct, Tee to Green cannot be held responsible for any errors.

FROM TEE TO GREEN

School friends of Branden Grace nail their colours to the mast.

European Tour gets a dose of Grace Michael Vlismas

year ago, Branden Grace would’ve told you he wasn’t ready to win on the European Tour. Then in two weeks in January, he won back-toback tournaments, beating two of his biggest idols in the process. Having regained his European Tour card late last year, Grace started his 2012 season on the perfect note when he won the Joburg Open and then stared down Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in a playoff to win the Volvo Golf Champions. “It’s awesome. It’s been amazing,” Grace said of his two weeks in golfing heaven. It began on the fairways of the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club. With a measured 72 at the end of a difficult week of weather delays, Grace claimed a one-stroke victory over England’s Jamie Elson in the Joburg Open. “This has been coming for a long time. It’s fantastic to get my first European Tour win at home,” he said Grace. “I wasn’t ready to be on the European Tour the first time. I was a good player, but not great. Taking a step back was good for me. I kept believing in myself and kept trying.” Grace’s victory came in his 50th European Tour event, and continued the great run of the South Africans on the Tour. South African golfers had by now won four of the last six tournaments on the European Tour. But it was a week later when Grace’s true quality came to the fore. As the last qualifier in the star-studded 35-man field assembled for the Volvo Golf Champions at The Links at Fancourt, Grace was in illustrious company.

The tournament was limited to European Tour winners of the previous season, as well as any players who have won 10 or more times on the Tour in their careers. There were Majors champions and Ryder Cup captains raining down all around him. Yet by Saturday evening, it was the young South African who went to bed tied for the lead with Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts. If there was ever a hint of nerves, it came that evening. “I was lying in bed the night before the final round reading a couple of articles and saw that there were seven players with 13 Majors chasing me. I thought it’s a big field behind me. But I just stuck to what I was doing,” said Grace. It was an epic final round that played out on the Links that Sunday. Els set the mark in the clubhouse at 12-under-par with a sublime round of 67, including a birdie at the last. Goosen birdied three of the final four holes to also finish on 12-under with a 70. That left Grace and Colsaerts out on the course. Both arrived on the 18th also on 12-under-par. But Colsaerts hit a wayward drive and eventually missed a four-foot putt for par to stay in the playoff, instead finishing on 11-under with a 72. Grace stood over a three-foot putt for birdie to take the title. And he missed it. “You know you’ve got a three-footer and if you make it you’re a hero. I didn’t think I hit a bad putt, to be honest,” he said. But the composure he displayed thereafter won him worldwide acclaim. Playing the 18th again in a playoff with Els and Goosen, Grace made birdie to take the title. “Standing on the tee with Ernie and Retief in the playoff was unbelievable. I was very calm though. It’s one of

those awesome things to know I’ve beaten two of my idols in a playoff.” It was a victory made all that more memorable considering Grace had initially been asked by the sponsors to play as a marker in the 35-man field, before his victory in the Joburg Open saw him qualify automatically for the winner’s only tournament. “I guess I would’ve definitely come in any case. But fortunately I won and got myself in, and managed to finish it in the end.” Grace has already refocused his goals. “I’ll keep playing until I’m exhausted and will then take a break. I’ve got my wins now, but I’m definitely not going to stop here. I want to keep winning as many as I can and one of my goals is getting into the top 50 in the world.”

“Standing on the tee with Ernie and Retief in the playoff was unbelievable...”

FROM TEE TO GREEN

US golf writer takes a shot at “elephant killer” Charl R

espected golf writer and influential blogger Geoff Shackelford has for some time now been taking swipes at Charl Schwartzel and his hunting hobby. Shackelford routinely refers to Schwartzel as the “proud elephant killer”. Then, during the recent Volvo Golf Champions at Fancourt, Thomas Aiken made public his support of the Save the Rhino campaign. Shackelford took the opportunity to put the boot in to Schwartzel again, saying Aiken should probably start with his own countryman. According to Shackelford, he recalled that Schwartzel had said in an interview he wanted to shoot a rhino. What Shackelford didn’t bargain on was the string of comments he received on the matter defending Schwartzel. European Tour commentator Jay Townsend was the first to comment, making the point that, “I suggest before you go on a bunny hugging liberal rant about hunting, you research the facts rather than post emotionally … As for your continued ‘shots’ at Schwartzel for elephant hunting … it is a proven fact that hunters are the custodians of maintaining game animal populations and habitat. Hunting in South Africa alone is a R7 billion a year industry, with much of that money going to both species and habitat preservation.” Other comments pointed out what a gentleman Schwartzel is. Shackelford response was, “Glad you like Charl. I’m sure he’s a nice fellow as Gary Player is a nice fellow. Doesn’t mean they are always good fellas though”. Even Mike Green, the communications manager of the Sunshine Tour, voiced his opinion on the matter. “Here’s a little basic journalism: I decided to ask Charl about this. Here are the verbatim quotes: ‘I shot the elephant as part of a controlled cull. The local ecosystem was under threat because of the overpopulation of elephants in the area, and the animal was also a threat to the small local communities’.

“Yes, elephants were under threat in South Africa because of the encroachment of humans. Now they are not thanks to some superb conservation policies. BUT they are restricted to areas that are ultimately too small for unchecked population growth, so control is necessary if they are to survive at all. “And as Charl for wanting shoot a rhino? ‘I have never said I wanted to shoot a rhino, and I never will shoot one, either’. Cool the knee-jerk reactions down a little. A little Googling about elephants in South Africa will give you context. And using faulty memory as a means to suggest something does not make for any accuracy.” For the record, Tee to Green also entered the debate, posting the following comment: Dear Geoff, I do not hunt, nor do I wish to. As an African, I understand very well the need to manage ecosystems. The fact that South Africa has a thriving game and conservation industry suggests the country must be doing something right in the total management thereof, of which controlled culling plays a part. Poaching is a despicable act, and it is being tackled as much as possible in South Africa. But it appears to me that attacking legitimate hunters (whether you agree with the act or not) in light of poaching or other pressures is a bit like banning all alcohol in light of the actions of a few alcoholics. I do not understand the continued snipes at an otherwise extremely pleasant young man who is an absolute gentleman of his sport, admired the world over for his humility, which is in stark contrast to the brattish behaviour of many young professional sportsmen. That appears to me to be the kind of bigotry that, dare I say it, is harder to bring down than any elephant. Michael Vlismas

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FROM TEE TO GREEN

Township golfers still face challenges Michael Vlismas

Gary Player is the world’s most travelled athlete, then Johannesburg professional Teboho Sefatsa owns the car that has probably travelled the most on the Sunshine Tour. But even he was astounded at the lengths to which the children who attended the development clinic ahead of last month’s Joburg Open will go to play golf. Sefatsa joined a group of professionals from the European and Sunshine Tours at the Alexandra Driving Range as part of the traditional development clinic ahead of the tournament. About 80 children from the surrounding area were given a basic introduction to the game. Having grown up in the township of Katlehong east of Johannesburg, Sefatsa understands the challenges faced by children in impoverished areas who would like to take up golf. “I find there’s a lot of interest in golf in the townships, but the financial backing is still a problem,” said Sefatsa, who has yet to receive major backing of his own career and drives to tournaments in a 1989 Jetta. “I bought it from my brother in 1998, and then it already had 300 000km on the clock. The clock stopped working then, so you can imagine how many kilometres it has done. And it’s still going like a dream on the same engine.” Despite the challenges he faced as a child, Sefatsa went on to gain provincial colours for cricket, rugby and golf. It was when he was selected to join the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation that he decided to focus on golf. “It takes development clinics like this to unearth more talent in the townships,” he said. “In Katlehong I see kids who are so interested in golf that they’re even using old hickory-shafted clubs to play with. And we’ve got a park there where some of the locals built a nine-hole mashie course. So the interest is there.”

Johannesburg professional golfer Teboho Sefatsa with nine-year-old Lesedi, one of the children who took part in the Joburg Open Development Clinic at the Alexandra Driving Range. Credit: Chris Ricco – Backpage Pix. English professional Barry Lane was also part of the clinic. “It’s amazing to be able to give back like this. I was instructing three girls who walk an hour to this facility every Saturday so they can practice.” Lane recalled a trip to China last year where he conducted a similar clinic. “Of the 54 children

there, the highest handicap was seven and the oldest child was 18. They have fantastic development programmes there.” “The organiser of the clinic was telling me that their philosophy is simple – they give the kids a choice: a rice field or a career in golf. If the kids have a choice and an opportunity, they’ll grab it.”

FROM TEE TO GREEN

CG16

Oosthuizen the Africa Open King again

he first thing Louis Oosthuizen did after lifting the 2012 Africa Open trophy was thank his wife NelMari for not going into early labour that week. “I really wanted to come to East London Golf Club and defend my title but our second child is due very soon, so I had my fingers cross all week,” chuckled the delighted winner. Oosthuizen denied Tjaart van der Walt the chance to shed his bridesmaid tag with a final round six-under-par 67. His winning total of 27-under-par 265 was two shots better than Van der Walt, who carded a four under 69. The pair started the final round as joint leaders, but the match only turned in Oosthuizen’s favour at the penultimate hole. “I might have been pushing my luck today. It was a real dog fight out there between us and I knew she would be watching every shot. I’m just glad she didn’t have to phone me halfway through the round to rush home. It’s a good thing we didn’t go to a play-off again.” Twelve months ago, Oosthuizen battled Chris Wood from England and Spain’s Manuel Quiros for his first title in the European and Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned event. This time, it was Van der Walt who nearly took the tournament into extra time. The Durban-born professional kept pace with Oosthuizen through 16 holes, but saw his chances to claim a maiden pro title slip when he bogeyed the par-three 17th. Oosthuizen birdied, forcing a two shot swing coming down the last. “I had a messy start today with an eagle, a birdie and two drop shots in the first five holes, but I took on the sixth and that birdie got me going again,” said Oosthuizen, who also birdied the seventh, ninth and 11th to join Van der Walt again for the lead. “I knew Tjaart would be in for the long haul, because that’s the kind of player he is, very tenacious.” The 2010 Major champion said he knew he had to make a birdie coming down the closing stretch to break the stranglehold and put Van der Walt under pressure. The wind, which finally showed up on the final day after

three days of sunny skies, played into Oosthuizen’s hands as the pair reached the 17th tied for the lead on 26 under. “The 17th was playing really tough today with the wind blowing off the right,” he said. “When Tjaart hit it short, I aimed for the middle of the green. “I had been leaving my putts short all day but on the 17th, I hit it firmly and it rolled in really nicely. When Tjaart missed the putt, I knew I didn’t have to get aggressive at the last.” The two-shot swing left Van der Walt putting for his 11th second place finish, but the winner paid credit to the 37-year-old journeyman, saying Van der Walt had been a great opponent. “It was great to see Tjaart play to his potential,” he said. “He is one of those players that won’t go away. He is too consistent for that.” Goosen finished at 24 under par with a final round 69, while Jaco van Zyl launched to fourth and just a shot behind the 2009 winner after carding a flawless 66. England’s Alastair Forsyth bogeyed the last hole for a 67 that left him alone in fifth on 22 under, while Richard Sterne celebrated his return to competitive golf with a sixth place finish on 20 under after signing for a 70.

“It was great to see Tjaar play to his potential. He is one of those players that won’t go away. He is too consistent for that.”

FROM TEE TO GREEN

Rookies thrilled at SA squad call up Lali Stander

our of the country’s top amateurs will debut in a South African National Team that will battle a top Scottish side at Leopard Creek near Malelane from 14 to 15 February 2012. Southern Cape’s Shaun Smith, Drikus Bruyns from Boland, Western Province’s JP Strydom and Zander Lombard from Gauteng North are joining the country’s top three ranked golfers, Brandon Stone, Haydn Porteous and CJ du Plessis in the third instalment of this annual two-day Test Match. Lombard is thrilled with his selection to the squad and the prospect of continuing South Africa’s proud winning tradition in this tournament. The home side scored a convincing 21-7 victory in the inaugural Test in 2010 and won 18-12 last year. “We all feel very honoured to be selected to represent South Africa,” said Lombard, who turned 17 on January 18 and is the youngest member of the squad. “The four of us have some big shoes to fill because the South African teams have been unbeaten for two years. We all want to continue the tradition and we will give our best effort not to disappoint.” SAGA president, Colin Burger, confirmed that the first round of the tournament will feature foursomes and singles while the teams will play betterball and singles on day two. “Since the teams consist of seven players each, we will include a singles match with the foursomes and betterball matches to even things out and ensure that everyone gets to play all four rounds.” In the first four weeks of the new year, some members of the squad have already underlined their selection. Stone, the country’s leading amateur, won the Prince’s Grant Invitational by six strokes

and KwaZulu-Natal Stroke Play by three and 17-year-old Lombard wrapped up his first victory of the year when he won the first event on this year’s Glacier Junior Series at Mowbray Golf Club. Smith, Du Plessis and Porteous, who clinched the Nomads National Order of Merit Tournament, also posted top 10 finishes at Prince’s Grant and Durban Country Club, while Bruyns and Strydom finished in the top 20 at the Invitational. Stone, who made his debut alongside Du Plessis and Porteous last year, said the new caps will add a lot of depth to the team. “All four rookies have unique styles which means we can cover each other’s weakness, especially given the format of the tournament,” he said. “Zander is one of the longest drivers on the amateur circuit and very accurate. JP is one of the best wind players. Drikus is probably one of the best ball strikers in the country, and Shaun one of the best strategists. It’s fantastic to have such diversity going up against top-ranked Scottish players.” Burger said the visitors provide the country’s top amateurs the chance to gain invaluable experience. “When Johann Rupert first brought out a Scottish side for a seven-week training camp in 2010, the Scottish Golf Union sent their best representative side to our SA’s leading amateur Brandon Stone. Credit Luke Walker. country,” he explained. “Most of the players in the team were Team South Africa: in fact, their Scottish number two, Michael ranked inside the top 200 in the world • Brandon Stone (Gauteng North) Stewart, won the Sanlam SA Amateur and and we played a Test and our Juniors • Haydn Porteous (Central Gauteng) went on to lose in the final of The Amateur played a match against them and the • CJ du Plessis (Limpopo) Championship later on in the year. South African Golf Development Board. • Shaun Smith (Southern Cape) “We are once again hosting a top squad “Last year they sent an equally strong • Drikus Bruyns (Boland) squad, but in addition to the Test their play- and it is a fantastic opportunity for our • JP Strydom (Western Province) leading amateurs to test themselves against • Zander Lombard (Gauteng North) ers also competed in some of our national some of the best golfers in the world.” • Reserve: Pedrie Oosthuizen (Gauteng tournaments and our flagship events, the North). Manager: Colin Burger SA Stroke Play and Sanlam SA Amateur ;

“All four rookies have unique styles which means we can cover each other’s weakness, especially given the format of the tournament.”

FROM TEE TO GREEN

LET eyes return to SA as Cunningham secures card Michael Vlismas

Tandi Cunningham is the only South African to make it through the LET’s Final Qualifying School for 2012. Credit Tristan Jones/LET.

he Ladies European Tour (LET) was in South Africa in January investigating the possibilities of one or even a series of tournaments on local fairways again. After the boom period that culminated in the Women’s World Cup of Golf but then the controversy surrounding the management thereof, women’s golf in South Africa has never recovered. Nothing has been finalised, but the LET is intensely aware of the growth potential in South Africa. The return of international women’s golf to South African fairways will be a massive boost to the country’s local professionals. Tandi Cunningham was the only South African to make it through the LET’s Final Qualifying School for the 2012 season. Cunningham finished 20th at the South Course at the La Manga Club in Spain last month. England’s Jodi Ewart led the qualifying with a five-round total of 11-under-par. Cunningham finished on four-over, hurt somewhat by a third round of 81. The top 30 qualified, and there was a playoff for the last spot on seven-over par. South Africa’s Monique Smit missed out on eight over. Morgana Robbertze, Iliska Verwey, Henriette Frylinck and Kim Williams all failed to qualify for the fifth and final round.

Top foreigners chase SA Amateur Stroke Play crown Lali Stander

outh Africa’s leading amateur Brandon Stone will spearhead the local challenge against a strong international line-up when this year’s South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship is played at Glendower Golf Club this month. Since the inaugural event was won by Dale Hayes in 1969, just a handful of visitors have been able to lift the title, including Yuan Ching Chi (1981), Wen-Sheng Li (1982) and C-S Hsieh (1986) of China and Ireland’s Ciaran McMonagle in 1982. Not since Gary Wolstenholme from England beat Wesley Tucker by three shots at George Golf Club in 2002 has a foreigner been successful, and a valiant effort from former Scottish Amateur champion David Law last year was derailed by a determined Jared Harvey, who claimed the title at the first playoff hole after both players tied on 274 at Mount Edgecombe. But Stone and company will have their job cut out to keep the trophy on home soil this year. Nearly 30 foreign entries were received this year from seven countries, including Austria, England, France, Italy, Namibia, Scotland and

Zimbabwe and the visitors are eager to chase down one of the two prized titles on the South African amateur circuit. Colin Burger, president of the South African Golf Association (SAGA), said the depth among the foreign entries this year underlines the growing international prestige of the SA Amateur Stroke Play Championship. “Most of the players entered for this year’s tournament are among the leading amateurs in their own countries. And believe me, they are all ready, and able, to make history. We have five top French and six top Italian amateurs and Namibia’s top three in the field. The English side includes the English Amateur runner-up Jamie Clare and Tony Tree, who already made his mark by winning the Gauteng North Open Stroke Play at Pecanwood at the end of January. “The Scottish entry includes seven players from their Elite National Squad, who has been here for two weeks. Paul Shields, last year’s Sanlam SA Amateur Match Play runner-up, already showed his mettle at Pecanwood, as well.” Stone will be backed up by Haydn Porteous and CJ du Plessis, who are respectively second and third on the rankings.

Playing by the Rules I n 1980, the great golf writer Peter Dobereiner once wrote about the Rules of Golf, stating, “Basically, I reasoned, golf is a simple game … and it requires only a few simple rules … If our forefathers could get along happily enough on the iron rations of a dozen basic rules, why do we need fifteen paragraphs on etiquette, thirty-five definitions, forty-one rules with clauses, subclauses and appendices as numerous as the grains of sand in Hell bunker?” But the reality is that from the weekend hacker to the professional, far too few golfers are aware of the Rules of Golf, and in many cases how they can benefit a player. Many will say they simply don’t understand the rules, and don’t have time to wade through a tome of a rule book. Golf Rules Illustrated – The Official Illustrated Guide to the Rules of Golf 2012-2015, published by Octopus, blows this whole theory out of the water hazard.

FROM TEE TO GREEN

The book is brilliantly laid out and thoroughly entertaining, presenting the rules in a clear and concise manner with plenty of illustrations and photographs. And the presentation of actual “Incidents” involving the leading players in the game gives an entertaining practical expression to the rules – from Jack Nicklaus’’ concession of Tony Jacklin’s putt on the final hole of the final match of the 1967 Ryder Cup, to Alvaro Quiros using a pair of binoculars to identify his ball in a palm tree in the 2011 Dubai Desert Classic. There’s even a great photographic example a penalty for causing a ball at rest to move and involving Louis Oosthuizen during the 2010 Alfred Dunhill Championship at our own Leopard Creek. So if you don’t know your burrowing animals from your lateral water hazards, then this is just the book for you. It should retail fro R230.

New golf expo E

xpo 18 – billed as South Africa’s largest indoor golf expo – will take place from April 27-29 at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg. “Expo18 is a welcome addition to the South African golf calendar for those into the game, as well as those new to the sport,” says Louis Jonker, convener of Expo18. “We look forward to seeing a positive impact as a result of Expo18’s efforts to bring the golf community together, as well as introducing the game to more South Africans.” With the theme “Good to Golf”, Expo18 will help prepare golf enthusiasts with the latest fashions, equipment and golf know-how. With space for up to 95 exhibitors, the show is setting itself the target of being the most comprehensive and interactive golf show in South Africa. For more information, visit www.expo18. co.za.

Off to the Open

unshine Tour campaigners Grant Veenstra, Andrew Georgiou and Adilson da Silva claimed the three spots on offer into the 2012 Open Championship with their successful showing in the International Final Qualifying (IFQ) Africa at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club last month. A total of 51 players entered the 36-hole tournament to secure a place in the illustrious field for the Royal Lytham & St Annes showpiece this July. “We all dream about playing in The Open while growing up. Every golfer wants to play amongst the best, to play at the highest level, and I am so excited for this chance to test myself and play with golf’s best,” said Veenstra, who led the qualifying with a final round 67 for a six-under-par total of 138.

“We all dream about playing in The Open while growing up. Every golfer wants to play amongst the best, to play at the highest level...”

FROM TEE TO GREEN

Sunshine Tour

celebrates its top players

he Sunshine Tour acknowledged its top players at their annual awards ceremony in Johannesburg last

John Bland, Dale Hayes and Hall of Fame inductee Hugh Baiocchi at the Induction Gala Banquet at the South African Golf Museum.

SA Golf Museum continues to impress T

he South African Golf Museum celebrated another glittering Hall of Fame Induction Gala Banquet last month. George Fotheringham, Charles Kingsley, Simon (Cox) Hlapo, Jannie le Roux, Jeanette Burd, Cobie le Grange and Hugh Baiocchi were all inducted into the Hall of Fame. As Dale Hayes commented, “There are displays of memorabilia that can only be bettered at the R&A museum at St Andrews and at Royal Blackheath. It should be compulsory for all young golfers to pay the museum a visit so that they can take a stroll through the history of the game in South Africa”.

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month. Garth Mulroy was handed the Sid Brews Trophy for winning the 2011 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit. Mulroy won last year’s Alfred Dunhill Championship and was runner-up in the Joburg Open, and he had top-10 finishes in two other events – the Telkom PGA Championship and the South African Open Championship. He also came 21st in the Dimension Data Pro-Am and 37th in the Nashua Masters. He earned R3 464 463.00, with second-placed Hennie Otto on R2 806 214.00. Branden Grace was awarded the Gary Player Trophy for being the player with the leading stroke average in a minimum of nine tournaments. His average of 69.41 was achieved over a total of 26 rounds in seven tournaments. The Bobby Locke Trophy for the Rookie of the Year was won by Allan Versfeld. The 21-year-old rode the success of his Joburg Open performance, where he came seventh, but he also had five other top-10s during the year. His best showing came in the Vodacom Origins of Golf event at Sishen where he came second behind Adilson Da Silva. The Players’ Player of the Year was Jean Hugo – an honour accorded the three-time winner in 2011 by his fellow professionals after a ballot held amongst the top 120 players on the 2011 Order of Merit. Hugo won three events on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series – at Pretoria Country Club, Simola and the final at Legend Golf and Wildlife Estate. George Coetzee took the Golf Writers’ Award. It was awarded to the Sunshine Tour member who, having played at least nine tournaments in South Africa in 2011, the media believe was the most significant newsmaker of the year in South African professional golf. The Sunshine Tour Commissioner’s Award, nominated by senior management of the Sunshine Tour, went to 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel as the player who best epitomised the true professional – a player who consistently represented the Tour in the most effective way; was respected by his fellow professionals and treated them with respect; and was an ambassador for the game as well as the Sunshine Tour.

2011/08/29 10:12 AM

Garth Mulroy received the Sid Brews trophy for winning the 2011 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.

The Bobby Locke Trophy for the Rookie of the Year was won by Allan Versfeld.

Jean Hugo was the Players’ Player of the Year.

FROM TEE TO GREEN

World’s biggest bunker

World number one Luke Donald does his best to get out of the “world’s biggest bunker” as part of a publicity stunt ahead of the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi Championship.

Counting down to KeNako SA World Juniors I Embracing the mental, physical and technical aspects of the game

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n less than two months, the second KeNako SA World Juniors tournament tees off at Kingswood Golf Estate in George. One of five tournaments that make up the World Junior Golf Series (WJGS), the KeNako SA World Juniors carries world ranking points and will be hosted by the KeNako Academy from 6-8 March 2012. The inaugural 54-hole strokeplay tournament drew entries from 19 countries and this year promises to have an even bigger international presence. This year’s edition has already drawn entries from countries that were not represented last year, including England, Italy and the Czech Republic with organisers are expecting the field size to exceed 120 players. Although it is unusual for tournament fields to include boys and girls, the concept proved very popular at the 2011 KeNako SA World Juniors. In addition to the Individual Competition tournament contest, teams of two players also compete for a Team Trophy, with the best combined score crowned the winners. Participants, who must be born in 1993 or after, will play in separate divisions within the same time sheet, but off different tees. Recreational golfers will have the chance to meet the champions of tomorrow and witness their incredibly high standard of golf when the KeNako SA World Juniors tees off with an Am-Am on March 4. Three executives will enjoy the experience of playing with a top junior per team. Anyone interested in playing in the Am-Am, can contact Nadia at 044 8740370.

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SENIORS

Van Aswegen wins at Waterkloof C

entral Gauteng’s Gavin van Aswegen teed off 2012 on a winning note when he won the Gauteng North Senior Amateur Open Championship at Waterkloof Golf Club last month. Van Aswegen’s rounds of 74 and 72 were enough to give him the title on a total of 146, three strokes better than second-placed Phillip Viljoen. Phillip Bierman, Lawrence Franklin, Colin Hayward and Tim Hewan shared third place on 150. But Hewan walked off with the Super Seniors title. Jock Wellington finished in a share of 14th place.

Current Order of Merit 1 Francois Le Roux -54 3 Lawrence Franklin -35 5 Tim Hewan -31 7 Phillip Viljoen -30 9 Schalk Naude -29 11 Mellette Hendrikse -27 13 Gavin Van Aswegan -25 15 Rinus Van Niekerk -24 17 Chris Delport -21 19 Christie Le Roux -21

2 Jock Wellington -49 4 Ben Kleynhans -34 6 Leonard Pienaar -31 8 Brian Mampies -29 10 Phillip Bierman -28 12 David Stratton -26 14 Dave Jessup -24 16 Jonathan Hobday -23 18 Colin Hayward -21 20 Dennis Jones -20

Van Aswegen’s rounds of 74 and 72 were enough to give him the title on a total of 146, three strokes better than second-placed Phillip Viljoen.

Mellette Hendrikse (with trophy) celebrates his victory in the Free State and Northern Cape Senior Amateur Open at Vaal de Grace. To his left is Tim Hewan, winner of the Super Senior title, followed by the Free State and Northern Cape Golf Union executives.

Hendrikse beats record field at Vaal de Grace

ellette Hendrikse from Gauteng North beat thunderstorms and a record entry of nearly 200 golfers to win the Free State and Northern Cape Senior Amateur Open Championship at Vaal de Grace last month. Hendrikse won with rounds of 70 and 72 for a total of 142, one stroke clear of Lawrence Franklin and Tim Hewan.

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SWING THOUGHTS

Swing Thoughts

with Theo Bezuidenhout

Lessons from the Champions A

true moment. This is the catch phrase that Volvo In Golf, the golfing arm of the Swedish car maker, have adopted for their international golfing events. These events include the Volvo China Open and the Volvo World Match Play Championships. The third jewel in the crown, and arguably one of the most prestigious events on the golfing calendar, is the Volvo Golf Champions. Swing Thoughts was invited to attend the Fancourt event as a guest of

Volvo, and as always when you spend time amongst the Els’s, Goosen’s, Harrington’s and even Jimenez’s of the golf world, you cannot help but notice the good (and sometimes bad) habits that they have. In this month’s column we discuss some of the observations from inside the ropes of the Volvo Golf Champions and how you can use these in your own game.

Distractions As is the case with many professional events these days the Volvo Golf Champions also entails a pro-am structure. The difference being that the amateur players get selected from a pool of players and they play

with the professionals in the actual event. This is obviously a great thrill for the ammies as they get to live the dream, but what about the pros? How do they deal with this? They play as if it is a normal round amongst friends. At dinner time after the pro-am not a single bad word was spoken about any professional playing partners. Even Colin Montgomerie, the European Tour’s original Mr Grumpy, was singled out for praise. The key to this is that the professionals are not focused on how playing with an amateur might affect their play. Instead, almost to a man, they put the amateurs at ease and almost take care of them on the course. The implication? The professionals have mastered the art of what to focus on when in their mental game. They are able to distinguish between the times that they need to be totally focused on their own game and when to help out. This is a good indication of mental flexibility that the pros possess and it is worth remembering the next time you play with a distracting partner.

Routines In this column we have often spoken about the importance of good oncourse routines. Having spent some time with the top players in the world something else becomes apparent: The systematic way in which they approach their post-round routines. Almost every single player leaves the scoring tent and indicates to their caddie how long they will have lunch for before joining them on the range. No ifs or buts and no motivation needed from anyone. No wonder these guys are all winners on tour. They are as pedantic about what they do after they have played as they are before or during a round. However these sessions are not about following set out practise plans. Firstly,

they serve as a warm down, sometimes a physical warm-down and sometimes a “mental” warm-down to relax after a bad round. Secondly, the players will focus on some aspects that they got right on the course as well as some of the things they may have struggled with. They never focus only on the bad as this will have a massive impact on how they think on the course the next day. So in future, put off that first draught for just a few minutes if you can and go do a physical and mental warmdown. You will be surprised what useful thoughts you take with you onto the course the next time you play.

Patience At 21 years of age Tom Lewis was one of the babies in the field. Having turned pro Lewis subsequently won his third start as a professional and took up the invitation to play this event. Lewis is approachable and calm with an underlying resolve that the greats share. The most insightful moment spent with Lewis came in the form of comments by his caddie, Colin Byrne. Byrne is no glorified baby-sitter. Having worked with Retief Goosen he is now tasked with helping make a consistent winner of Lewis. “If you could get 10 synonyms for patience on the course, I would say that to him over and over. Be patient and take your time with everything you do. Thinking, decision- making … everything”. This was Byrne’s answer when asked what he thought the key was to Lewis’s future success on the mental side. It is easy to forget that patience is the backbone of what good golf entails. If a 21-year-old, albeit a very talented one, can exhibit the mental skill of being patient, what’s your excuse? We might not end up being professionals or even amateurs playing with professionals but wouldn’t it be nice to win the internal battle every now and again?

IS PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SWING THOUGHTS. titleist.co.uk

FEELGOOD FAIRWAY

Fairway with Linda Scott • Nutritionist

Rethinking the purpose of education

ir Ken Robinson’s 2006 TED* talk on how schools kill creativity remains the most popular of all TED talks with nearly nine million downloads to date. This fact alone is fascinating given the incredible range of topics on offer on the TED website. Everyone, on some level, seems to understand how we have all somehow been cheated of celebrating our full potential by a system that focuses on such a narrow band of human capacity. Education needs to prepare children for a future that is both unpredictable and changeable. As such, schools should be helping children develop the skills they will need to adapt to a rapidly changing work and home environment in which there will be no long-term job security. Or any form of security. Robinson says talk of school reform is useless; a school system that was developed in the 19th century to supply the needs of the Industrial Revolution and the mechanisation of society (an obedient, trained labour force, not original thinkers) is no longer appropriate. Radical transformation is required where individual creativity is nurtured and the arts are given equal status to (and integrated with) the sciences. Guy Claxton, another advocate of total educational transformation, writes in his book, What’s the Point of School, “The core failure of education is not in the content of the syllabus but in failing to prepare young people for their complex and uncertain futures. Without the confidence that they are equal to the challenges they face, young people are at risk. They are prone to becoming anxious and insecure, and to acting in self-destructive ways that typify people under stress.” We all recognise this scenario as more and more youngsters struggle to find their way in a work environment characterised by rapid change and uncertainty and where academic inflation has meant that having a school or university qualification no longer guarantees a job. All children demonstrate remarkable creativity and they are willing to take chances. If they don’t know something they will often guess because, initially, they don’t buy into

the concept of being wrong. This concept, though, is soon beaten into them through endless tests and exams that generally permit only one correct answer and in the process “they are educated out of their creativity”. Robinson argues that we need to be willing to be wrong in order to come up with original ideas. He illustrates this point with a story about a young child who is furiously drawing a picture. Her teacher asks her what she is drawing. “God,” she replies. The teacher responds, “But no one knows what God looks like”. The child, undaunted, replies, “They will soon”. Claxton agrees. “The quest for good marks often undermines confidence. Even skilful exam passers lose their capacity for wonder and critical reasoning - rather than becoming bolder and braver, they become more docile and fragile in the face of difficulty. They learn to think narrowly rather than broadly, to compete rather than cooperate, to be frightened by uncertainty and the risk of errors that accompanies it.” Robinson maintains that schools focus on a very narrow concept of academic intelligence and success. For instance, children with restless minds and bodies, far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity, are often punished, or worse, medicated in order to bring about conformity and docility. Howard Gardner in his book, Multiple Intelligences, celebrates this rich concept of individual capacity as well as the idea that there are many different kinds of human intelligences - ranging from musical intelligence to the intelligence involved in self-understanding. Each person comes with a unique combination of many different intelligences. The IQ test, beloved of so many traditional educators and psychologists, measures only some of these intelligences. Many brilliant and creative people believe they have no talents simply because their types and range of talents were not valued by the school system. The core confidence that all people need derives from what Claxton calls their learning muscles. He lists these as: curiosity, courage, investigation, experimentation,

imagination, reasoning, sociability and reflection. And it is these very skills and qualities schools and parents need to encourage in all children so that as they grow and age they can deal confidently and creatively with whatever their future holds. *For those of you who have not yet been initiated into TED talks (TED stands for Technology, Education and Design) do yourself a favour and start delving into this treasure trove of startlingly original, stimulating and creative talks (www.ted.com).

“The quest for good marks often undermines confidence. Even skilful exam passers lose their capacity for wonder and critical reasoning - rather than becoming bolder and braver, For more information feel free to they become more docile and fragile in the face of difficulty.” email healthline@mcnabs.biz

Receive a daily FeelGood motivational message: www.mcnabs.biz

TEE TALK

Breyten Paulse also a flyer on the fairways

espite his diminutive size, Breyten Paulse was one of South Africa’s most prolific wings in Springbok rugby history. But, for what he lacked in height and weight (1.78m and 80 kg / 5’10” and 180lb), the firecracker made up for with tremendous speed. The Western Province player launched his top flight career with a hat-trick of tries in his first Currie Cup match in 1996 and averaged a try in almost every match he started for Western Province. He made his debut in the green and gold in 1999 and scored a hat-trick of tries in his first Test against Italy in Port Elizabeth at the age of 23. Among his 64 caps counts two tours to the Rugby World Cup, in 1999 and 2003. At the time of his retirement from the national side, Paulse had put in 54 appearances for the Springboks and scored 22 tries. His last appearance in the green and gold was against New Zealand at Christchurch in 2007 at the age of 31. Since his retirement, Paulse discovered a new passion and these days you will more than often find him on the fairways, honing his golf game. Paulse plays off an eight handicap and showed his prowess on the fairways when he won the MTN SuperSport Shootout at Simola in 2011 and finished second alongside business man Ron Boon and professionals Roger Wessels and Jesper Parnevik at the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola in November. Lali Stander caught up with the budding golfer and found out all about his love for golf, his take on SA rugby and the new Springbok coach and how to cook the perfect lamb sosaties.

Breyten Paulse in action during the 2011 MTN SuperSport Shootout at Simola.

As a former Springbok with your own World Cup memories, how tough is your job as a rugby commentator? You often have to tear a team’s game apart and offer criticism and / or praise. Do you worry that you get it right? It’s not that difficult, because it’s not about the criticism as such but offering constructive analysis of the games. You are expressing yourself in your own opinion to what happened, could have happened and what should happen. A well-known face on the field and now as a rugby commentator. But a coanchor for a magazine show? Toks and Chops Show with Toks van der Linde was something different! It was a concept created by Supersport and I think the show appealed to the average South African, because we were doing what all guys do at home - having a braai, chatting about rugby and singing a little around the fire. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Did you enjoy the spontaneity of the show? We know you and Toks know your rugby, but did Robbie Wessels, Theuns Jordaan and Bok van Blerk really have a clue or did you guys have to brief them a little before each show? I loved the spontaneity of the show; I thought we all played well off each other. And to tell you the truth, those guys certainly impressed me. They share the same passion for the Springboks as Toks and I do. Bok is a staunch Bulls fan, Robbie supports the Cheetahs and Theuns a diehard Western Province fan. And a published cook, to boot! My lamb sosaties are legendary. The secret is to prepare the marinade two days in advance and to soak the sosatie sticks in water overnight, so they don’t catch fire and burn when you braai. Apart from your SuperSport commitments and golf, what else are you up to these days? I work for Cipla Pharmaceuticals and I’m also involved with a lot of charity work and motivational talks at corporate events, especially if there is golf involved. Before the World Cup, you told me that our boys will always be highly competitive but you had your doubts. You said the team would have to pull out all the stops and they would have to beat New Zealand to win. So, is Heyneke Meyer the right guy for the job? In my opinion, definitely. I think his record in the Currie Cup, the Super 14 and with the Bulls speaks for itself. He created a winning culture that is exactly the kind of culture Springbok rugby needs. He has the respect of the players, because he is a rugby man himself. He understands the game, he understands the South African rugby culture. He is the right man for the job. So let’s talk golf. Tell me a bit about how you got started in golf. I actually got into golf completely by accident. Some mates of mine asked me to fill in for someone and that’s where the bug bit. I only started playing golf after my rugby career, so I’ve only been playing for about four years now. That first game was one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever attempted, but that created the challenge for me. The lowest handicap I’ve held so far was seven. Last year I went to see a coach for the first time. Continues on p.19.

19 Breyten Paulse during the 2011 Gary Player Invitational at Zimbali.

and side bets involved. I’ve learned to take it on the chin when I lose, but still, nothing beats playing with and enjoying the company of those guys. You won the individual competition at the MTN SuperSport Shootout and the Betterball Stableford with Riyadh Peer. Your two 69s at Simola Golf & Country Estate was better than the professionals’ scores who competed in the Vodacom Origins of Golf event at Simola in July. Ever considered a career change to pro golf? You probably won’t believe me, but until this day I don’t know how I managed to shoot those scores. It could be because I went to see Dawie van Wyk at the Vodacom Golf Village in Somerset West before we teed it up at Simola. Something must have rubbed off. But I think Riyaadh helped, as well. He was just a fantastic partner, the kind of guy anyone wants in his team. He kept me composed, calm and focussed throughout the tournament. He was definitely a great fellow to have alongside me. As to turning professional? No way, never. That’s just too difficult. If you could change one rule in golf, what would it be? I think we should play Medal in every competition. Who are the golfers you most admire and why?

Continues from p.18 Which are your favourite golf courses around the world and why? I’m a little partial to the Western Province and Southern Cape. My favourite golf course is Erinvale, because it’s situated in the most beautiful setting, is always in great conditions and has some great features. My other favourites here in South Africa include Pearl Valley, Arabella, Durbanville and the Gary Player courses at Fancourt. I also enjoyed some of the courses I played in Thailand. I like courses with character and I think South Africans are absolutely spoiled for choice. Where do you play most often?

TEE TALK I really admire Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson – all fearless and great ambassadors for the game. They all work really hard, but the game is also still fun for them. If you could select a Fantasy Fourball, who would you pick and why? Jennifer Arniston, because she is just to beautiful and cute. I’ll pick Lance Armstrong, because of his amazing life story. And for the fourth, Barack Obama, because he should have some really interesting stories. You’ve played quite a bit with professional golfers. What was the experience like? It’s very inspiring and educational. Let me tell you, there are some incredibly talented youngsters out there in South Africa. Guys that I have played with and that impressed me with their consistency are Trevor Fisher Jnr and Ulrich van den Berg. And two young guys you should keep an eye on in the future are Keenan Davids and JG Claassen. Have you ever had a hole-in-one or come close? Nope, never, nada. But I can dream.... If you could pick any Major to tee it up in, which one would it be? The Masters. But just going to Augusta to watch the world’s best play the Masters would also be good enough for me.

I’m a member at Durbanville Golf Club and I play there quite a lot. But I’m also privileged to play all around the country because of my travelling schedule and the kind invitations that come my way.

Do you think Tiger Woods can still make a comeback and beat Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Majors? I think he is definitely still capable of winning and he has time on his side, but that said, there are some really talented youngsters coming through and they will make it very tough on him. And the older he gets, the tougher it will be to beat them.

You are a tidy eight handicapper, so I guess you get a lot of time on the golf course. Do you have a regular fourball? If so, are you often on the winning side of the side bets? Yes, I have a bunch of golf buddies I regularly play with. I have a very competitive nature, so more than often there are bets

All sports man seem to have a lovehate relationship with the South African media in your careers. How much did this bother you when you still played competitively? Yes, that’s true. It was particularly difficult and annoying initially, but you get used to it. The media play a big part in our sporting society, so the sooner you come to grips with it, the better.

TEE TALK Continues from page 19. We’ve established that, post rugby, you can definitely swing a club but how are your skills with a bat? Are you going to swing a bat in the Celebrity Cricket Sixes this year and do you think you can hold your own against the likes of Morné Steyn, Pieter Muller, Mark Fish, Shaun Bartlett, Okkert Brits and Hezekiel Sepeng? Yes, and I used to swing a decent bat at school, so we’ll have to just see how it goes. Who would you say inspired you most and why? My mom is my hero and single biggest inspiration. She had a tough life, raising a kid as a single mother, but she never complained. She has been hugely supportive and gave me all the opportunities she could in life. If you could change the outcome of one result in your career, what would it be and why? My most painful memory, I would say, when we lost 27-21 to the Aussies at the 1999 World Cup. That was just painful and it still hurts to talk about it. If I could swing a wand and turn you into a superhero, who would it be and why? Superman. The name says it all! If you got stuck in a lift with someone, who would you want it to be? Tata Madiba,I could take a lot of values and wise words from him. What is still on Breyten Paulse’s bucket list? I’d have to say to have a hole-in-hole and to watch the Masters at Augusta. Would be great to see someone like Cuba Gooding Jnr or Denzel Washington play me in a movie.

BREYTEN’S BRILLIANT LAMB SOSATIES (makes 10-12) • • • • •

1.5 kg deboned leg of lamb, cut into blocks 8 pieces of deboned pork rib, cut into blocks Place, alternating, on skewers Marinade 30ml olive oil

• • • • • • • • •

Breyten Paulse with Lee-Anne Pace, Elana Africa and James Kamte during the 2011 Gary Player Invitational.

2-3 onions, sliced 3 garlic gloves, crushed 30ml mild curry powder 15ml turmeric 2-3 bay leaves 5ml ginger, grated 30ml fine apricot jam 350ml white vinegar 500ml milk

• Pinch or two of salt Freshly ground black pepper. Heat the oil in a deep pan or pot and fry onion and garlic to soft (not brown). Add the curry powder and stir for two minutes. Add everything else, except the milk. Boil for 10 minutes. Remove the pan or pot from the heat and add the milk. Stir well and let it cool. Don’t get a fright when

the milk starts separating - it doesn’t look too good, but that’s exactly what should happen. Once the marinade is cooled, refrigerate overnight (two nights are even better). Heat the marinade and boil for 15 minutes - the milk will sort itself out as the mixture cooks. Now baste the sosaties as you braai.

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I have a bunch of golf buddies I regularly play with. I have a very competitive nature, so more than often there are bets and side bets involved. I’ve learned to take it on the chin when I lose, but still, nothing beats playing with and enjoying the company of those guys.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Can we reach Thailand’s staggering golf tourism figures? L

ed by growth from Australia and Europe, the value of foreign golf tourism to Thailand may reach 60 billion baht or $US2 billion in 2012 for the first time! Based on a Tourism Authority of Thailand’s forecast of a record 19 million inbound visitors to the kingdom in 2012, up to 600,000 foreign golf tourists - or three percent of the total - will make a beeline for its five major golf destinations: Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. The question is, can South Africa reach these astounding golf tourism numbers? The country shows huge potential to attract golfers with the varied golf experiences and hence The South African Golf Tourism Association (SAGTA) has been created to achieve exactly this. Now one year in operation, SAGTA is certainly pulling out the stops to set the industry on the right track to grow inbound and local golf tourism. Their annual board meeting is being held early February with plans to grow membership, plan press/operator trips to SA, market golf destination SA and plan for IGTM 2012. The partnership with South African Tourism and local provincial tourism authorities is in the final stages of formalization to catapult this growth, being one of SAGTA’s most important objectives. With 60 members on board and collaboration from the golf resort, club and tour operator industry, the writing should hopefully be on the wall! Are you part of this movement?

For more information visit www.sagta.co.za or contact Natalie van Blerk on info@sagta.co.za. Visit vw.co.za

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Local and International Golf Travel PRINCE’S GRANT FABULOUS GOLF SPECIAL • VALID DEC ‘11 – 30 APRIL ‘12 • 4 nights accommodation at the lodge including breakfast • 2 rounds of golf at the fabulous Prince’s Grant golf course

from R 2650,00 per person sharing

BRITISH OPEN, 15-23 JULY 2012 • Return ﬂights Johannesburg – Manchester Economy Class • 3 nights accommodation at Castle Hotel, Conwy, in twin room incl. breakfast • 5 nights accommodation at Vincent Hotel, Southport, in twin room incl. breakfast • 2 rounds of golf (all subject to availability); Conwy GC, Royal Liverpool GC • Entrance to THE OPEN on 3 days, Self drive car hire (2 people sharing)

from £ 2,900.00 per person sharing

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2012 MASTERS GOLF TOURNAMENT, 2-9 APRIL 2012 Self- drive rental car rental. Deluxe accommodations at a Hotel in Augusta, or in a private Executive Home located close to Augusta National. Breakfast daily. Use of a 2012 Masters Golf Tournament Badge from Thursday, 5 April al Sunday, 8 April. Round trip group transfers from the hotel to watch on i t a l The Masters daily . All taxes and service fees. Flights not included. ern Int Trave

from $7449,00 per person sharing (based on 4 guests) BALTIC SEA GOLF CRUISE • VALID 7-14 JUNE 2012

Visit St. Petersburg and play golf in three countries • 7 nights including 4 games of golf. Cruise on board Visions of the Seas (incl. taxes & service charges, pre-paid gratuities), return transfers. Ports of call are Helsinki, Finland; Riga, Latvia; al Visby, Gotland; Stockholm, Sweden. Flights not included. on i t a ern vel t n I from €1875 per person sharing Tra

AMATEUR TEAM WORLD CUP OF GOLF, KERRY, IRELAND, 9-16 JUNE 2012 • Separate mens and ladies events • Open to all amateur golfers • 7 nights accommodation in 3* or 4* hotel • Breakfast daily. • Car hire for each 2 players for 8 days. • 4 Pre-paid green fees & tee times • 4 Course Gala Dinner including Irish Music and River Dance performance • Flights not included.

from €1060 per person sharing for 3* Hotel

For more information and detailed itinerary call 011 486 4357 or email marion@easygolf.co.za. Rates subject to change. T&C apply.

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