The Seniors and the Management were full of praise! In all my years coordinating and hosting tournaments, I have never been more pleasantly surprised and impressed than I was by the Senior (50+) and Super-Senior (60+) golfers who played here last week in the National Inter-provincials. These guys can play and play they did. But they also played with team spirit that carried right through to the last matches, where only two outcomes would have reversed the championship in the Senior Division. Central Gauteng, filled with stars, held off the boys from Western Province in winning the title for the third time in a row. The Supers from Southern Cape did enough to beat Gauteng North on the day and in the overall.
| | | Photo 1 - The 2018 SA Senior A Inter-Provincial Senior Champions Central Gauteng; credit Pieter Els. Back, left to right: Andy Truluck (Assistant Manager), Jaco Du Plessis (Manager), Rurik Gobel, Craig Kamps, Jock Wellington, Richard Bruyns Front, left to right: Steve Williams, Stephen Johnston, Schalk Naude (Captain), Greg Gleeson
Photo 2 - The 2018 SA Senior A Inter-Provincial Super Senior Champions Central Gauteng; credit Pieter Els. From left to right: Pieter Els (Manager), Solly Rautenbach, Bertus Smit, Neil Abrahamse and Johnny Millar
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The weather performed better than we could have scripted it to. A "light puff" from the west, followed by a "light puff" from the east was the way it played on the weekend before play, giving the players a chance to get to know the course. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday's weather remained calm with the "puffs" reversing in direction daily. The course set-up changed with the weather, giving the players a chance to see and feel all the course can give (and take). On Thursday, however, Mother Nature made it interesting when she arrived to the course, on her mark, at 11am - just in time for the Singles. The course received rave reviews for the the perfect matchplay conditions. The Club and staff received the same from the representatives of Golf RSA and the teams themselves. We even received a standing ovation from everyone for presenting the best event in the 18 years of the tournament. Jock Wellington, a legend in amateur ranks, shared those sentiments with me; that meant a lot as he has played in the Senior Division in them all! click to enlarge
Bring it on again - in 8 years time when the rotation returns to Eastern Cape! By the way, well done, Eastern Province, led by Manie Daniels and Doc DeKock, as they finished 3rd overall! Manie and Doc were the only players to go undefeated in their singles matches.
Club Champs are next week | May 4-6 The 2017 Champions, Helen and Ralph won their Divisions. Dr. Lynn is now retired and living here - will she win her 40th title over three different home courses in her career?
| | Sign up now and join us the the pre-weekend entertainment on Friday, the 4th, before competing for Gross and Nett prizes. More than 40 of you have entered and the weekend weather is looking good for the 12th Annual Club Championships.
Unfortunately, Ralph Richardson, last year's champion and a key performer last week for Western Province at the Senior Inter-provincials, is out due to scheduling problems. Who's stepping up, guys? | Next Get-together is May 8th
Please rate St Francis Links Please take note of the dates and post them where you will see them and enter! Links Majors and Special Events 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 - Seniot Champions) ( Souther Cape - Super Senior Champions) May 5-6 Club Championships (Helen Bridges and Ralph Richardson, defending) May 13-16 Senior Women’s Nationals (SFL and SFBGC) (course closed) May 18-20 St Francis Bridge Invitational May 20 Nomads Monthly Game (11am Shotgun) May 24-25 Woodland’s Golf Days May 26 Foursomes over 18 holes June 2 Ladies' Invitational | | June 16 Quarterly Couples/Mixed – US Open June 17 Father’s Day Golf and Lunch June 21 EP Seniors June 25-26 Nomads Coastal NOoM July 7 The Inaugural Muirfield Day (foursomes and fourballs) July 20 Oakley X-Over July 20-22 Men’s Invitational July 22-25 PGA Road Trip - Pards Cup Aug 20 to Sept 4 Spring Programme (Club Closed) FINAL DATES - PLEASE TAKE NOTE Sep 23 - 29 Vodacom Origins of Golf (regional finals) Sep 28-29 formerly Links Cup / Ryder Cup (Paris) (new date TBA) Oct 6 Quarterly Couples/Mixed Golf Nov Pam Golding Ladies’ Open Weekend (date – TBD) Dec 1 Ladies’ Member- Member Partnership Dec 8 Par-3 Championships Dec 14-15 Pam Golding Annual (SFBGC host) Dec 17 Kromme Trust Amazing Race Dec 20 Food and Wine Festival Dec 22 Year-end Couples/Mixed – Pro Shop Sale Jan 3-4 Men’s Member-Member Partnership | Important Note: We endeavour to keep our "Majors" on the same weekend each year to encourage the best participation. We are forced to move the Annual Club Championships back a week this year because we were the chosen course in the Eastern Cape to host the National Senior Inter-Provincials, a tournament featuring the country's top golfers. It finished on Thursday the 26th, leaving no time for practice or course preparation. I apologize and the Champs will return to the last week in April in years to come. | | | Open Wednesday 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, 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 Whatsapp 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 May 4-6 Club Championships May 13-16 National Ladies Seniors (course closed) May 23 Monthly Drawn fourballs and Monthly Club Draw! (tickets are only R15) May 26 PJ Powers and Tigger Reunert | | | | | May Birthdays 1 - Allan Duffy, Rea Thorn 2- Jan Wentzel 4 - Anton Strampe 7 - Liezl Clause, Mark Scates 8 - Martin Jansen van Rensburg 11 - Dylan Morton, Gran Palerno | | 15 - Francois Retief 16 - Cornelia Alberts, Evan Smith 17 - Will Ferreira, Jeff Clause 25 - Ernest Muller, Jacobus Verster 26 - Mike Sprott 28 - John Syme 29 - Charles Laird, Louis Schlebusch, Phillip Potgieter 31 - Hendrick Boshoff
If your name is missing here, please contact hoa@stfrancislinks.com to update. | Every great shot starts with a SMILE! |