| | Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Brent Vos came in under the radar finishing before the leaders from Day 1... Brent Vos was sitting on the hill by the 18th green watching the last group come in. He started the day four shots behind the leader, Derek Ryan, who let it slip towards the end. The same applied to Ernest Bendeman, Morne Geldenhuys and Rian Chalmers where big numbers stalled their efforts. Brenden was doing commentary over the phone as Ernest, Rian and Derek were neck and neck with only the last to play. After determining that Rian was the best of the four in the last group, and doing the Faye Dunaway/Warren Beatty thing, by announcing the wrong winner at the Oscars, I walked straight into Brent and realized he had, in fact, the better total. Oops...sorry Rian, and congrats Brent. First time for everything (and last). Your second round 82 was enough to pass them all (in perfect weather). Remember the Oscars when they announced the wrong film for Best Picture? Lynn and Brent were the deserved Champions for 2018. Lynn returned to the Championships as a "home club" member and got pushed properly on day one by Helen Bridges. But on Day 2, her legendary solid game came through. Read this month's Golf Digest and you should find a story about Lynn as one of SA's longtime champions. Denise Perry slid past Helen to capture the Nett Prize. Sandy Cunningham is ageless - proving it by winning the B-Division. Chris Lessing sneaked by first-day leader, Steven Emary, and hole-in-one maker (his first), Norman Pretorius to win the Men's B-Division. Rian Chalmers was 2nd Gross and Derek Ryan got his name on the big board again after finishing Low Nett by a stroke over first-timer, Norman Rock. Please click here for all results. | Just another good way to get our name out there! When you open an SA Golf Trader online, we are right in the front with a competition. Fill in the crossword puzzle and return it quickly. There's nothing wrong with winning a free fourball with carts at you favourite course! New additions and future members! We are Proud to announce that John and Gillian Hammond recently became Grandparents. Gillian is in Scotland assisting. Baby Sion born to Pieter and Elzette Buckle and Baby Gabriella was born to Nick and Roxy Kelway! Next Get-together is May 8th (tonight) I'll report back in next week's column. Leading Courses - please rate St Francis links Click on logo to be redirected Improving your short game Back to basics For many members, finding clean crisp contact feels nearly impossible. Choose a less lofted club (8 Iron) and use your putter grip. Stand closer to the ball with a narrow stance.
Tempo Too often I see golfers taking back too fast and when they start going forward towards impact, they slow down. Make a smooth back swing and accelerate through impact.
Length of swing Keep it short. The longer your backswing is the more you can hinge your wrists. Keep it simple, keep it short. Hybrid or Wood Do not forget to practice chipping with your hybrid or woods. Take your putting setup and remember that the ball comes off the clubface a little bit faster. I see putter being used too often from far away, practice with you longer clubs.
To book a lesson you can contact me pro@stfrancislinks.com
Thinus Keller PGA Head Golf Professional
| | | 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! 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 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, Ronnie Nienaber | | 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. | The perfect gift for Mother’s Day… Or simply spoil yourself! We have the option between Srixon's limited edition Lady Passion Pink Ball, their softest ever ball the UltiSoft and the famous Soft Feel. Just R200 per dozen and limited stock available. Come to the shop before they roll out, or reserve yours now by clicking here. 28st April 2018 - 4 Ball Alliance 2 scores to count 1st – Theo Vos, Brent Vos, Norman Rock, Danie Cronje (Ghost) - 85 Pts, R45 2nd – Derek Ryan, Martin King, Scott Keevy, Danie Cronje (Ghost) - 82 Pts, R30 Lowest Gross - Scott Keevy, 82 Gross Lowest Nett - Danie Cronje, 71 Nett 2 Clubs - Jason Slater, 17th 4 Pointers Theo Vos 6th Brent Vos 11th Colin Higgins 16th Jason Slater 1st Scott Keevy 16th Housekeeping Club Champs 4th – 6th May Senior Woman Nationals 13th – 16th May Woodlands Corporate Challenge 24th – 25th May Every great shot starts with a SMILE! | | | | We’re trying to help you make more 3’s on the Par 3’s. Better decision-making is going to improve your scores. | | | Despite the increased amount of GPS data available, regular and inexperienced golfers still, on the majority of occasions, come up short. Even when a golfer knows the “yardage” on each of their clubs, their misses are mostly short. Simple Tip #2 Why are you expecting the perfect golf shot? What is your level of consistency? | | If there’s no trouble behind the green, then ignore the distance to the flag, and pick a club that, when struck well, will get you to the back of the green. That way a less than perfect ball strike has a chance of getting to the green. Rarely do even good ball strikers make perfect contact. | | | | | Where are the majority of your misses on all approach shots? Would aiming for the back of the green (assuming no trouble behind the hole) be a course management strategy that would improve your whole round? Improving your performance on Par 3’s will probably increase your enjoyment throughout the round. Think about improvement. If we can help, | | | | | | | This mail was sent to {{contact.contact_email}} by St Francis Links . and is provided as a service for the members and guests of St Francis Links and has been supported and sponsored by advertisers in this email and our partner suppliers. For any queries contact us on +27 42 200 4500. Sent on behalf of St Francis Links by RetailTribe: Unit 8 | Blaauwklip Office Park | Stellenbosch | 7600 | 021 880 2693 | | | |