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Thursday, April 25, 2024

Another exciting week for golf

From the Founder’s Desk

As a proud PGA member for over 27 years, it is very gratifying to offer the PGA Diploma, and the opportunities that come with the qualification, to our students at BSI. I couldn’t be prouder of the career and life successes of each of our graduates, as exampled below with a number of them being recognised at the PGA Annual Awards Dinner this week.

Also, this week, our current students are competing in the annual BSI Team Challenge, a team Matchplay event, which is always a highlight of the year. It is wonderful that the event is being played this year during the same week as the Ryder Cup. Go Team Europe! More details on the Team Challenge next week.

BSI represented

Alumni Success

BSI alumni featured strongly in the PGA of South Africa Annual Awards Dinner on Monday evening, collecting some of the most prestigious awards on offer.

PGA Diploma graduate Murray Smit received the award as PGA National Coach of the Year. This honour was voted for by PGA Professionals around the country, showing just how highly respected Murray is within the golf industry.

PGA Diploma and Elite Academy graduate and Sunshine Tour player Stuart Smith was recognised as the PGA Professional National Championship winner, having won the event at Humewood GC earlier in the year.

2020 PGA Diploma graduates Reynardt Olivier and José Da Mota completed their graduation into the PGA of South Africa, and are now recognised as fully-qualified Class A PGA Professionals.

Congratulations to you all. We are so proud of your achievements, and to see BSI alumni making massive contributions in the golf industry.


Murray Smit	Stuart Smith

Reynardt Olivier and Jose de Mota with Charmaine Arthur
from the PGA of South Africa

Listen here to what Murray Smit had to say in his speech about his time at BSI and the mentorship he received.

Keeping up with our winners

BSI Tournament Results

Junior Academy Weekly Medal

Congratulations to Grant Labuschagne and Tawriq Abrahams for jointly winning the BSI Golf Junior Academy Medal catch-up on Tuesday, 14 September 2021, with scores of 72 on Royal Johannesburg & Kensington East Course.

Grant Labuschagne and Tawriq Abrahams

Well done to Tawriq Abrahams, as he continued his form during the week and on winning the BSI Golf Junior Academy Medal on Friday, 17 September 2021, with a score of 70, again on Royal Johannesburg & Kensington East Course.

It seems both young gentlemen are becoming very familiar with the winning podium, as they have both, since the beginning of August 2021, taken honours six out of 10 occasions. Of the last eight BSI Junior Academy medals, Grant has only been able to participate in three of them, and of the three, he has won all of them!

Tawriq has won back-2-back events, and we will have to wait in anticipation to see if he can achieve the three-peat.

Excellent achievement by two respectful and wonderful young men.

May the two of you continue the great form.

Tawriq Abrahams

We had two Personal Bests on Friday, 17 September 2021 at the BSI Golf Junior Academy Medal. Well done to Nathan Whibley (77) and Jonathan Henry (83).

Who's in it to win it?

External Tournaments

Well done to Junior Academy students Leo Burger (4th) and Pieter-Andre van der Merwe (T5) for solid performances in the Cobra/ Puma Central Gauteng Golf Union Series event, held at Ruimsig GC on Sunday, 19 September 2021.


Leo Burger	Pieter-Andre van der Merwe

Junior Academy students Tawriq Abrahams (U17), Eric Ncube (U15), and Vuyisani Makama (U15) represented Central Gauteng in the Mpumalanga Quadrangular match at Middelburg GC last Sunday. Eric won all of his games, Tawriq won all of his singles, and Vuyisani won two singles, and halved the other game playing in the No.1 spot. Well played all.

Celebrating our heritage

Student Spotlight

Following on with our Heritage Month spotlight, we have a gentleman who has travelled a long way from home, but has found himself most welcome, and right at home here in South Africa. Harry Llewellyn is from England, and is in BSI’s Elite Golfing Academy. We find out a little bit about Harry’s childhood love of sport, and his experiences here in South Africa.

Harry Llewellyn

My name is Harry Llewellyn, 3rd son of Lee Llewellyn, a hard-working, self-made business man. I grew up in the countryside, in a small town outside of Swindon, south of London, with my three brothers. We had lots of space and room to do whatever we wanted. We played every sport under the sun, from football, rugby, basketball, tennis, golf; whatever you can think of, we did it. I had a great childhood, full of fun and games, and getting into all sorts of trouble, without a care in the world.

One of the biggest things I miss back in the UK, now that I am older, is the social side of life - hanging out with family and friends, going to the movies and dinners.

My favourite thing about SA is the nature and wildlife. Since going on my first game drive, seeing lions in the wild, giraffes eating off the highest of trees, and elephants making the most unbelievable trumpet sounds I have ever heard, is something I will never forget.

Since I've been here in South Africa, I have made life-long friendships with students and staff from the academy, and also outside of golf; from the family that I stayed with when I first arrived, to the old family friends that I have re-connected with towards the end of my first year here, I will cherish them forever.

Harry Llewellyn

Your dream career in golf starts here

BSI Open Day

Please join us for the BSI Open Day on Saturday, 9 October 2021 at Huddle Park, Linksfield to learn more about our full-time programmes; Junior Golf Academy, PGA Diploma, Greenkeeping and Sports Management. You also have the opportunity to see the academy in action, and chat to our sports and academic staff, as well as the students themselves.

Junior Golf Academy with International Study Centre (Grade 8-12)

8 am registration

College Programmes: PGA Diploma, Greenkeeping and Sports Management

10 am registration

This is your first step to an amazing experience and a world of opportunity. Please RSVP to info@bsisports.com by 7 October to secure your place.

By Renee Reinecke – BSI Sports Scientist

Performance Tip

Playing in the heat

As we enter spring and summer is just around the corner, it is essential to maintain a low core temperature in order for our body and mind to work at peak performance. Find out how to do this from our resident Sports Scientist, Renee Reinecke.

Read here

BSI Football

Not Just Golf

Successful Open Day hosted by BSI Football

Our Football Campus was a hive of activity on Saturday, 18 September, as we hosted the first Open Day on our Football Campus in Modderfontein. It was a well-attended day, with the programme keeping both parents and potential students absorbed, as they learnt about BSI’s International Study Centre, and were shown around the facilities. The kids were also given the opportunity to get a taste of what it feels like to be a BSI Footballer, as they received a training session from Coaches Dave Thorpe and Shuaib Walters.

Saturday Soccer Schools

Whilst the Open Day was proceeding, we continued running our Saturday Soccer Schools for our 6- to 13-year-old. The morning has become very popular, and our fields were abuzz with activity, despite the inclement weather.

Please feel free to invite any of your friend’s kids to our Saturday Soccer School. For more information, please email football@bsisports.com.