Golfing Whirlwind in the Western Cape.

Fabulous February in The Garden Route.

This February turned out to be the best golfing month in my entire golf existence. Starting off with a six day golf trip to George with the best bunch of ladies and golf buddies. I was told it was just a girl’s trip, asked if I was keen, and my instructions were to just show up. I packed my bags a bit anxious because I was going on a trip for 6 days with 6 ladies, 7 including me.

The 7even sunset boat cruise. Mossel Bay

50 So Far…

My anxiety was caused by the fact that I had never traveled with so many people for so long, other than my kids. I have spent my entire life on solo trips, trips with my kids, and maybe once or twice a couple of friends. This was definitely going to be a new experience. I always felt my personality (functioning introvert) would never allow me to spend this much time in one house with 6 people who were not part of my immediate family. The calm came in knowing that was the bunch of ladies that I had said I would take anywhere, and the preparations and solid fun filled itinerary we had on our whatsapp group seemed flawless.

GEORGE

We set off on the morning flight to George. Arriving to perfect weather at 9:30am we had a hickup at the car rental, which was eventually solved. We headed straight to our very first trip activity… golf at George Golf Club. None of us had played George, and the excitement was palpable. On arrival, the reception we received from the club and it’s members was just wonderful. Sandra Lennox, the golf GM, had arranged for us to join the ladies’ competition on the day. The ladies’ captain and the George ladies greeted us with such joy and kindness. It was bound to be a good day out on the course.

GEORGE GOLF CLUB

Set at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, George Golf Course is one of the oldest courses in South Africa. George Golf Club was as stunning as I was told it would be. This was my 4th time in this part of the country, and I was finally getting to play it.
After this experience, I now understand why it is regarded as one of the most delightful parkland courses in South Africa. Even while carting our way through the slightly undulating terrain, one could tell that it would be a wonderful walk along the attractive leafy fairways, surrounded by beautiful flora. My collection of “The Trees” shots was exceeded in one setting.

This 18-hole Parklands course and it’s stunning layout was so much fun to play. I had a decent round and an overall wonderful experience and can not wait to go back and play it again. We joined the ladies at the prize-giving at the end of our round, and we were treated to some delicious finger foods. We had our own comp going on among us, R50 per birdie and R100 from each player (R700, IPS score and winner takes all but buys first round of drinks at the 19th. Our winner for Day 1, Ms Khomotso Phofa.

The ladies all agreed that it needs to be the first stop for any of us every time we make a trip to George. Thank you, Sandra Lennox and Louis Mahne, and your wonderful stuff for a memorable experience on your home turf. We truly appreciate it, and we will definitely see you again. A gem worth discovering in the midst of some greats.

We later drove out in the evening headed towards Mossel Bay to check-in to our Sea View rental home in Pinnacle Point Golf Estate. We woke up the next morning to stunning views of the ocean and a lovely house setting. The house itself was just perfect.

We headed out at the time that we all had agreed on ✔️, back to George, because today we were tackling the lovely Kingswood Golf Estate. We arrived at Kingswood and grabbed a light breakfast before our tee time.

Kingswood

Kingswood Golf Estate was the one that surprised us the most because we had no idea what to expect and…. boom, another gem found in George.
It is perfectly placed between the Fancourt Links and George Golf Course at the very heart of the Garden Route’s golf hub. Kingswood’s Championship Golf Course is a unique one.

The design, inspired by the Home of Golf, St Andrews , The Old Course with its Links style open fairways, undulating greens and traditional pot bunkers, that we had no business getting into and found it a challenge to get out of. There is no other course in South Africa like it.

The back nine views turn to the Outeniqua Mountains, and they are breathtakingly beautiful. We became instant golf tourists with every hole with its majestic views. What absolute fun. This was the one to play your best game, and I did just that. Winning the days competition. I’ll be baack!

PINNACLE POINT

Designed by one of my favourite course designers, Peter Matkovich. This 18-hole championship course is set on a clifftop overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Pinnacle Point, in true Matkovich style, is SPECTACULAR! Luckily enough to have met him and had a conversation with him about two of his courses in Mauritius. One of which remains my favorite course out of more than a dozen of his designs that I’ve had the privilege of playing. It has taken forever to get to Pinnacle Point, but boy, was I glad to finally make it there. The weather on the day was short of perfect. Ok, ok, it was blazing hot, and I got incredibly sunburned, and for the first time, I will say it was worth it.

Our competition manager and fourballs team organizer, Ms. Naomi Molepo decided that a 6 club competition was how we would experience this monster of a course. Like clowns, we all agreed, knowing full well we were sending ourselves to a gunfight with swords. This course required ALL the swords in our bags and demanded a level of respect.

The dramatic hole settings with its majestic ocean views, pristine fairways, and lush greens were enough to make me forget my choice of clubs. I was determined to have a decent game, and if not, I truly was just happy to be out there experiencing the sheer beauty of it. There are more than enough spectacular holes, but the Par 3, hole 7 is the one that had us definitely all saying WOW from the tee box all the way to the green. The finishing 18 hole is also just stunning. What a way to finish. The only respectable thing to do now is to come back here again and again.

Our overall competition winner was the reigning Limpopo Ladies Open champ Ms Khomotso. The longest drive on Hole 10 Ms Rebotile Mahlake, Nearest to the pin Ms Naomi on hole 9. Congratulations, ladies. Drinks and dinner at the lovely clubhouse with its views of the ocean was the cherry on the cake.

Special thank you to Quintin Byleveldt and the wonderful golf course staff for being so accommodating with us and taking care of us . We will see you guys soon.

Our following days were filled with laughter, great food, great conversations, and love. Our braai master Ms Khomotso was exceptional. We were golfed out for one week. We took a sunset boat cruise in Mossel Bay, had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

Little did I know that the ladies had planned a surprise 50th birthday dinner on our last night. The trick was to get me out of the house while they prepared. Knowing how much I wanted to go to the beach, Ms Tumi M was tasked with distracting me. We took a lovely walk to the beach and stopped over the 6th green for a mini photoshoot.

By the time we got back, there was a make-up artist and photographer, balloons, and cake. I walked into house to my favourite Beyonce song Halo playing in the background. The rest was such an emotional and beautiful evening that was far more than I hoped for. This circle was kind, caring, loving, accepting, and had a vulnerability that felt like home. Thank you, Naomi Molepo, Tumi Morekure, Lady Ratsela, Khomotso Phofa, Tumi Kekana, and Rebotile Mahlake for the time of my life. Let’s do it again. Until the next episode….

Side note: My 50^th birthday was in October, but we are celebrating all year.

Catch you on the fairways.

Happy New Year.

Featured

2024 A New Golfing Year

A Recap of my 2023 golfing year.

2023 has come and gone, and it turned out to be a slow year and even of less golf for me. Even though I didn’t get to play as much golf as I would have wanted to, there were still some incredible highlights to my golf year. The first one was the DiData at Fancourt early in the year that I wrote about in my, A Late Start blog.

This was followed by a line-up of Womens golf events that are always such a pleasure to be a part of. Starting off with the ITU Golf Wear Ladies event hosted by Emperors Palace at Glendower. It’s always a great fun event when the golf ladies get together and the event was just that.

Home Course

The golf year can never start fully without a game on the home course, Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Course. So, I rallied my trusted bunch of ladies for a game, and of course, they were kin because who doesn’t want the Royal Experience. The new West Course layout was waiting for us, as always, it did not disappoint, with its challenges and beautiful visuals. The ladies and I were so happy to play it after the changes, and we all felt like we were playing an entirely brand new course. My favourite hole 9, par 5 was now hole 18, for some reason, this made sense to me. What a great finishing hole.

Next was one that is always a highlight for all the ladies, The Joburg Ladies Open ProAm. Once again, held at the challenging and beautiful Modderfontein Golf Club. It is always a privilege getting to play golf with the pros. This time, the format was different and allowed us to play the course with two pros, a different one for each nine. Which turned out to be fun. Not the best golf from any of us amateurs on my fourball, but still a wonderful day out on the course. A great event, in true Joburg Ladies Open fashion.

Joburg Ladies Open Pro-Am Modderfontein Golf Club

We of course know that there can never be a golf year without Golf for Good. Playing golf for charity has to be one of the most rewarding things any golfer can do. Showing up and showing support for a great cause can never get old. Doing it while out doing something you love also makes it even more special. We started off the charity golf year with the Cupcakes Of Hope Golf Day at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington East Course. My fourball consisted of my usual suspects, the dream team, the ones who show up no matter what. Golf life with these ladies is not just golf…it is love wrapped up in laughter, joy, fun, and golf. It is the perfect fourball, I would take them anywhere… If you thought I loved golf, these girls are just as obsessed. We have played through icy cold rain, blistering heat, walked fairways and hours on end on golf courses while following our favourite pro golfers at tournaments. Asking these ladies to join me on a charity mission will always be the easiest ask. on this particular day, most fun was had…again. Thank you ladies. ❤️

Cupcakes

Flags Collected

2023’s Flag Collecting mission was definitely not what I had hoped it would be. I did manage to play and collect some of my favourite flags like, Serengeti, The River Club, Country Club Johannesburg, Glendower, Fancourt (Montagu & Outenniqua). BUT the ultimate flag collected was without a doubt Nkonyeni Golf Course in Eswatini. I finally got to play the “home” course after years of it being in my top five bucket list of courses to play. For years I got the question, “have you played Nkonyeni?” and my response was always met with silent judgement. Now I can reply “YESSS dammet”

Eswatini

Nkonyeni Golf Course

A GEM, smack bang in the middle of a bush. Situated in one of the hottest parts of the country, I was grateful that my first encounter was in winter. The invitation came from The Sunshine Tour and Eswatini FNB to play in the FNB Eswatini Challenge ProAm. There was no hesitation from me, I was finally getting to collect this flag I’ve been meaning to collect. Also getting the chance to play with the Sunshine Tour professionals is always such a welcome treat and getting paired with someone I had not played with before, is even better because one gets to know another professional and support them. My pro turned out to be the lovely and super talented Rupert kaminski winner of the 2023 SA PGA Championship.

Nkonyeni Golf Estate offers championship golf courses and 5 courses in total. Nestled on a 400-hectare private game reserve, the Estate is surrounded by mountains and a river running through it.

The Golden Eagle Course designed by Peter Matkovich & Louis Oosthuizen.
The Sunshine Course.
Links & Bush Course.
En Route 57 Course.
The Bushveld Course.

FNB Eswatini Challenge

The FNB Eswatini Challenge is played with an interesting and unique layout, with the front 9 played on the Links course and the back 9 played on the Bushveld course. My fourball started off on the Bushveld course, and let me tell you, you will want to keep it straight. Losing 3 balls on the 1st 2 holes, I was sure my day was done. It had been a while since I lost so many balls in a short space of time. The Bushveld Course is a challenging course that winds its way through the private game reserve and proves to be the ultimate challenge. Somehow, I was still in good spirits because WOW, this course was just beautiful. My game picked up,my fourball was kind enough to look past the first few holes. It turned out to be a decent game. I enjoyed both the Bush and the Links, and I have to say, what an interesting combination. I managed to win something, going home happy and making sure to come back. Spent the next couple of days watching the tournament and supporting the pros. This was without doubt, the ultimate bucket list course. FLAG COLLECTED!

I managed to get another round in at this stunning course with some friends and the local Eswatini and Nkonyeni Pro Robert Shiba. Playing the same combination as the tournament with a slightly relaxed atmosphere, I was hoping for a better round of golf this time around. Still as tricky and challenging as before, it was great to have some sort of idea which way the course layout was going. The elements were slightly different. Summer was slowly making its appearance as the Sdvokodvo heat showed its hand. Even though it was early August, it got warm fairly quickly with our 9:30am tee time. The course was looking stunning.

By November, it was full blown summer, and the end of 2023 came with the most anticipated Golf and Giving event of the year. The Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational. Hosted at Sun City Resort at the Palace and Lost City Golf Course by nonother than Mr Gary Player himself with his long time supporters and sponsors, BMW and Rolex. This event is short of spectacular year after year.

The Sunshine Tour professionals joined by sports celebrities and business leaders gather in support of the Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational at The Lost City GolfCourse. The tour professionals play in a star-studded pro-am as part of the drive to raise funds for the Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation and its work supporting the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School. This is the type of event where you find yourself playing a practice round with the likes of Kyle Barker and Willie Oliver just by chance of showing up on a tee box.

Friday evening after a relaxed practice round, guests make their way to the welcome dinner and draw event. This year it was held at the pool area at The Palace and as always, it was a beautifully put together. The event gave guests a chance to meet and greet each other and everyone taking part in this golf and giving weekend. The sight of Gary making an entrance with the African dancers was enough to set the tone for a fun filled weekend.

Round 1

Paired up with the very charming, sweet, very tall and extremely talented professional Caylum Boon, DP Tours Mark Casey and Sadiq Dindar. I honestly could not have asked for the nicest fourball. We set out to try and conquer the wild Lost City Golf Course, a task we all know is near impossible. The North West heat was a little kinder to me this time around. If you read my blog about the GVPI 2022 event, you will know that I almost died from heatstroke because Sun City lived up to its name that weekend. So, I was happy to see clouds and a cool breeze this time. With just 2 holes to go, in typical NW fashion the thunderstorms came in, and we had rushed back for what turned out to be a 3 hour weather delay. The team wasn’t doing too badly. We were 12 on the leaderboard. That 3 hours transformed into an unexpected Q&A with the legend himself. He opened up the floor for questions from anyone in the clubhouse, and boy, was it a treat for both professionals and amateurs. Lots of knowledge imparted coupled with tons of laughter. We did manage to go back out and finish those two holes.

The Shebeen. An African Night.

The African themed Saturday night event is always something to look forward to. Everyone makes such an effort and shows up looking stunning in their interpretation of African wear. A time to mingle, talk about the days golf and dance our bad golf away. A performance by Doctor Victor and the Rasta Rebels was the perfect night out.

Round 2

Team Boon.
Caylum Boon, Mark Casey, Sadiq Dindar

A beautiful day with blue skies, no sign of rain, and Caylum still moving to the tunes of the night before while belting out “If You Wanna be Happy” by Doctor Victor and The Rasta Rebels. 😂 We set out for a second chance of catching a few birds. The team was in high spirits, and everyone’s game seemed to have gotten an upgrade overnight. Unfortunately for us, it was too little too late. Especially with a field full of fantastic golfers who had brought their A game from the onset. Not even our Pro, who brought his A game, could save us. Personally, I played a much better game with 1 lost ball right at the end. We all felt we left so many putts hanging out there (golfers proverb) they just would not drop when they should have. Ended up 12th out 30 teams and feeling much better about our performance in Round 2 even though we didn’t move up the leaderboard. Overall, this has to be the most fulfilling weekend in charity golf, regardless of the golf outcome. It’s a win for me.

FLAG COLLECTED

The Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation raised R3 million for foundation and its beneficiary, The Blair Atholl school, which is situated in Lanseria near the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate. The pre-primary school, which was opened by the Players in 1990, provides education to the children of local farmworkers and has now grown to educate 125 children between the ages of three and six. For over 30 years, the school has been providing education, nutrition, and medical care to underprivileged children living in the Lanseria area of Johannesburg. It is an honour and privilege to be a part of this event

I finished the year off with the Royal Johannesburg ladies fun Over 70’s vs Under 70’s competition with the under 70’s just making it against some tough competitors. As always, this bunch has to be the best group of members I’ve ever been a part of. WEST Course was looking beautiful.

Catch you on the fairways

A Late Start.

Featured

2023 Golf starts now…

My 2022 golf season ended on one of the highest highs and then a plummet to the lowest low immediately after. My high being the insane privilege to play with a living legend and the experience of playing in the Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational with the host himself Gary Player. Honestly, I’m not about to stop bragging about that anytime soon. So bear with me. My plummet came in the form of nearly dying from heatstroke and other health complications right after and needing to spend a month and a bit in recovery mode. My Christmas and holiday golf plans down the drain.

Getting back to health was now the priority and so I retreated to a forest and a farm that are both filled with love, lazy days, and thoughts of golf and introspection. I wondered if my recent health scare would have an impact on my ability to play as much golf as I wanted or planned to, if any at all. A scary thought….but I am happy to say, by the time February came, I was healthy and ready to get back out there. The invitation to play the Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt George could not have come at a better time. What a classy way to make a comeback.

DIMENSION DATA Ladies Pro-Am

The DiData Pro-am is every Amateurs’ dream tournament and this would be a dream come true for me. A bucket list moment. It is such a special event because it pairs up an amateur with a pro for the whole tournament and the competition is not just meaningful for the pro but for the amateurs as well. There are two competitions that happen simultaneously at the DiData. 54 hole stroke play (professionals only). Professionals compete against each other for a professional prize fund, the winner being determined by the lowest number of strokes over the tree day tournament. 54 hole Betterball Medal (professionals partnering amateurs) Amateurs are teamed up with a professional partner and together they compete for the Dimension Data Ladies Pro-Am trophy and an additional professional prize fund. Players compete using the Betterball Medal scoring system, in which the lowest stroke of either the professional or amateurs is recorded for each hole. The amateurs handicaps are taken into account.

Dimension Data coupled with Fancourt and their incredible sponsors, make this event the most sort after affair and thee event to remember for the amateurs and their guests from start to finish. The special welcome starts at the airport and filters through to the rest of the event. This part of the country being in my Top 5 places in South Africa to visit and Fancourt being the number one golf destination in the country, I was so happy to be back at Fancourt after such a long time. On my last visit I did not get to play Montagu and I was beyond estatic knowing I was going to get to play it this time around.
The welcome dinner was something to look forward to because that’s where we would find out which pro we would be paired with for the weekend and it was an honour to be up on stage assisting with the announcement of pairings. Hosted by the eloquent and hilariously funny Dan Nicoll, it was bound to be entertaining. I was paired up with the wonderful Monique Smit who was the winner of the Inaugural DiData in 2014. As a long time fan of hers and not having played with her before, I was looking forward to our pairing.

DAY 1. MONTAGU

Slightly nervous because I had not touched a club in 2 and a half months and my first time at Montagu, I made my way to the first tee to meet the rest of my fourball. Everyone was really lovely from the get go and it turned out to be a beautiful day on an equally beautiful course. My golf of course was nowhere near beautiful but boy did I have fun while playing badly. Who would have thought one would enjoy a bad day on the course. My driver was spot on and I managed to impress my fourball with my drives but the short game was non-existent and so the day went as it did. No one ever shot a decent score just by driving….for show. I spent most of the day taking it all in…. I was out walking a golf course after my health scare, the scenery and beauty of Montagu, the absolute magic of the pros every shot and the overall magnificent way in which the tournament was organised. Coming back from a hip injury and operation, it was a tough day for my pro too. Which led to her having to pull out of the competition at the end of our round. Which in turn meant I was also out of the overall competition too. Sad to not carry on with the competition but happy she made the call to put her health first and take care of herself. I managed to have a quick chat with her to find out what her plans were after that. I wish her all the best and a full recovery and hope to catch her on the fairways soon. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cokm7CMMRq_/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

DAY 2. OUTENIQUA

Out of the overall competition because my pro had to pull out, I was paired up with another pro who had been on reserve and unfortunately had not made it in to play. She came in on the second day just so i could go out there and have someone to play with for fun and complete the fourball. So, with both of our scores not counting for the competition, we went out there and played some no-pressure-stress-free golf. My driver was working, the short game came to the party and I carded one of my best scores in a while. It was all alright because golf was on our side again plus I truly had the best Caddy I have ever had. What a professional who knew the course like the back of his hand. Quickly figured out my game and my distances and was just spot on every time, an overall nice guy. Happy to share his details if you ever visit Fancourt.

I played in a fourball with two recently turned pros and when i say recently, i mean January 2023. my pro, the 20-year-old from Sweden, Elana Moosman, and 18-year-old Gabrielle Venter from Bloemfontein. These girls were just amazing out on that course and I wish them all the best for their careers and the rest of the 2023 season. I have no doubt they are going to be incredible professionals. Gabrielle and her amateur partner made the cut after she had a fantastic eagle on hole 17, It was just spectacular to witness first hand and she ended up 3rd for the overall tournament. Quteniqua was as beautiful as the first time i played it. The Quteniqua mountains as a backdrop, the scenery from every part of the course was breathtaking.

The whole Fancourt Dimension Data experience is incredibly organised and well put together. A brilliant way to get to know your professional golfer and create a bond and solid fan and support for our professional players. Together with Standard Bank, Dimension Data have committed to creating a more equal playing field and for the first time the Ladies pro-am took place on the Fancourt golf courses and saw a significant increase prize money. From 2024 the tournament will become a Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned event. There is nothing that makes me happier in sport than to see the elevation of women in sport, especially golf.

Flag Collected.

Gabrielle Venter Pro, Elena Moosmann Pro

I was incredibly happy and privileged to share this experience through the Partner programme with my daughter and grand kids, who had the most wonderful time on their first experience of Fancourt. Until next time…

Catch you on the fairways.

Dimension Data Pro-Am 2024

The 2024 DiData ProAm came just 4 days after my 6 day whirlwind trip to George with the ladies. I managed to rest for just 3 days before I was back on that flight to George. Still exhausted, sunburned, and blistered, I made my way to the airport on that Thursday morning with the excitement of someone who was doing this trip for the first time. It was the DiData, of course I was beside myself to be taking part again this year.

FANCOURT

Arriving back in George in less than a week of leaving, felt like I was returning home of some sorts. The airport was busy with Amatuers arriving for the 4 day event that every Amatuer is always happy to be a part of.

Fancourt is one of those places where you know you will receive the friendliest welcome and top-notch service every single time. Coupled with the DiData event staff, this whole experience is short of spectacular. Registration and check-in were seamless, and I arrived in my room, to find the beautiful golf shirts and goodies from Pringle and a bottle of wine from Boschendal, just a couple of the sponsors of the event. We are definitely styling and getting tipsy.

THE SUNSHINE LADIES TOUR

The Sunshine Ladies Tour is in its 11th season and keeps growing with each season. It is the home of about 100 professional players, including international players from around the world. It consists of 8 tournaments, played between February and April. With some tournaments co-sanctioned with the European Ladies Tour and DiData with the Sunshine Tour.
The ladies Tour has seen a significant raise in prize money over the years and tournaments like the DiData showing their commitment in levelling the playing field, by significantly raising the price money from R600 000 to R2.5 million. Now that is growth.

LADIES PRO-AM DRAW

The ladies’ ProAm draw and welcome evening is a wonderful and fun night. We get to see the rest of the amateurs and catch up with old golf buddies, meet new ones, and ultimately find out which pro you’re paired with for the weekend. Being one of the Amatuers that gets to announce the draw is another awesome privilege. My pro this year was Lauren Taylor from England. I was excited because I had never met her before. One of my very favourite things is meeting new pros and watching them do what us amateurs sometimes find impossible, look so easy.

It’s a great night of delicious food, great wine, conversation, and entertainment. The trick, of course, is to know your limits and be mindful of the fact that the competition starts the next day and not get carried away.

THE DIMENSION DATA PRO-AM

“For the past 29 years, the Pro-Am has successfully brought together Dimension Data’s top business partners and the finest of South Africa and Europe’s professional golfing talent.

We invite 156 amateur men and 44 amateur women players to play golf like a professional with some of the best pro golfers in South Africa and Europe.
This will be our second year of showing our commitment to leveling the playing field as we continue through our partnership with Standard Bank to make a positive impact on women’s golf.”

MONTAGU

DAY 1

We woke up to a gloomy and chilly George. The opposite of the beautiful weather I had experienced the week before. A quick breakfast and coffee for good luck and a sense of humor, I headed to the 1st tee. It looked threatening out there, and let me tell you, I and a whole lot of others were not prepared for the conditions that followed.

It was pouring with rain when we teed off. By hole numer 3, the wind had picked up, and I am not even exaggerating when I tell you I was literally being blown away… a whole me. A few times, we had to wait for the heavy rain and gusts of wind to subside before hitting a shot. We were soaked and frozen. Trying to adjust ones game to those conditions as an amateur proved to be almost impossible. My pro, Lauren Taylor, seemed to be doing OK, even under those conditions. She played such an impressive game, and I managed to assist on 1 or 2 holes. 😅 I was finished, battered, and so was my game. Maybe a little exaggeration here, but that’s how I felt at the end of the day. The course was unbothered and still incredibly beautiful, nonetheless. Lauren and I finished the day 5th on the leaderboard. Ok, so it was not that bad.

OUTINNIQUA

DAY 2

Moving day and the weather turned out to be what we all hoped for. A gorgeous clear day with the Outeniqua Mountains in full view. Outeniqua was definitely the course to play on such a gorgeous day. Today was mixed pairs, and I was playing in the same fourball with two good friends, Pro Musiwalo Nethunzi and his amateur Thabiso Hermanus. I’ve played with these two numerous times before, and I was looking forward to the level of comfort and a slightly less pressured game than the day before. The weather and golf gods were on my side.

Golf and Day 2 were what most days should feel like on the course. I played a decent game and managed to actually assist my pro on more than just a couple of holes. Somehow, I always manage to play better at Outeniqua. I do not necessarily think it is a lot easier than Montagu, but it sure is less tricky, even on the mind. We managed to stay in the top 10 and made the cut. To think last year, my tournament ended after the first day, with my pro pulling out because of an injury. It has been YEARS since I got a text informing me I’d made the cut… This was such exciting news.

Saturday evening is everyone’s favourite night. It is party night with the best entertainment put together by our host. The talented artists that come out are world-class. It’s a night where most are carefree and can enjoy the evening without worrying about playing the next day. For the amateurs, only 10 ladies make it through for the team competition. Two days of intense golf and unpredictable weather, I was definitely feeling the exhaustion. I cut my evening short and left a raging party in an attempt to get the most rest I could possibly get.

MONTAGU

Final Day

I woke up unnecessary early to my body, almost shutting down from tight muscles and sore feet that ached when they touched the ground. Even with wearing my most comfortable golf shoes, I could not run away from the soles of my feet feeling like I had run a marathon. Taking heed of my son Cades’ recommendation, I managed to do 15 minutes of necessary stretching. It really helped.

Back at Montagu again and it was a beautiful day this time. Maybe a little too beautiful because it got pretty warm out there. We were paired with the legendary Lee-Anne Pace, and I was estatic because I had never played with her. I have followed her and watched her play several times on the Sunshine Ladies Tour events, and she is definitely one of my favourite golfers in the world. Honestly, this was a dream come true. I might not have been paired with her as a partner, but this was worth it.

Lee-Anne is cool, calm and just incredible. The absolute ease in how she goes about the golf course is truly mesmerizing. It is effortless. She was kind enough to give me a few tips here and there and really encouraging. That, to me,was the highlight of my day, possibly the tournament.

I got incredibly tired towards the end there and didn’t play the best golf on the day. Unfortunately, both my pro and I stumbled on the day and dropped from 5th position to 9th. Still, out of 44 teams overall, I’d say we did more than ok. I did, however, win the MSC CRUISE Beat your Pro competition on hole 17, par 3 with my nearest to the pin. So, a great tournament in the end.

Congratularions to Pro Ana Dawson and amateur Theresa Schindehutte. Thank you, DiData and Fancourt, for a special weekend.

Catch you on the fairways.

Felicity Shiba

Happy New Golf Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! First day of 2023 Golf Year. 2022 turned out to be an incredibly tough year for me personally and I didn’t get to play as much golf as I would have loved to. I didn’t get to do nearly half the things I had planed to do. Yet I still can’t help but to look back in gratitude at some beautiful moments and highest of highlights.

I’d like to thank Chris Bentley and the wonderful Royal Johannesburg and Kensington staff for always making me feel at home and going out of their way to make my guests feel welcome. For being the best course to be a member at. To Daniel Egdes and TaylorMade SA for always doing the most. To all the other wonderful golf courses that are always happy to host TGGD and guests. We appreciate you. To all my golf buddies for the rounds of golf this year.

HAPPY NEW GOLGING YEAR. ⛳️

Catch you on the fairways.

2022

Last day of 2022 Golf Year. It turned out to be an incredibly tough year for me personally and I didn’t get to play as much golf as I would have loved to. I didn’t get to do nearly half the things I had planned to. Yet I still can’t help but to look back in gratitude at some beautiful moments and highest of highlights.

I’d like to thank Chris Bentley and the wonderful Rroyal Johannesburg and Kensington staff for always making me feel at home and going out of their way to make my guests feel welcome. For being the best course to be a member at. To Daniel and TaylorMade SA for always doing the most. To all the other wonderful golf courses that are always happy to host TGGD and guests. We appreciate you. To all my golf buddies for the rounds of golf this year.

HAPPY NEW GOLGING YEAR. ⛳️

Catch you on the fairways.

THE GARY & VIVIENNE PLAYER INVITATIONAL

After two years of its absence in South Africa, The Gary Player Invitational finally took place at its home, The Lost City Golf Course at The Sun City resort. However, after the loss of the beloved Vivienne Player last year it was more than befitting for this amazing event to come back as the inaugural GARY & VIVIENNE PLAYER INVITATIONAL. Vivienne Player was the epitome of charity, service and giving back. So, this name addition to this prestigious Golf and Giving event was really the cherry on top.

The Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational will continue the work Mr Player and his late wife Vivienne started when they first opened the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School on their farm over three decades ago. What started out as a school for just a handful of the local farmworkers’ children has now grown to educating 125 children between the ages of three and six.

The Palace at The Lost City

Arriving on the Friday for a practice round, the Sun City sun was living up to it’s name and it was a blazing 37 degrees. Determined to get that practice round in, I stocked up on sunscreen, water and Energade because according to a legend… “The harder you practice, the luckier you get”. Who knows, a girl might just get lucky and draw Mr Player himself for the tournament. I set out to play a solid 9 hole practice but by hole 6, I could feel that sun just sapping my energy away. I caught up with the Ndugane Twins, Odwa and Akhona and the beautiful Kgomotso Ndungane on hole 8 and I joined them for the last two holes of the front nine. Struggling with the heat (more than normal) I opted to keep it at 9 holes while they continuid on. I made my way to the majestic Palace hotel to recover from the sun and get ready for the Inaugural Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational welcome dinner. Afterall, everything can be solved with dinner and a bit of a party.

Welcome Dinner at The Palace.

In true Player style, the welcome dinner was beautifully done. The entertainment by the stunning violinists was something to see and hear, talk about beauty and talent. It was a room full of talent, from soccer, rugby, cricket and golf legends like Sally Little to Sunshine Tour golfers. There were heart-warming speeches but when Gary got up and spoke about his beloved Vivienne, there was not a dry eye in the room. To hear about the amount of charity work that Vivienne did and was committed to was just humbling to say the least. The evening was beautifully orchestrated.

The draw came out and of course a girl got lucky. I had the knight, the Legend, the most decorated golfer in Africa and one of the most recognized names in the world, as my driver tomorrow. If you had told me when I was 9 years old, walking across Manzini Golf club taking a shortcut home through a par 5, not knowing what those guys were actually doing out there. That I would one day play golf with a living Legend. Well heck, I would have laughed in your face. Golf was not an option for me at the time. I have shared this story before but man, let me tell you. It deserves airtime now more than ever because how am I here? Which was the question that went around all night from my fellow envious bunch “how did you score that fourball?” Who doesn’t want a chance to play with Gary. It was not lost on me that at that moment, I was the luckiest person in the room. A tad bit overwhelmed, and sunburnt from the afternoon, I went to bed, thanking the golf gods.

Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational welcome dinner.

DAY 1

Day 1 proved to be quite the challenge for our fourball. I cannot speak for the other guys but my game was completely off the mark. I am pretty sure it was a combination of pressure, nerves, the heat, lack of sleep, my body slowly failing me and just an honest to god bad day on the course. Gary was so gracious about it, reminding me that he asked me to assist on just 5 holes and I made it 6. The day was priceless. I watched Gary make birdies, pars and an in incredible eagle and not miss the fairway, not once. I hit the jackpot with this fourball… Gary a Legend, Graham the gentleman and the charming Giuseppe. Without a doubt the luckiest girl of the weekend.

Shebeen African Night.

The Saturday evening Shebeen Night was one to remember. Golfers truly know how to party and Gary Player and team surely know how to put on a party. With a touch of Africa, everyone looked so incredibly beautiful. The set was decorated stunningly, the food was amazing and one of South Africa’s biggest bands kept us on our feet. What a powerhouse Claire Johnson and her band are. But with a bit of exhaustion and not knowing I was nursing a heatstroke, it unfortunately turned into a very early night for me. Leaving the party early and hoping to rest up for DAY 2 and for a better golf game. I headed off to bed.

The Knight and I

DAY 2 and Final Day.

DAY 2 and the Sun City sun was out in all it’s glory. Feeling truly under the weather, I wondered if I would make it through 9 holes. Determined to not let my team down I soldiered on. The wonderful Chantal and team stocked me up with some rehydrate and Energade. Graham made sure I got a wide rimmed hat to help with the sun protection and Giuseppe being the gentleman that he is made sure to check on me from time to time and to let me know it was ok not to continue playing if need be but I was determined to play on. This was not going to be my legacy. A girl from dusty streets of Eswatini squanders her chance at playing 36 holes with a living legend. No way was that going to be me! 🤣 I have to say the game was a little better than the day before. I also chose to tee off with my 4 iron on pretty much most holes and if you’ve played with me before, you will know that’s always a good idea. We like it for the 4. The putting stroke was 100 times better, thanks to the lessons from Gary the day before. I truly hope I get a chance to play with this wonderful man again some day so I can show him that I can actually play a decent game of golf and Graham and Giuseppe deserve a better game from me. My nerves and the heat got the better of me this time and I still would not change it for a dime. What a time. To be alive. A 36 hole MasterClass from a Legend. Thank you Team Gary Player.

Prize-giving on the 18th green.

Congratulations to the winning fourball of Mark Fish, Antony Phillips, Ashok Pundit and Sunshine Tour pro Brooklin Bailey.

Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School

The Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School is situated in the Lanseria area, northwest of Johannesburg, and provides quality education to the learners of this marginalised community.

The school has been in operation since 1990 and is dependent on private funding. It caters for 125 learners from the ages of 3 to 6. As there are very few other pre-schools in the area, it performs the vital task in ensuring the children from the surrounding impoverished communities receive stimulation and education in preparation for their entry into formal schooling.

The Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School offers a unique educational opportunity, which goes beyond the four walls of the classroom, providing the children with a stimulating and diversified programme that incorporates sports (namely dance and tennis), cultural activities, and a small computer centre.

The school manages a feeding scheme where they work diligently throughout the year to purchase food, form-balanced menus, and prepare healthy meals for the children.

“People talk about a legacy to the game of golf. Forget about being a great golfer, I’d like to be remembered as a man who loved people, who loved life and who tried to contribute to society.” ~ Gary Player.

Catch you on the fairways.

SUMMER Golf Season.

LOADING…

It is the start of summer and this to most amateur golfers means it’s the start of endless amounts of time on the fairways. Gone are the early morning frozen fairways, greens and what I consider close to frost bitten fingers. Winter golf is not fun but at the same time, one cannot just sit at home for months waiting for the sun to come back. So, we brave the early morning tee times, endure the super dry yet rewarding running fairways. We show up because, even in all of that cold air and brown surroundings, there is still an element of beauty.

Summer Golf….

USUTU FOREST GOLF CLUB.

What a perfect way to start my summer golf season. At the quint village gem surrounded by forests. Usutu Forest Golf Club nestled in the quietly beautiful Mhlabanyatsi Forest in Eswatini. Mhlambanyatsi and I have a long history of some of the best memories of my childhood, hours spent in swimming pools, summer camps, first loves, heartbreaks and anything in between what happens in your teenage years. It has remained my favourite part of this beautiful country that I can call home. I have mentioned before that golf was never a consideration for me growing up, regardless of the proximity of the golf courses around me. I did not know or see anyone like me playing golf and so without any representation, one never even considered it a sport I could take part in. When I finally did take up golf in my 30’s, Usutu Forest and every other club in Eswatini were top of my bucket list. It has taken me a long time to get here but I am glad I finally have.

Usutu Forest is a 9hole Highland course with alternate tee boxes for a full 18 holes. Surrounded by forest and an abundance of other (besides pine) beautiful, majestic old trees and spatters of colour, this little gem is a lovely sight. As cute and short as it is, it is still as tricky as can be and yet also incredibly kind to your game. If you are a long hitter there are a few opportunities to use your driver and you might find a few birdies, maybe an eagle. A pleasant walk in the forest that I would recommend to any golfer.

Catch you on the fairways.

Nelson Mandela Foundation Golf Invitational

Steenberg Golf Club.

Cape Town

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on memory, dialogue and legacy work, founded by Nelson Mandela in 1999. An organisation that supports, empowers and guides community and social upliftment projects. One of the latest projects on their vast portfolio is one very near and dear to my heart, the ability to evoke charity through golf. The Nelson Mandela Foundation Golf invitational has found a way to do just that, continuing to raise funds in furtherance of the Trusts objectives.

Charity Golf days have become a popular and fun way to raise donations for all types of non profit organizations regardless of what the charity is intended for. They are a way for donors to enjoy being outside, have fun while supporting a great cause. They provide ample opportunities to raise money, before, during and off the course. Since their inaugural Invitational in April 2019, the Nelson Mandela Foundation Golf Invitational has found a way to create a meaningful and fun golf day for it’s supporters.

Following the Johannesburg golf day at Houghton Golf Course earlier this year, the Cape Town day proved to be a great success. The Johannesburg golf day held at what is without a doubt one of my favourite courses in Gauteng, the ever so tricky Houghton continued on with the legacy and Madiba’s links to the suburb of Houghton. The Cape Town day was held at the stunningly beautiful yet challenging Steenberg Golf Club. Understanding the history of golf in South Africa, one can’t help but appreciate the significance of these venues. Going forward, the foundation plans to hold a Bi Annual Golf Invitational and I can not help but to think that this is the beginning of a legacy.

The day started with the welcome of guests by Nelson Mandela Foundation staff to the clubhouse where they picked up their goody bags that included beautiful golf shirts that were inspired by a colourful South African heritage. I am happy to say I got one and even though I did not get to play this time, I am looking forward to wearing the shirt out while Flag Collecting

“It was amazing! Course was super!! My first time playing it. I thought it would rain but it became sunny and a bit warm. Ended up coming 4th with my fourball with 78 points. The work the NMF are doing is amazing. I’m so happy to be invited to contribute however I can.” David Kau

The golf was followed by a delicious meal along with prize-giving for the days winners. Congratulations to the winning fourball on 88 points: Donavan Collison, Derek Cross, Joseph Mosia, Steve Flandorp.

A special thank you to the following people:

Mayor of Cape Town Geordin Lewis-Hill
Master of ceremony David Kau
Trustees: Futhi Mtoba, Prof Marwala Maya Makanjee

Thank you to the wonderful sponsors who made this day ever so meaningful.

Indwe
MSC Cruises
MCS Cargo
Future Managers
Ennova Holdings
Network Plus
Supersport
Adcock
McCain

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead." - Nelson Mandela

If you would like to be a donor for the next event please contact the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

https://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/contact

Catch you on the fairways.

Golf In Paradise

Mauritius, a golfing destination throwback…

**Dinarobin Beachcomber Hotel, Mauritius**

The opportunity to visit Mauritius came about in 2017 through Mauritius Tourism South Africa and The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open 2017. When I got that call to be a part of the #RatherBeInMauritius hash tag which included playing golf, sightseeing and a VIP invitation to what has without a doubt become my favourite Tri-Sanctioned tournament by the DP Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour. I did not need any convincing. This beautiful Island was always on my bucket list of places to visit way before I started playing golf over a decade ago. Back then, like everyone else I really just wanted to go there for its beautiful pristine beaches with crystal clear waters, sights and sounds. Never in a million years did I ever think it would be the ultimate golfing destination and that golf would end up being the main reason for my visit.

And so, with an impressive itinerary in hand, it was destination Mauritius, Le Morne, Dinarobin Beachcomber Hotel my first host for the days I was going to be there. We had arrived at night and the drive to the hotel was on a dark and winding narrow two-lane road. I was glad I was not driving at that moment because my driver seemed to know exactly how to navigate his way.

The Dinarobin Beachcomber Hotel entrance, lobby and effortlessly efficient check-in was all indication that I was now in paradise. I was whisked off in a golf cart to my beach front facing room with it’s own private patio. Dropping my bags inside my gorgeous room, I went outside and sat out there in the dark, listening to the ocean and breathing in the humid island air…Yes, I was definitely in paradise. I did not get much sleep that night, my excitement got the better of me. I woke up at 5:40am to the sound of the ocean and the most beautiful sight I had ever seen in my life just outside my room was the bluest blue ocean just waiting…inviting. So, I decided to put my costume on and go in for a swim and boy was surprised by how warm the water was. What a perfect way to start the day.

First on the agenda was Tamarina Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course situated on the sunny west coast of Mauritius. A lovely lunch of local cuisine on the deck of the wooden floored clubhouse was possibly a sign of what was to follow.

What was meant to be 9 holes turned out to be 18, this place is a beauty. Somehow, I felt like I was playing in a forest, with challenging tee boxes and immaculate fairways which I would suggest you try keeping to because trying to find your ball if it goes out of bounds would be a difficult task. Tamarina is carved between mountain and sea, a beautifully conditioned and enjoyable course with breathtaking views of the mountains. Set on an old sugar plantation, you are also not alone when you are out there because the abundance of monkeys makes for some entertainment. I often wonder if they are out there making bets on our game, which would make us the entertainment. This is one of those courses that leaves you with a good feeling even if you haven’t played a solid game.

The following day I went for an early morning swim in the Indian ocean, paired with a lovely breakfast at Dinarobin could have been the highlight of the day before heading out to the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Heritage Golf and Spa Resort. What can I say, Heritage was everything I had hoped it would be. Designed by Peter Matkovich this 18-hole tropical golf course is a gem. Unfortunately, I would not get to play it this time around, but I was still happy and privileged to get to walk it for the next couple of days and see it from a spectator’s point of view. Hopefully that would give me a slight edge for when I came back to play it. As I walked around following my favourite golfers I was thinking “seriously, it cannot get any better than this?”

Day four and I was thinking I could definitely live here. 6:30am and I was ready to make my way next door to the Paradis Golf Club, for a 7:00am tee time. I had been waiting to play this course since I arrived. The Paradis Golf Course really makes you feel like you are on an island with its palm trees and stone pines. Nestled between mountains and Morne Peninsula lagoon, its views are insanely spectacular, paradise kind of spectacular. Even with its narrow fairways, it is not a difficult course at all, which is great for us amateurs looking for a decent game and if the tide is really low, you could be hitting balls off the edge of the ocean. Playing the back nine was like playing on a movie set, with the flawless views from every tee box, every angle and every green. It’s a relaxing 18 holes because there is really no way anyone can get mad while playing with those views and backdrop.

The drive to Avalon is a beautiful sight seeing adventure. I stopped to see the Waterfalls and the Seven Coloured Earth in Chamarel, drove further up into the mountains and the higher we went my ears started to pop. Up into the heart of a natural reserve where we find a beautiful Avalon, mounted at the top, surrounded by a tea plantation. It was somewhat cooler up there which I appreciated after spending a few days in the heat and humidity of the southern part of the island.

Avalon Golf Course is a Peter Matkovich 18-hole Championship course. It is one of those courses where you are constantly in awe of your surroundings because the views are spectacularly breath-taking from the first tee. There was rain looming in the far mountains and I couldn’t be bothered, I was determined to play through this one and at some point, I did play in some mist or what seemed like a moving cloud with a slight drizzle that soon passed and floated off into the mountains. It was all so magical. The fairways are wide and forgiving and make for some good golf, great for amateurs. Carts are a must because of the long distances between tee boxes and no carts are allowed on any part of the course except the path. It felt and looked like an immaculately manicured mountain forest. I did play a decent round of golf finally, managing to hit my driver long and straight most times, a rare occasion for me. I finished with a par on the 18th. What better way to make one want to go back?

At the AfrAsia I managed to sit down and have a brief chat with Peter Matkovich who insisted I make my way up to Northern part of the island to his latest addition (which according to him, is an absolute beaut.) the increasingly popular Mont Choisy Le Golf.

Unfortunately, I ran out of time and did not get to visit the shiny new Mont Choisy but it went straight to the top of the bucket list.

Fast forward a year later….

I was ready to make another trip back to the golfing paradise. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open 2018 was back and the Mauritius Tourism South Africa gang and I were ready for another golfing adventure. This time the host for the tournament was the much-anticipated Anahita Four Seasons Golf and Spa Resort.

No longer a Mauritius rookie, I came prepared. I arrived on the late flight again and the drive to the Eastern part of the island took an hour and as my driver is navigating the narrow roads I could not help but feel a sense of familiarity and a welcome feeling. This time my host was the exquisite Long Beach Sun Resort and by this time I was accustomed to the islands world class hospitality. Arriving at Long Beach I realised that the standards might just have been upped a notch since the previous year. My room was about 50 metres to the ocean and was stunning, modern and immaculate.

A lovely fruit and chocolate basket awaited me inside but my exhaustion kicked in very fast and it did not take me long to fall asleep with the sound of the waves outside my door. Tomorrow was a big day; I was playing in the AfrAsia ProAm. A dream come true, an ultimate Bucket list check and flag collecting moment.

Designed by Ernie Els, Anahita Four Seasons Golf Club is an 18-hole championship course situated on the East coast of Mauritius. With its beautiful natural flora and fauna, the course is set on a tropical paradise and the coastline’s natural beauty shows off views of the mountains, lagoon and Indian ocean. Anahita was far more than a treat, the insanely gorgeous views were all around. Its beauty will deceive you into thinking you will play a beautiful game yourself, with fairways so prestine I was not sure if I was allowed to make divots. I believe my second experience will be far more successful, it deserves a return and the respect of a decent game. It was an unbelievable honour to get to watch Ernie play on his own turf. This course is not one you want to miss out on when visiting Mauritius for a golfing holiday.

Just a 10-minute boat ride from Anahita is an island, not just any island…. this is Ile Aux Cerfs.

Designed by the legendary Bernhard Langer, the course is on the southern half of the Ile aux Cerfs Island with the holes winding beautifully through the length of the island, with undulating fairways and ocean few greens. Almost all 18 holes of this island golf course have views of the ocean and water is an essential feature of the course, not just the ocean as a backdrop but the lakes in and around the course make for some interesting tee shots. Add in a dose of some luxuriously white sand bunkers and you’ll soon come to realise that Ile Aux Cerfs was not just a pretty face. The winding cart path will take you through some gorgeous vegetation that will make you feel like you are in a tropical forest island, which actually you are. At some point everything looked like a postcard.

The cuisine of Mauritius is influenced by the tropical location of the island as well as the cultural diversity which characterizes the country. Mauritian cuisine is a blend of African, Chinese, European and Indian influences in the history of Mauritius.

The fairways are narrow, and the holes are short but really enjoyable to play as long as you keep your ball on the fairway. I would suggest sticking to your irons most times and maybe a 3 wood for those that can actually play that club. I did lose about 4 balls so be warned. I would be happy to lose more balls again. Of Mauritius’ 12 golf courses, I’ve taken on five… seven to go. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a pause on this Flag Collecting adventure for over two years. I am definitely one of those people relieved and excited that golf if fully back on track. The goal still remains to collect as many flags around the world as humanly possible.

Catch you on the fairways.

Felicity Shiba for Travel Ideas Magazine.

Mauritius Sights and Sounds…

Of course it was not all golf. I managed to explore other parts of Mauritius. Made my way to the colorful markets. Filled with an abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables and souvenirs. I meandered my way through Flaq market eating what I could find. Anyone that follows any of my travel blogs will know I eat my way through every country I visit. Making sure to try out as many local cuisines. Mauritius with its rich culture and equally diverse cuisine was no exception. Mauritius’ cuisine is influenced by the tropical location of the island as well as the cultural diversity. A blend of African, Chinese, European and Indian influences, finding something to eat was easy.