ALEX HAINDL/

MARC CAYEUX/
HEINZ WINCKLER/
ERIK VAN ROOYEN/
+ PLAYING EDITOR
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN

RULES
FITNESS
COLUMNS
EQUIPMENT
INSTRUCTION

December 2017 | R34.90 | Other countries R30.61

OFFICIAL
MEDIA
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c o m p l e a tg o l fe r. c o m
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 DECEMBER 2017 /// COMPLEATGOLFER.COM

T E NT S
CO N
Instruction
48 PGA INSTRUCTION
Grant Hepburn
54 FITNESS
Garth Milne
57 PGA RULES
Theo Manyama

Focus
26 WHAT A BOYKIE!
Africa’s Major was won by a true son of the
South African soil after a 10-year drought
34 THE WAIT IS OVER

On the cover
How Branden Grace came from three shots
behind to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge
38 HOW 2017 UNFOLDED

A N D E N G R AC E
BR
Some of the things you might have
forgotten in a year that had everything

26
42 RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
Hard work and a refusal to give up have earned
Erik van Rooyen his European Tour card
80 JOURNEY TO THE END
A miraculous golfing adventure came to an
end after 80 days, 2 011km – and 20 093 shots
90 ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
Another Sunshine Tour veteran won again, but
Alex Haindl’s injury woes just won’t let up

Regulars 52 GOLF RSA

7 WELCOME LETTER Keeping the local amateur
scene well covered
8 GALLERY
Images of the month 59 COLUMN
Gary Lemke
13 OFFBEAT
The lighter side 68 ENVIRONMENT
14 QUIZ Langebaan Country Estate 105 REPLAY
maintains the balance When Johnny Miller won
Test your knowledge the 1982 Sun City Classic
70 EQUIPMENT
16 THIS MONTH Lowdown on the latest 106 COLUMN
Hero World Challenge releases before 2018 Andy Capostagno
WARREN LITTLE/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

18 #TWITTER 78 THE YEAR THAT WAS

20
Social media activity
BIG ISSUE
The high price of fun
86
Els for Autism highlights
WIN
A Cleveland CBX wedge
Out and About
60 COURSE OF
24 PLAYING EDITOR 88 CELEBRITY THE MONTH
Louis Oosthuizen column Heinz Winckler Langebaan Country Estate

compleatgolfer.com 5
 Henrik Stenson Charley Hoffman

Adam Scott

Jordan Spieth

Tommy Fleetwood Rickie Fowler Justin Thomas Branden Grace

AROUND THE WORLD,

PERFORMANCE SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS.

25,272 192 #1 IN WORLDWIDE PLAYERS

NEAREST COMPETITOR 3,720

#1 IN WORLDWIDE WINS

NEAREST COMPETITOR 27

Charl Schwartzel Webb Simpson

Bernhard Langer
Danielle Kang

Paul Casey Rafa Cabrera Bello Louis Oosthuizen

Source: Darrell Survey, Sports Marketing Surveys Inc. Northmountain International. Based upon results through 02/11/2017 on the U.S. PGA, Learn more at titleist.co.uk
U.S. LPGA, Champions, Web.com, South African, Asian, Korean, OneAsia, Australasian, Japan, Canadian PGA and PGA European Tours.
welcome
For our February 2016 issue we asked Branden Grace
if he would be available as our cover star. It was the
first magazine to be published under new ownership
and we felt he would be a worthy feature.
He readily accepted and told us, ‘I want
to see my name on a Major trophy.’
We knew he has all the tools to win
a Major – and so does he. Step one of
that journey was completed when he
picked up ‘Africa’s Major’, the Nedbank
Golf Challenge, at Sun City. Now, as we
sign off on 2017 and look forward to 2018,
Grace can tee up at The Masters, the
US Open, The Open Championship and
The PGA Championship with confidence.
We are right there with the rest of
South Africa in celebrating his Nedbank
Golf Challenge victory and also to
congratulate him and his wife on the
news that they are expecting their
first child.
In this issue we reflect on the NGC
at Sun City, which saw Grace end
the 10-year drought between South
African winners. The last local winner,
Trevor Immelman, went on to win
The Masters the following year. An
omen, perhaps?
Someone on the other end of the scale,
but also with an exciting journey ahead
of him, is Erik van Rooyen. This South
African has secured his European Tour
card for next season and we caught up
with him as he lays out his plans – as
well as talking us through how he has
got to where he is.
Speaking of journeys, South African
Ron Rutland and Northern Irishman
Adam Rolston slogged for 80 days,
covering 2 000km of Mongolian terrain,
as they completed what was aptly called
‘The Longest Hole’. Never mind that they
finished 6 093 shots ‘over par’ ... it was
simply an incredible achievement. In this
month’s issue, Rutland takes us through
their once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Compleat Golfer team has been
busy and was the proud media sponsor
at the Val de Vie Foundation’s celebrity
golf day, where over R500 000 was
raised for charity to help provide more
than 106 000 meals for children in the
Paarl/Franschhoek region. One of
the celebrities at the event was South
Africa’s inaugural Idols winner, Heinz
Winckler, and we also caught up with
him to chat about his love for golf.
We ventured up the Cape’s West
Coast to drop in at Langebaan Country
Estate, which we highlight as this issue’s
Course of the Month. Despite the ongoing
severe drought in the Western Cape, the
course is in great nick.
This month’s magazine is again
packed with plenty of information, news
and columns, as well as bits and pieces
we hope will keep you entertained and
wanting more when our January 2018
issue comes round.
Our equipment section looks at some
of the latest releases as they find their
way into golf stores just ahead of the
busiest shopping time of the year. And
once you have browsed and bought,
be sure to have a look at our instruction
feature and catch up with some rules
clarification before you head out on to
the course.
Have a blessed festive season.

Editorial Director Gary Lemke Deputy Production Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Group Deputy Sports Editor
Philippa Byron
Chief Copy Editor Nick van Rensburg
Senior Copy Editors Alasdair Fraser,
Jacques Liebenberg
Copy Editor Mark Salter
Proofreader Chris Whales
Art Director Stuart Apsey
Designers Johan Kleynhans,
Mohammed Hoosain, Stefan
Roodt, Jeremy Wessels,
Bulelani Kheswa
Intern Celest Alexander
Cover image work Karin Livni
Playing Editor Louis Oosthuizen
Contributors Andy Capostagno,
Mike Green, Grant Hepburn, Gary
Lemke, Theo Manyama, Garth
Milne, Wade Pretorius, Mark
Sampson, Michael Vlismas
Production Manager Rushaan Holliday
Maggie Wasserfall
Ad Traffic Controller Sajidah Allie
Ad Design Manager Brumilda Fredericks
Ad Designers Kristin De Villiers,
Abduraouf Bessick, Dionne Wicks,
Tyrone Michaels
Group Sales Director Clive Kotze
Publisher Wayne Willmore
Sales Director Sports Niall Meegan
Project Manager Neville Todd
Advertising Sales Wayne Willmore,
Jason Rogers, Niall Meegan, Paul Stubbs
Chief Executive Officer Kevin Ferguson
Managing Director Tony Walker
Production Director Bilqees Allie
Financial Director Lindsey Makrygiannis
HR Director Rizqah Jakoet
Debtors Manager Cecilia Jooste
CEO’s PA Kovi Naidoo
Photography HM Images, Gallo
Images, Getty Images, Reuters/
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Cover Photo Getty Images/Gallo Images
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compleatgolfer.com 7
GALLERY

Branden Grace is
happy to receive the
champagne treatment
from compatriots Louis
Oosthuizen and Darren
Fichardt after becoming
the first South African
to win the Nedbank Golf
Challenge since 2007.
 ROB CARR/WARREN LITTLE/AFP PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

compleatgolfer.com
9
 Shanshan Feng is congratulated on winning the Blue Bay LPGA at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf
Course. Feng was projected to become China’s first golfer to be ranked world No 1 after she
claimed back-to-back wins with a thrilling one-shot victory at the tournament.

10 compleatgolfer.co.za
compleatgolfer.com
 Gallery

Patton Kizzire of the US celebrates with caddie Joe Etter after winning the OHL Classic at Mayakoba
in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Kizzire claimed his first PGA Tour title after beating fellow American
Rickie Fowler by one stroke in a 36-hole rain-plagued marathon.
N E W PAR K E R U R B A N
Distinctive style with remarkable performance.

IT ’ S N OT J U ST A GIFT, IT’S A PARK ER

For trade enquiries contact www.silveray.co.za and visit www.facebook.com/parkerpensa
 FUNNY

OFFBEAT
According to a media
release which came across
Compleat Golfer’s desk, golf
has beaten off competition
from cricket, snooker and
bridge to be crowned the
world’s most boring game.
‘Almost one in 10 of 2 000
adults canvassed have put
on videos of golf or snooker
at night to help them fall
asleep,’ the release said. The
10 most boring sports were:
golf, cricket, bridge, chess,
snooker, dressage, fishing,
darts, bowls and football. The
‘survey’ was conducted by an
online gaming company. Zzzz
Paige Spiranac, the 24-year-
old professional golfer who
has 1.2-million Instagram
followers, will act as the official
MARIANNA MASSEY/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES
The Open Championship
for over 40 years.
Edoardo Molinari, the
36-year-old Italian, had 500
shots to a 145-yard par three
to see if he could get a hole-
in-one. His first shot, with a
9-iron, finished four inches
from the hole. The odds of
an average golfer making
a hole-in-one are 100 000-1,
while the European Tour says
stats suggest one of their
players’ chances are closer
to one in 2 500. Molinari’s
74th shot rolled an inch past
the cup. Shot No 153 was
almost perfect, rebounding
off the flag. Shot No 361
pitched inches away but
stopped a fraction short.
WHO AM I?
BONE
Molinari managed 498 shots
on to the green, 189 of which
finished within six feet of
the flag.
US collegiate golfer Braden
Thornberry (above) has a lot
of talents. He won the 2017
NCAA individual title, and less
than two weeks later he tied
for fourth on his pro debut
at the FedEx St Jude Classic.
(Still an amateur, he missed
out on a $241 280 payday.)
In October, Thornberry was
at the Ole Miss-LSU football
game signing autographs and
meeting fans, and he went on
to the field to knock in a chip-
shot field goal – hitting the
oval ball through the posts
with a golf club.
Wife’s Diary
Tonight my husband
was acting weird. We had
made plans to meet at
a nice restaurant. I was
shopping with my friends
all day, so I thought he
was upset that I was a bit
late. I suggested that we
go somewhere so we could
talk. He agreed, but he
didn’t say much. I asked
him what was wrong. He
said, ‘Nothing.’ I asked him
if it was my fault. He said it
had nothing to do with me
and not to worry. On the
way home I told him that
I loved him. He smiled and
kept driving, but didn’t say
anything. When we got
home, I felt as if I had lost
him completely. He just sat
quietly and watched TV.
Finally, in silence, I went
to bed. Later, he came to
bed, but his thoughts were
elsewhere. He fell asleep.
I cried. My life is a disaster.
Husband’s Diary
A one-foot putt. Who
the hell misses a one-
foot putt?

starter for the Dubai Desert

Classic from 25-28 January.
I was the first overseas winner of the Women’s British Open Championship in 1979.
The role involves announcing
It came at the Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, where I claimed the title by three strokes
each player in the field on
from Mickey Walker. I was a nine-time winner of the SA Open and among my other
to the tee and was most
successes were the Spanish Open and the Welsh Classic. In November 2010, I was
famously performed by Ivor
privileged to be elected into the Southern African Golf Hall of Fame. Answer: page 19
/GETTY IMAGES

Robson, whose unmistakable

Scottish tones were heard at
New_AD333_HZStrip_C 2017-09-06T09:44:59+02:00

TAKE
YOUR
PERFORMANCE
FURTHER
Balanced perfromance,
means better performance.
QUIZ
1. The four men’s Majors
were won by Sergio Garcia
(The Masters), Brooks Koepka
(US Open), Jordan Spieth (The
Open Championship) and
Justin Thomas (The PGA
Championship). Who won the
unofficial fifth men’s Major,
9. The 2016-17 PGA Tour
season started in October
2016 when Brendan Steele
won the Safeway Open. But
who won the first event in
2017, the SBS Tournament
of Champions, in January?
10. There were seven US

Year That Was

The Players Championship? golfers in the top 10 on the
2. There are five women’s final PGA Tour moneylist.
Majors – the ANA Inspiration, Who were the three non-
the Women’s PGA Americans to feature?
Championship, the Women’s 11. In October, European
US Open, the Women’s Tour professional Edoardo
British Open and The Evian Molinari hit 500 golf balls
With the sun setting on 2017, here are Championship. Each event was consecutively into a 145-yard
15 tough questions for you to tackle won by a different player. See
how many you can name.
target in an experiment over
12 hours. How many times
regarding the past 12 months 3. There are five men’s did he get a hole-in-one?
Senior Majors – the Regions 12. In February, President
Tradition, the Senior PGA Donald Trump tweeted,
The golden generation the moneylist and cashed Championship, the US Senior ‘Played golf today with Prime
of Americans dominated the $10-million cheque for Open, the Senior Players Minister Abe of Japan and
much of the year, with Justin winning the FedExCup race. Championship and the Senior had a great time. Japan is
Thomas and Jordan Spieth Spieth collected his first Open Championship. Three very well represented!’
(below) cleaning up when it Open Championship, which men won the five events. Which pro golfer joined
came to the PGA Tour awards. leaves him just needing to Name them. the two politicians in an
The big winner was Thomas, win the PGA Championship 4. Who won the PGA Tour 18-hole round?
who claimed the first Major to record a career grand slam. Rookie of the Year award? 13. Which golfer shot
of his career, ended top of In fact, with all the men’s 5. Although Jim Furyk holds the lowest 18-hole score
Majors in 2016 going to first- the official PGA Tour record recorded in a men’s Major,
time winners, only Spieth of 58, there have been nine in 2017?
prevented the same from 59s on the Tour. How many 14. Before the Scottish
happening in 2017. Sergio 59s were shot in 2017 and Open in June, the European
Garcia finally got rid of the name the golfer(s)? Tour staged a ‘Left-Handed
tag of best current golfer 6. How many golfers held the Challenge’, whereby right-
to not win a Major when No 1 men’s World Ranking in handed golfers took on a
he prevailed at Augusta. 2017? Can you name them? par three. Who got closest
Brooks Koepka, a training 7. The South African Sunshine to the pin?
partner of world No 1 Dustin Tour Order of Merit ended 15. The 2016-17 European
Johnson, also won his maiden in March 2017. Which players Tour started in December
Major. It was undoubtedly the finished in the top three on 2016. How many South
year of the Americans, who the final table? Africans won on that Tour,
also won The Presidents Cup 8. Who won the 2017 men’s up to and including the 2017
over the International team SA Open at Glendower? Nedbank Golf Challenge?
in convincing fashion.
(Tshwane Open), Dylan Frittelli (Lyoness Open) and Haydn Porteous (Czech Masters).
flag. 15. Five South Africans tasted victory: Brandon Stone (Alfred Dunhill Championship), Darren Fichardt (Joburg Open), Dean Burmester
third round at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. 14. Sweden’s Henrik Stenson fared best, hitting a ball to within two feet of the
Shinzo Abe, in February. 13. South Africa’s Branden Grace compiled a record lowest-round score in a men’s Major when he shot 62 in the
closest with his 153rd attempt from the tee. 12. South Africa’s Ernie Els played a round of golf with Donald Trump and Japan’s prime minister,
of the PGA Tour. 11. Edoardo Molinari was unable to make a hole-in-one with any of his 500 attempts at the par-three 145-yard hole, coming
of Japan, Jon Rahm of Spain and Marc Leishman of Australia were the three non-American golfers to feature on the final top-10 moneylist
in a playoff. 9. Justin Thomas won the first event of 2017, the winners-only SBS Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. 10. Hideki Matsuyama
Darren Fichardt (R3.3m). 8. England’s Graeme Storm came through to win the SA Open at Glendower, where he beat favourite Rory McIlroy
7. Brandon Stone won the 2016-17 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit with R7.3-million in prize money, followed by Dean Burmester (R5.9m) and
in 2017 – Jason Day started the year in top spot but was replaced by Dustin Johnson on 19 February and he has remained there ever since.
59s – Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open and Adam Hadwin at the 2017 CareerBuilder Challenge. 6. There were two men’s world No 1s
SAM GREENWOOD/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

Schauffele, after picking up the season-ending Tour Championship title, won the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year award. 5. There were two
Open Championship. Kenny Perry won the US Senior Open and Scott McCarron the Senior Players Championship. 4. America’s Xander
Championship. 3. Bernhard Langer won three Senior Majors in 2017 – the Regions Tradition, the Senior PGA Championship and the Senior
PGA Championship, Park Sung-hyun the Women’s US Open, In-Kyung Kim the Women’s British Open and Anna Nordqvist The Evian
of the winner of that event not going on to win the US Open. 2. Ryu So-yeon won the ANA Inspiration, Danielle King the Women’s
1. Korea’s Kim Si-woo picked up the unofficial fifth men’s Major when he won The Players Championship. He also continued the trend
ANSWERS

14 compleatgolfer.com
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WWW.FOOTJOY.CO.ZA
THIS MONTH
DECEMBER
PICK OF THE MONTH
HERO WORLD CHALLENGE,
ALBANY, BAHAMAS
30 NOV – 3 DEC
How 2016 unfolded: Hideki
Matsuyama captured his
fourth title in two months
by holding off Open champion
Henrik Stenson to win the
Hero World Challenge by
two strokes.
The 24-year-old Japanese
star served notice that he
would be a contender to
become his homeland’s first
male Major golf champion
by taking the 18-man
invitational event hosted
by 14-time Major winner Tiger
Woods. ‘He’s going to be one
of the top guys to beat for
a very long time,’ said Woods,
who made his comeback this
week from a 16-month back
injury layoff.
‘I think he’ll be a Major
champion within the next
couple years,’ said fifth-
ranked Jordan Spieth, who
followed a 2014 Challenge
title with 2015 Masters
and US Open triumphs.

2016 TOP 10
Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) 65 67 65 73 270
Henrik Stenson (Swe) 67 71 66 68 272
Rickie Fowler (US) 68 70 68 69 275
Dustin Johnson (US) 66 66 72 71 275
Matt Kuchar (US) 67 67 71 70 275
Brandt Snedeker (US) 72 64 69 72 277
Jordan Spieth (US) 68 69 70 70 277
Bubba Watson (US) 72 63 75 67 277
Louis Oosthuizen (SA) 67 67 73 72 279
Patrick Reed (US) 72 69 71 68 280

HAPPY Tour. He is the winner of one

BIRTHDAY
13th Rickie Fowler (29):
The American’s seven
professional wins include
four on the PGA Tour and
two on the European Tour.
His best finishes at the
Majors are tie-fifth at the
2014 Masters, tie-second
at the 2014 US Open, tie-
Major – the 2008 Masters.
His other best finishes at
the Majors are tie-21st at the
2006 US Open, tie-165th at
the 2005 Open Championship
and tie-sixth at the 2007 PGA
Championship. He won the
Sunshine Tour Order of Merit
in 2002-03.
17th Tim Clark (42):
The South African’s 14
professional wins include
two on the PGA Tour. His
best finishes at the Majors
are tie-second at the 2006
Masters, tie-third at the 2005
US Open, tie-third at the
2003 PGA Championship
and tie-23rd at the 2005
2002 and 2008 US Open;
the 2000, 2005 and 2006
Open Championship, and
the 1999, 2000, 2006 and
2007 PGA Championship.
ALSO
1st Hunter Haas (41)
2nd Alex Cejka (47)
3rd Jean Hugo (42)
5th Ryan Moore (35)
7th Luke Donald (40),
GREENWOOD/STAN BADZ/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

Billy Horschel (31)

second at the 2014 Open Open Championship. 8th Steve Elkington (55),
Championship and tie-third at Brandt Snedeker (37)
the 2014 PGA Championship. 30th Tiger Woods (42): The 11th Oliver Bekker (35)
American’s 106 professional 12th Alpheus Kelapile (33)
16th Trevor Immelman wins include 79 on the PGA 17th Rocco Mediate (55)
(38): The South African’s 11 Tour and 40 on the European 18th DJ Trahan (37)
professional wins worldwide Tour. He is the winner of 14 27th Charley Hoffman (41)
include two on the PGA Tour Majors – the 1997, 2001, 2002 28th Martin Kaymer (35),
SAMIMAGES

and five on the Sunshine and 2005 Masters; the 2000, Vaughan Groenewald (43)
/GETTY

16 compleatgolfer.com
SOCIAL MEDIA

TWITTER

12 Nov and @SAPSports brand Africa’s Major!! Course Thomas Bjorn

The European Tour
@EuropeanTour
18/18 Greens in Regulation
to win ‘Africa’s Major’.
What. A. Performance.
Branden Grace
@BrandenGrace
What an awesome week! Words
can’t describe what this win
means to me, winning an event
like #NGC2017 in SA is extra
special!! Thanks to everyone
Scott Jamieson
@scottjamieson54
Thanks for all the messages.
What a great week and thrill
battling down the stretch.
Congrats @BrandenGrace
awesome round
Charl Schwartzel
@CA_Schwartzel
Very well played
@BrandenGrace
well deserved my friend
Martin Kaymer
@MKaymer59
Congrats to fellow @Berenberg
ambassador @BrandenGrace was tough and so glad @thomasbjorngolf
for winning in your home the trophy stayed at home Not the greatest of golf weeks
country! Well done! with @brandengracegolf for me – but any amount
of time spent in Sun City is
Ernie Els Shane Lowry still one of the best weeks!
@TheBig_Easy @ShaneLowryGolf The BIGGEST thank you to
Mooi gespeel @BrandenGrace!!! Good week @golfatsun. everyone involved, especially
TROTS OP JOU!!! Congrats to @BrandenGrace. @garyplayer, for all your
Looking forward to getting to hospitality. This is what
George Coetzee Dubai now for the final event. we play for!
@gcoetzeegolf
@BrandenGrace unbelievable
so happy for you bliksem!
Great stuff gracie!
Louis Oosthuizen
@Louis57TM
Congratulations Gracie
and thanks for ending the
SA drought at #NGC2017
Darren Fichardt
@Darrenfichardt1
Well done @BrandenGrace 13 Nov
Flying our SA flag high! Gary Player
@garyplayer
Dean Burmester So proud of you @BrandenGrace for being the first South
@BurmyGolf African winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge @golfatsun in
What a week it was!!! My first 10 years. Exciting battle for the finish and a superb final round.
ever Nedbank Golf challenge, Congratulations on your expectant baby as well. Sterkte. GP
a dream come true to play in

18 compleatgolfer.com
 7 Nov
Ross Fisher
@RossFisher
Just the normal
spectators

Ian Poulter
@IanJamesPoulter
Had an audience interested in my bag of nuts today on the range.
Monkey business so much fun.
Thomas Bjorn
@thomasbjorngolf
Who Am I? (from page 13)
It’s Safari time!!
Alison Sheard
BIG ISSUE
 Fun
at a Price
The rising cost of golf is sabotaging
measures to introduce new players
to the game. By Wade Pretorius
T he rapidly increasing cost
of playing golf has put the
game under attack, as modern
pockets struggle to cope with
the demands. Golf continues
to promote the belief that it is a
rich man’s game and, with the economy
going the way it is, there’s little evidence
to suggest that perception is going to be
reversed any time soon.
‘Grow the game’ is a saying used around
the world. It’s a noble cause and something
everyone who plays the game – at any
level – should get behind, but the fight
to do so remains incredibly difficult.
Consider a child at the age of five or six:
they are starting school and have a wealth
of sporting options to consider. There’s little
doubt golf is the costliest. Cricket requires
some funding, while tennis, rugby and
soccer are relatively affordable.
Golf, on the other hand, requires a set
of clubs, which can cost several thousand
rand, a number of accessories — even
golf balls cost about R25-R30 each — and,
in many cases, at least a few lessons. From
there, better clubs will be required as the
child grows older, as will more lessons,
because golf is not generally offered as
a mainstream school sport.
A teenager will need a membership
to a club, which is out of reach for many
LUKE WALKER/GALLO IMAGES
parents. Full membership also runs to
several thousand rand a year, and that’s
before you pay greenfees. While there are
plenty of initiatives to ease the pain, there
must be droves of talented young golfers
choosing more cost-effective sports.
The game becomes exponentially more
expensive as you get older. In the ever-
changing equipment environment, rapidly
improving technology influences your
ability to hit more fairways and greens,
which means you cannot have a set of
clubs for life if you want to keep up. It’s a bit
of a rollercoaster, with no clear end in sight.
There has been a growing trend around
the country to transform clubs into more
than just a place to hit a little white ball
around for five hours. Many have taken to
offering a variety of activities, catering for
all ages, to drive traffic back to clubs, and
they have had a measure of success.
More stakeholders are buying into the
theory that golf cannot survive on the
current model, where price and competition
from other sports make it unviable.
There is a long, long way to go and not
a single solution to solving the problems
that face this great game, which makes
innovation and hard work a must off the
course, just as we all know how important
it is on the fairways and greens.
Golf will always be an expensive hobby,
but if steps are not taken soon to keep costs
in check, it will grow increasingly harder to
attract new players, which must always be
the No 1 priority.
Your feedback is encouraged and can
be sent to editor@compleatgolfer.com
compleatgolfer.com 21
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN
ed
hest-rank ed

G
rica’s h ig lv
South Afexcited to be invon City in

K I N
u

MA
s S
golfer i arity event at undation
with a ch, staged by his fo

C E
February

D I F F E R E N
A
The 16th hole at Pinnacle Point
is a monster par five and Louis
Oosthuizen stopped his golf
cart for a moment to have a
look as someone prepared to
hit a 3-wood off the fairway.
Club made contact with ball
and it flew towards the green.
‘That’s one good shot in a row!’
Oosthuizen shouted, as the
amateur threw both arms
in the air in delight.
That amateur’s day was
made, having a Major champion
watch him hit a tricky shot –
and pull it off. And that’s one of
the beauties of golf. It’s a sport
for everyone.
For much of the year we keep
our eyes glued to the TV and
the online platforms, digesting
news as the professionals go
about their business. However,
there’s so much more to this
wonderful sport. Oosthuizen including those with autism initiative that was formed says Petrie Cronje, the manager
himself knows that and is and Down’s syndrome; Louis57 in 2009 to help seriously of the Louis57 Academy and
doing as much as he can to Kids with Cancer; Louis57 wounded service people Louis57 Foundation. ‘It’s an
give back to golf through his Junior Golf Development and to recover and regain the occasion where learning about
off-course ventures, including the recently launched Ipapa confidence, independence life skills is more important than
the Louis57 Foundation. 57 Feeding Children project. and competitive spirit they the golf. It’s an inspirational and
For those who don’t know, Now Oosthuizen is proud to had before being injured. unique couple of days.’
the Louis57 brand was founded announce The 57 Friendship In effect, they are being Apart from the Battle Back
on the back of that 15-under- Invitational 2018. This special rehabilitated through sport; programme, the other golfers
par round he shot at Mossel event is planned to be held at in this case golf. It also adds involved in the February event
Bay Golf Club in 2002, and it Sun City on 18-21 February 2018. a huge amount of perspective at Sun City are those from
includes a restaurant, wines, It is a two-day competition – to life and golf. Duffing a drive, South Africa and Africa
beer, merchandise, travel, on the first day, golfers will take only hitting ‘one good shot in Disabled Golf, leading South
coffee, a junior golf academy, to the Lost City Golf Course and a row’ or missing a three-foot African junior golfers and
Major Golf Shop and, of course, then, on day two, it’s a round at putt pales into insignificance juniors from the Louis57
the foundation. the Gary Player Country Club. It when compared to what these Academy, and business
Foundation57 is Louis and promises to be an unforgettable military people have experienced CEOs and industry leaders.
Nel-Mare’s way of giving back experience that goes beyond – life-threatening injuries and The latter group will be able
to the Mossel Bay community the numbers on the scorecard. lost limbs. to buy a R100 000 package,
and national and international There are four groups ‘The 57 Friendship Invitational which will entitle them to two
charities. Beneficiaries are the involved, the first of which is brings people from different rounds of golf, three nights’
Leolan Academy, which works golfers from the Battle Back backgrounds and stages of accommodation at Sun City,
with special needs children, programme. It is a UK military life together through golf,’ gift packs, golf shirts and
 signed memorabilia from
Oosthuizen, and branding
on course and elsewhere,
including in the media.
South Africa and Africa
Disabled Golf is headed up
by Chris Wood, who was
a founding member of the
SA Disabled Golf Association
in 1995. ‘You can choose for
your spirit to be defeated by
the circumstances, or you can
choose to learn from what has
happened and move forward in
a positive way without dwelling
on the past,’ says Wood, himself
a one-armed golfer.
The other group is exactly
what the name says: leading
IMAGES: SUPPLIED
compleatgolfer.com
junior golfers. South Africa has
a conveyor belt of youngsters
coming through the system
and the Louis57 Academy is
home to some of the best talent
you’ll find anywhere in the
world, let alone in this country.
By introducing these
young golfers to the other
groups, it becomes much
more than two days on two
challenging courses. It’s the
interaction, life advice and
support of one another that
will help stand them in good
stead in the years ahead.
It’s a story of adversity
and overcoming the odds,
comparing life experiences
and forming friendships that
will stand the test of time.
Oosthuizen is committed
to making a difference. And,
as he would say, ‘That’s one
good shot in a row. The next
step is two good shots in
a row. Then it’s three.’ And
just like that, the world is
a better place.
FOR THE DIARY
It’s that time of the year
when Louis Oosthuizen is
back in South Africa. He
will be staging his annual
Louis57 Drive 4 Charity
event at Pinnacle Point
Estate on 16 December,
which is the week after
the Joburg Open, in which
he will be competing.
Should you wish to be
involved in either event at
Pinnacle Point or Sun City,
contact Petrie Cronje on
petrie@louis57.co.za
23
Louis oosthuizen
column
If it wasn’t to be my week at
the Nedbank Golf Challenge,
obviously I’d have wanted it
to be that of a fellow South
African. And what a special
performance from Branden
Grace. We’re all so happy for
him and his family.
Branden played brilliant
golf and in his final round he
hit every green in regulation.
I don’t think that’s been done
on the European Tour all year
– he was a worthy winner.
I know his game well and
we’ve gelled as a partnership
at The Presidents Cup, most
recently in New York a few
months back. I knew it was
simply a matter of time before
he won a big tournament.
I had the champagne in my
hands to help him celebrate
when he tapped in at the 72nd
hole and I’m sure he didn’t
24 compleatgolfer.com
Up and Down
mind being drenched in the
sweet stuff as he quite literally
soaked up the moment in
front of a brilliant home crowd.
You really do try to make
things happen when you have
such overwhelming support
and there’s no place like home.
As usual, the tournament
organisers did a great job at
the Gary Player Country Club
and I’d arrived at Sun City
feeling refreshed and ready.
I’d had a great few weeks
back at home, spending
time with the family and
catching up with friends
and familiar faces.
This was my fourth top-10
finish at the NGC, following
the ones in 2013, 2014 and
2016, and I suppose the theme
of my week was that it was
a bit too up and down for me
to challenge right at the top of
Compleat Golfer’s playing
editor is Louis Oosthuizen. His
monthly column takes you into
his world and here he reflects on
the 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge
the leaderboard. My opening
round of 71 had an eagle and
three birdies, along with four
bogeys, which sort of tells the
story. It’s a golf course where
you have to be patient and
stay out of trouble. Branden’s
final round was an example
of that.
The second day was the
most challenging of the
tournament. The wind picked
up and it was difficult to judge
because it came in gusts and
changed direction all the time.
Having said that, I was going
along fine until I made bogeys
at 16, 17 and 18 for a 73.
In the third round I felt
I could make a challenge
on what is traditionally called
‘moving day’. I made a birdie
at the 1st and 3rd holes, but
bogeyed the 2nd and 4th,
before going on a bit of a run
towards the turn, making
birdies at 8, 9 and 10 before
shaving the hole with my
birdie attempt at No 11. Again,
the 17th stopped my progress.
That was the story of my week
and I closed with two 70s. In
the final round I parred the
last nine holes straight; I just
couldn’t get things to drop.
My best hole of the week
was the lovely par-five 9th,
which I played in four under,
but, conversely, the 17th was
my worst, which I covered in
four over, including an ugly
six in the third round after
I’d hit my ball into the water.
But I’ll be back and I’m
determined to get my hands
CHRISTIAAN KOTZE/bACKpAgEpIx
on the amazing crystal
ball trophy. I’ve thoroughly
enjoyed being back home and
I wish everyone a safe and
prosperous festive season.

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 o n b y a son
as w er a

A
a’s M ajor wican soil aftmke
Afric South Afr y Gary Le

T
of the r drought. B

A
10-yea

WH
WaRReN little/getty images/gallo images
 OY K I E !
B ne of the oldest cliches it might
be, but it truly was amazing
from Branden Grace the way
he charged through the field
to be the first South African to
win the Nedbank Golf Challenge
in a decade.
The 29-year-old might have left
it late to pick up his first title of 2017
– and his eighth overall on the European
Tour – when he made a spectacular birdie
at the short 16th in the final round at the
Gary Player Country Club to finally escape
the clutches of Scott Jamieson and Victor
Dubuisson on a thrilling final day.

compleatgolfer.com 27

His 66, matched against their 70s,
playing in the final threeball of the
tournament, was one of the more
brilliant efforts we’ve seen on a golf
course in this country in years.
Yes, Li Haotong’s final-day 64 was
the lowest round of the week at Sun
City, but to produce a bogey-free 66, as
a baying home crowd cheered his every
shot, was simply the stuff of champions.
Which Grace undoubtedly is. Pressure?
What pressure? It would undeniably
have been far easier for a foreigner to
come through on the day without the
weight of a nation on his shoulders.
Especially given that sports-mad South
Africans had woken up on the Sunday of
the final round in a dejected mood. On the
Friday night Bafana Bafana had lost 2-0
to Senegal and seen their hopes of being
at the 2018 Fifa World Cup extinguished,
while on the Saturday evening the
Springboks had been given a record
38-3 drubbing by Ireland in Dublin.
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
END-OF-YEAR WORLD RANKING
WaRReN little/getty images/gallo images
50
1 309 753 386 359
‘This is awesome. This is the
one event that, as a South
African, you want to win. It’s
Africa’s Major for a reason and
what a special place it is’
But who better to turn the mood around
than a man who had caught the eye of
none other than Tiger Woods back at
Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio,
in 2012?
‘I’d hit my tee shot into the fairway
bunker on the right,’ Grace told golf writer
Michael Vlismas last year. ‘It was one of
those where the ball was pretty close to
the lip. The only realistic option I had was
to take a sand-wedge and hit it out. But at
that stage I was about five or six under par
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
34
435 271
BRANDEN GRACE
and when you get on a roll like that,
you think you can do anything.
‘My caddie, Zack [Rasego], told me
to just chip it out. But I told him to give
me what I think was my 7- or 8-iron.
Tiger then walked over to watch me
play the shot. I hit it out to 12 feet from
the hole. He said it was one of the best
shots he’d ever seen. He actually asked
me how I played it. I was like, “Are you
joking? You’ve hit shots like this to win
Majors and now you’re asking me how
14
27 29
82 (As at 13 November 2017)
compleatgolfer.com 29
BRANDEN GRACE

you’re desperate for that first victory, the

I did that at a normal tournament.” It’s
moments like that I’ll never forget.’
Sunday, 12 November 2017 has now
become one of those moments the whole
of South Africa won’t forget.
Grace calls himself a ‘streaky player’ and
when he’s in the mood, there is no one who
can live with him. That men’s Major record
of 62 in the third round of this year’s Open
Championship is just another example that
when he is zoned in, he’s untouchable.
The irony is that 2017 hadn’t been
altogether kind to the South African
more it can become a millstone around
the neck.
‘I think it was probably the loudest
applause I’ve received coming up the 18th
hole,’ said the visibly relieved champion
after accepting the famous crystal trophy.
‘This is awesome. This is the one event
that, as a South African, you want to win.
It’s Africa’s Major for a reason and what
a special place it is.
‘There’s a lot of history and a lot of great
winners on the trophy, and I’m very glad
to be able to put my name on it too.’
Now that Africa’s Major has been ticked
off – and remember, like the American
trailblazers Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth
and Brooks Koepka, Grace is still in his
twenties – it’s surely only a matter of time
before he finds his name on one of the
official four Majors – The Masters, the
US Open, The Open Championship and
The PGA Championship.
It might also be an omen that the last
South African winner of the Nedbank
Golf Challenge was Trevor Immelman in
2007. He went on to win the 2008 Masters.
Other South African names on this trophy
include Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. They
too converted a victory at Africa’s Major
to one of the other four. It really does feel
like a matter of when, not if.
Grace has always had untapped talent but
it took some words from Els before the 2015
US Open to open his ears and eyes. ‘When
Ernie says something you need to listen and
make the most of it. The first time I played
well on a links course he was the first to say
I’d win an Open. It’s nice to hear that from
a guy who has achieved what a lot of guys
can only dream of. We had a chat before the
2015 US Open and he said to me, “Your golf
is great and it’s your time; I know you can
until now. He was in danger of not winning do it.” That makes you believe.’
a tournament for the first time since 2013, Now, not only does Grace believe, but
and having ended 2016 ranked 17 in the so does the rest of the golfing world know
world, he had
tumbled to No 44
before arriving at NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE
the Nedbank Golf
Challenge.
LEADERBOARD
There was also 1 Branden Grace (SA) 68 75 68 66 277
the danger that 2 Scott Jamieson (Sco) 68 73 67 70 278
he wanted to win 3 Victor Dubuisson (Fra) 68 70 71 70 279
‘Africa’s Major’ too 4 Li Haotong (CHN) 70 77 70 64 281
much. And once 5 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 73 69 69 71 282
6 Darren Fichardt (SA) 71 69 75 68 283

‘I told myself that if I can

Lee Westwood (Eng) 70 70 74 69 283
8 Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng) 70 77 68 69 284
Louis Oosthuizen (SA) 71 73 70 70 284

get it to under par, I’m

RICHARD HEATHCOTE/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

10 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 73 74 67 71 285

Graeme Storm (Eng) 69 75 71 70 285

still in this tournament. 12 Soren Kjeldsen (Den)

Shane Lowry (NIR)
71
72
78
71
69
72
68
71
286
286

And I knew I had to grind Joost Luiten (Ned)

Alex Noren (Swe)
71
69
72
72
72
75
71
70
286
286

a good score out today’

Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) 71 75 73 67 286
Haydn Porteous (SA) 73 73 67 73 286
Charl Schwartzel (SA) 69 73 72 72 286

30 compleatgolfer.com
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 BRANDEN GRACE
‘I’m at the point where I’ve
realised golf is what I’m good
at, but there are lots of things
outside golf too. I think when
you realise that, you start
enjoying the game more’
it too. He can be the next great South
African champion.
‘I’m a grinder, a fighter,’ he said after
a third-round 68 had lifted him into third
spot, three shots behind Jamieson and two
behind Dubuisson. ‘Yesterday [second-
round 75] wasn’t the best of stuff. The first
nine didn’t really feel too good. Mind over
matter, a little bit of that. I told myself that
if I can get it to under par, I’m still in this
tournament. And I knew I had to grind
a good score out today.
‘The wind was not a big factor today
[third round], but it’s swirling a little bit
so it’s hard to commit, and trust yourself
and what you’re doing. Hopefully I can get
a couple of good birdies tomorrow and be
in with a shot.’
And on the fateful Sunday he stuck to
his guns. It was as if his name was written
in the stars. As he marched purposefully
32 compleatgolfer.com
on to the 1st tee, he went straight to
tournament host Gary Player, who stood
up from his seat and gave the young man
a strong shake of the hand. Almost as if he
had passed on a baton in that very moment.
Keeping bogeys off the card is the key to
success at Sun City and it’s also a course
where patience is required. Then, when the
door opened, as it did on the 16th, Grace
walked through it, draining a long birdie
putt on that par three as the temporary
stands shook under the celebrations of
the home crowd. Cometh the hour, cometh
the man, and all that.
‘I just knew I had to stay patient and had
to take my chances when they came,’ he
said. ‘I missed a couple of short ones but
the big key was 16.’
The 82-year-old Player is famous for
telling people that ‘there are gorillas out
there who can drive the ball 350 yards.
BEST FiNiSHES
2012 Joburg Open (1st), Volvo Golf
Champions (1st), China Open (1st),
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
(1st), BMW PGA Championship (5th)
2013 Scottish Open (2nd)
2014 Alfred Dunhill Championship (1st),
Volvo Golf Champions (T2nd)
2015 Dimension Data Pro-Am (1st), DP World
Tour Championship (3rd), US Open (T4th),
WGC-HSBC Champions (T5th)
2016 Qatar Masters (1st), RBC Heritage (1st),
Nedbank Golf Challenge (T3rd), The PGA
Championship (T4th), SA Open (T4th),
US Open (T6th)
2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge (1st), The
Open Championship (T6th), BMW PGA
Championship (T9th)
And when big athletes take up golf,
they’ll be driving the ball 400 yards.’
Player’s mantra is that it’s all about
the quality of a golfer’s short game
– and Grace was on song in that
department at Sun City.
He too understands the importance
of making the putts. ‘In the past I would
work so hard on getting the ball close to
the hole and then miss the putt. I’m still
practising hard on the irons, but I know
the putting is important. If you can hole
those big putts it’s mind-boggling what
you can achieve. If you look at Jordan
Spieth, I don’t think he’s the best ball
striker out there but he knows how to
get it done. That’s what it takes in this
game – making putts when you need to.’
And that 30-foot birdie putt on the 16th
underlined that statement.
The putt that confirmed victory on the
72nd hole was almost anti-climactic by
comparison, as Grace left himself a tap-
in for par. It all felt so good. ‘Being sprayed
with champagne ... being able to be known
as a winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge,’
he said. ‘And now it makes me want to win
it again another few times.’
Of course, there is another major
event on the calendar in 2018. He and
his wife Nieke heard the day before the
tournament’s first round that they are
expecting a baby boy. One of the reasons
Grace declined the opportunity to represent
South Africa at the 2016 Rio Olympic
Games was because of fears over the
Zika virus and family comes before
golf for the 29-year-old.
‘Nieke and I met a couple of years
ago and I’m happy on and off the course.
That’s the big key. I’m at the point where
I’ve realised golf is what I’m good at, but
stReeteR lecka/getty images/gallo images
there are lots of things outside golf too.
I think when you realise that, you start
enjoying the game more,’ he says.
So, two boxes ticked all in the matter
of a week – 2018 is going to be a heck
of a year for Grace. The golfing world
has been put on red alert.
 NOW AVAILABLE

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THE WAIT
IS OVER

B
randen Grace Grace, who announced himself on
shot a closing the world scene with four European Tour
After a miserable six-under 66 to titles in 2012, started the day three shots
November weekend of hold off Scotsman behind Jamieson and two adrift of France’s
Scott Jamieson Victor Dubuisson. But Jamieson, 33, who
sport for South Africa, at the Gary Player was seeking to become the first Scotsman
Branden Grace lifted Country Club after to win the competition in 21 years, could
spirits when he won the finishing on an not find the form that saw him shoot a
11-under 277. His bogey-free, five-birdie 67 in the third round.
Nedbank Golf Challenge final-round heroics Grace had also finished the 2016 Nedbank
by one shot at Sun City came two days after Golf Challenge as the leading South
Bafana Bafana had been beaten by Senegal African, in third position behind Sweden’s
and a day after the Springboks had lost Alex Noren. Last year Grace three-putted
heavily to Ireland in Dublin. for a bogey on the last to slide back into

34 compleatgolfer.com
 2017 NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE

HOW IT UNFOLDED
First round: Bernd Wiesberger birdied
the last hole in an opening 67 to take
a one-shot lead. A stunning approach
to the 18th saw him get to five under
and break away from the pack. Home
favourite Branden Grace was a shot
behind Wiesberger, with Frenchman
Victor Dubuisson, Scotland’s Scott
Jamieson and American Julian Suri
all alongside him at four under.
Second round: Dubuisson seized a two-
stroke lead in a weather-interrupted and
demanding second round. He was at
seven under par for the tournament and
had three holes to play when the round
was suspended because of lightning.
When play resumed, Dubuisson finished
off his round with a bogey on 18 for
a 70 to lead on six under. His nearest
challengers, on four under, included
South Africa’s Darren Fichardt and
England’s Lee Westwood, who also
managed to finish his round of 70.
Third round: Jamieson led Dubuisson
by one shot on eight under going into
the final day. Dubuisson’s 71 allowed
Jamieson to leapfrog him with a five-
under 67. Jamieson made five birdies
and didn’t drop any shots, whereas 2014
Ryder Cup player Dubuisson bogeyed
three par fours. Two-time Major champion
Martin Kaymer of Germany sat three
behind Jamieson, along with Grace. Italian
Francesco Molinari shot a best-of-the-day
65 to sit on three under alongside South
African Haydn Porteous.
Fourth round: Grace shot a closing
six-under 66 to win by one shot from
Jamieson. They and Dubuisson were
all locked on 10 under in the final group
after 14 holes. A 40-foot birdie putt by
Grace on the 16th gave him the lead
outright and proved the decisive moment.
He hit all 18 greens in regulation in a
bogey-free round, as Jamieson struggled
to a 70, with a double-bogey on the 8th.

the tie for third. ‘I was very disappointed

with the three-putt on 18, but tie-third
is my best finish here yet, and hopefully
next year I can come back and improve on
WARREN LITTLE/GORDON ARONS/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

that,’ he said. And he was true to his word.

Race to Dubai leader Tommy Fleetwood
finished on three under and headed to the
DP World Tour Championship in Dubai with
a 256 737-point lead over second-placed
Justin Rose.
‘I’ve played brilliantly all year,’ said
Fleetwood. ‘I think to be in with a chance
of winning the Race to Dubai, it’s pretty
special. It’s not a burden.’
2017 NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE

THE SA CHALLENGE
1 Branden Grace
T6 Darren Fichardt
68
71
75
69
68
75
66
68
277
283
HE SAID IT
‘I think I’ve won from five
behind and lost from six in
front before, so the key is not
T8 Louis Oosthuizen 71 73 70 70 284
to panic and know I’m going
T12 Haydn Porteous 73 73 67 73 286
to have some bad shots, but
T12 Charl Schwartzel 69 73 72 72 286
there are always going to be
T19 Richard Sterne 74 72 69 72 287
holes beyond to recover.’ – Scott
T37 George Coetzee 77 71 72 71 291
Jamieson on taking a two-shot
T42 Dean Burmester 77 72 71 72 292
lead into the final round. He
T42 Dylan Frittelli 75 75 69 73 292
shot 70 to finish runner-up
T66 Brandon Stone 76 79 75 70 300

NUMBERS GAME
6 80
South Africans who have won The highest round
on the European Tour this shot in the week,
season. Branden Grace joined by Australia’s Scott
Brandon Stone, Darren Fichardt, Hend. He recovered
Dean Burmester, Dylan Frittelli with subsequent
and Haydn Porteous in the winner’s circle. rounds of 73, 68 and 75 for 296.

18 346
Strokes over par of Frenchman
Andrew Dodt, who Matthieu
finished last, in 70th Pavon
position, after rounds averaged
of 78, 77, 74 and 77 for the longest
306, 29 shots behind Branden Grace. drive at Sun City, at 316m (346 yards).

64
Lowest round of the
tournament, shot by

1
China’s Li Haotong in
There has still only been one the final round, which
ace after 37 instalments of the lifted him to fourth position overall.
tournament, which came in 2016
when Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti
holed a 7-iron at the 195m 4th hole.

3
Players who went all four
rounds in level par or under.
Victor Dubuisson shot 68, 70,

1 069 290
71, 70 for 279 (third), Shane The amount,
Lowry shot 72, 71, 72, 71 for in euros
286 (12th) and Joost Luiten
CHristiaan KotZe/Warren LittLe/riCHard HeatHCote/baCKpaGepix/Getty imaGes/GaLLo imaGes

(almost R18-million), earned by Grace

shot 71, 72, 72, 71 also for 286 and 12th. in winning the tournament.

75
The position of Scott
Jamieson in the Race
to Dubai before the
start of the Nedbank
Golf Challenge. After
finishing in second place, he leapt 52
places, to 23rd, securing a place at the
DP World Tour Championship.

36 compleatgolfer.com
YEAR IN REVIEW

2017
HOW
L D E D
UN c
FO
urta i
As theu a reminde
we giv
ey o
r
out to c
n is abof some of t
he
anot he r
lose on year’s talk
ing p
,
seasonoints

JANUARY
It started with an eagle. It ended with one.
Justin Thomas shot an 11-under 59 in the
first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii. His
59 was the seventh in PGA Tour history
and the first with multiple eagles. The
23-year-old is also the youngest to break
60. A week later Canada’s Adam Hadwin
carded a 13-under 59 in the third round
of the CareerBuilder Challenge.
Also: Graeme Storm won the SA
Open, Tommy Fleetwood won the Abu
Dhabi HSBC Championship, Jeunghun
Wang claimed the Qatar Masters and
Justin Thomas won the Tournament
of Champions and Sony Open on the
PGA Tour.
 FEBRUARY
Ernie Els played a round with President
Donald Trump and Japan’s prime minister,
Shinzo Abe, at Mar-a-Lago Club. The four-
time Major champion said he took some
ribbing from his buddies who don’t like
Trump. ‘A lot of my own friends were not
for him,’ Els said. ‘They kind of needled
me a little bit, saying I was a suck-up.
I just said, “Go eff yourself. I’ve played
with the president and you haven’t.” You
can’t please everybody. It was one of the
most special groups of people I’ve been
around. I’ve played with the queen of
Malaysia and other presidents, but this
is the most powerful guy in the world
and to see him with his full security
detail is impressive.’
Dustin Johnson became the world
No 1 for the first time after winning the
Genesis Open. The US Open champion
took the lead in the second round and
never relinquished it, winning by five
shots. Johnson needed to win, and hope
Jason Day finished lower than a three-
way tie for third, to top the rankings – and
the outgoing No 1 could only manage a tie
for 64th.
Also: Sergio Garcia won the Dubai Desert
Classic and Darren Fichardt the Joburg
Open, while Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan
Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler
all won on the PGA Tour.
MARCH
Australian Marc Leishman sank a monster
eagle putt at the par-five 16th and stormed
to a one-shot victory at the Arnold Palmer
Invitational in Florida, in the first staging
of the tournament since the legend passed
away in 2016.
Also: Dustin Johnson won two WGC titles
– in Mexico and the Dell Technologies Match
Play, while Dean Burmester cleaned up at
the Tshwane Open.
michael cohen/Sean m haffey/chriStian peterSen/getty imageS/gallo imageS
APRIL
World No 1 Dustin Johnson withdrew from
The Masters just before his group was
about to tee off. He was forced to withdraw
after he suffered a back injury when he
fell on the staircase at his rental home.
‘I can’t swing full,’ he said. ‘I can’t make
my normal swing and I didn’t think there
was any chance I could compete.’
Lexi Thompson was cruising to her
second Major, at the ANA Inspiration, when
she was told at the end of the 12th hole of
the final round that she had been handed
a four-stroke penalty. A TV viewer had
noticed an infraction and sent an email to
the LPGA. Thompson hadn’t replaced her
ball in the same spot she picked it up from,
which resulted in a two-shot penalty and
another two shots for signing an incorrect
scorecard. Her two-stroke lead became
a two-stroke deficit. Despite the setback,
Thompson forced a playoff with So Yeon
Ryu, which she lost.
Also: Sergio Garcia won his first Masters
at Augusta in his 74th Major appearance.
MAY
Tiger Woods was charged with driving
under the influence by police in Florida.
The 14-time Major champion was booked
into the Palm Beach County jail after he
was arrested during a traffic stop at 3am,
near his home in Jupiter, Florida. He was
released at 10:50am, with a mugshot
posted online showing the golfer looking
bleary-eyed and unshaven. Woods had
the active ingredient for marijuana, two
painkillers and two sleep drugs in his
system when he was arrested, according
to a subsequent police report.
Also: Denmark won the inaugural Golf
Sixes, while another Scandinavian, Alex
Noren, won the BMW PGA Championship
and Si Woo Kim prevailed at the ‘fifth
Major’, The Players Championship.
JUNE
Phil Mickelson, the five-time Major winner
and three-time Masters champion, split
with caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after
they had been together for 25 years and
41 professional triumphs. The 47-year-
old left-hander and the bagman he met
at 1992 US Open sectional qualifying in
Memphis parted ways as friends, each
releasing a statement saying as much.
‘After 25 rewarding and memorable years,
Bones and I have mutually decided to end
our player-caddie relationship,’ Mickelson
said. ‘Our decision is not based on a single
incident. We just feel it’s the right time for
a change.’
Also: Dylan Frittelli won his first European
Tour event, the Lyoness Open, while Brooks
Koepka became a Major champion for the
first time at the US Open and Jordan Spieth
won the Travelers Championship.
JULY
Branden Grace became the first man
to shoot a round of 62 at a Major, in the
third round of The Open Championship at
Royal Birkdale, but he was unaware of the
landmark. There had been 31 rounds of 63
in the previous 441 Majors, but never a 62.
Grace insisted he had no idea of what he
was about to achieve as he was heading
down the 18th. ‘I honestly didn’t. You know,
I was just so in the zone of playing, hole
after hole,’ he said. ‘I knew I was obviously
playing really well, and making the turn
in five under was pretty special. I thought
if I could make a couple more on the back
nine, it would be a great score. I had no
idea 62 was the lowest ever.’
Also: The Open Championship was
won by Jordan Spieth after a dramatic
final round, while there were also wins
for Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm and
Rafa Cabrera Bello.
compleatgolfer.com 39
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AUGUST
Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson made their
100th appearance at a Major, at The PGA
Championship. Els won his first Major in
1994 at the US Open at Oakmont. Mickelson
didn’t win his first Major until he was 34,
at The Masters, and it came at the expense
of Els when he holed an 18-foot birdie
putt on the final hole. Els, who was on
the putting green hoping for a playoff,
heard the ground-shaking roar, picked
up his golf balls and walked off. They
became the 13th and 14th players to
reach 100 Majors.
Louis Oosthuizen completed a career
‘Grand Slam’ of runner-up finishes when
he tied for second at The PGA Championship
at Quail Hollow. The 2010 Open champion
shot a one-under-par 70 to finish six under,
278, two shots behind American Justin
Thomas. Oosthuizen, who also finished
second at the unofficial ‘fifth Major’, The
Players Championship, joined Greg Norman
as a runner-up at all four Majors.
Shortly after The PGA Championship,
Oosthuizen boarded his plane and posted
a video to Twitter of him miming to the
Scott halleran/getty imageS/gallo imageS
song ‘Rise Up’ by Andrea Day.
Also: Justin Thomas picked up his first
Major at The PGA Championship, while
Haydn Porteous won his first European
Tour event, the Czech Masters, and on
the PGA Tour Dustin Johnson won The
Northern Trust.
SEPTEMBER
PXG founder Bob Parsons took one of his
rival equipment manufacturers to court.
Parsons sent a tweet to nearly 44 000
followers indicating that he had filed
a suit in federal court over a potential
patent infringement relating to the new
P790 irons from TaylorMade. TaylorMade
released the P790 line with a price tag of
$1 299 per set.
When Adam Rolston sank an eight-
foot putt on the Mt Bogd Golf Club in
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, he brought to a
close a 2 011km journey. Rolston, along
with caddie Ron Rutland, had set out on
the opposite side of Mongolia in the hope
of playing the world’s longest golf hole;
20 093 shots later, their dream had been
realised. But terrible weather, testing
terrain, stolen belongings and ill-timed
injuries meant the adventure hardly ran
smoothly. ‘We estimated before the par
was going to be 14 000 shots and I think
we were extremely naive with that,’ said
Rolston. ‘We ended up playing 20 093
shots – 6 093 over par.’
Rory McIlroy admitted he could not wait
for the season to finish after he missed the
cut at the Dell Technologies Championship
in Boston. The world No  4 has not won
a tournament in 2017 and has posted
one PGA Tour victory in almost two and
a half years. For most of 2017 McIlroy
was suffering from a lower-back injury.
YEAR IN REVIEW
Also: England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick
won the European Masters and Xander
Schauffele the Tour Championship, but
Justin Thomas won the $10-million
FedExCup jackpot and Team USA proved
too strong for the International team at
The Presidents Cup.
OCTOBER
Justin Rose staged the biggest comeback
of the season to win the WGC-HSBC
Champions in Shanghai after a record
collapse by world No 1 Dustin Johnson.
The American took a six-shot lead into
the final round – and was eight shots clear
of Rose. But while Johnson slumped to a
77, Rose came home in 31 stunning shots
for a 67 and a two-shot victory.
Johnson joined Sergio Garcia and Greg
Norman with the record for the largest
blown lead in surrendering a PGA Tour
event. Garcia lost at Quail Hollow in 2005,
with Norman’s famous meltdown coming
at the 1996 Masters.
It was Rose’s first win since his Olympic
triumph in Rio de Janeiro. He made it back-
to-back victories by also winning the
Turkish Airlines Open.
Also: Tyrrell Hatton won the Alfred
Dunhill Links Championship and the
Italian Open. Sergio Garcia celebrated his
first win since The Masters when he lifted
the trophy at the Andalusia Valderrama
Masters, hosted by his own foundation.
compleatgolfer.com 41
 I S I
R TO THEN G
A L L E N
C H Hard work and a refusal to give up on a dream
have led this South African to winning a

W
European Tour card. By Michael Vlismas

e often
convince
ourselves it’s
the passion that
drives success
in this game. The dream of young golfers
standing over a putt imagining it’s to
win The Open Championship. And that’s
all fine and well. But then there’s also
the grind.
Those weeks that merge into one long
chain of travel, hotel, golf course, repeat.
That’s when the dream the likes of
Erik van Rooyen had as a 14-year-old,
and which he realised this year when he
earned his European Tour card, becomes
as much about sheer endurance as talent.
That’s when a win can be something as
In the journey to the top in professional
golf, they have a name for this kind of
thing: the Challenge Tour.
This feeder Tour is one of the many
routes to the European Tour. But it’s not
for everyone, because, as Van Rooyen
will tell you, it can be brutal.
It would be far too easy to point to
Van Rooyen’s win at the Challenge Tour’s
Hainan Open in China as the moment he
secured his European Tour card for the
2018 season.
But that wouldn’t be half the story.
With his maiden victory at the Eye of
Africa PGA Championship, made possible
by the most incredible approach to within
a foot of the hole to win a playoff for the title,
Van Rooyen secured his playing privileges
Vodacom events, so to get that win against
a good field was big for me.
‘Then I decided to play the Challenge
Tour this year. Winning the Eye of Africa
made this decision possible, knowing
I’ve got the two-year exemption on the
Sunshine Tour.’
Playing on the Challenge Tour is the
equivalent of Vijay Singh hitting thousands
of golf balls on the range until his hands bled.
‘The Challenge Tour is tough because
it’s extremely top-heavy and only the top
15 get their European Tour cards. It’s an
absolute slog. I’ve been home for 10 days
since May. It’s a grind.
‘What’s tough about the Challenge
Tour is you play so many events in
a short space of time, and it’s important
ZHE JI/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

simple as climbing off your umpteenth
flight feeling only slightly smashed up
physically and only moderately fuzzy
mentally, and knowing you’ve got
maybe one good day to get yourself
focused and start it all again.
on the Sunshine Tour and achieved the
breakthrough that was several years in
the making.
‘Eye of Africa was a great boost for
me,’ he says. ‘I’d been knocking on the
door in South Africa a few times in some
to rest. You have to manage that too.
So I would take every Monday off, and
sometimes even Tuesday. But then you
know you only have one shot to see that
course, on Wednesday, so you need to do
a proper job and focus.

42 compleatgolfer.com
G E
 ERIK VAN ROOYEN

‘It’s the dream of playing

‘It’s the dream of playing on the
European Tour and against the best
in the world that keeps you going.
‘It was such a long season until that
point when I won in China. I played really
well in some events and didn’t quite finish
it off. So, to play well in China and secure
my card was unbelievable.’
But Van Rooyen had the kind of resolve
to know the Challenge Tour is about
learning. Van Rooyen has been learning
ever since he and his father sat down at
a junior tournament at Fish River when
he was 14 and decided together they were
going to embark on this journey towards
a professional career.
‘We moved around quite a bit when
I was growing up. I spent primary school
in Pretoria and played golf, but also rugby
and cricket. We moved to Oudtshoorn
when I was 13 and I started playing golf
more seriously. I got involved in one of
the squads at Fancourt and had the
on the European Tour and
against the best in the world
that keeps you going’
privilege of practising there three or four
times a week.
‘I played for Southern Cape and got South
African junior colours when I was 17. After
that I went to the University of Minnesota
to play college golf. I never won World
Juniors, like Dylan Frittelli, or played in the
Eisenhower Trophy or anything like that. I
guess I had an OK junior season. But college
golf was all about learning and getting better,
and I’ve been trying to do that ever since.’
The Challenge Tour was another major
learning curve. And Van Rooyen has taken
the necessary notes, applying what he has
learned there to what he’s seen repeated
in the careers of Major winners such as
Padraig Harrington and Martin Kaymer.
‘One thing the Challenge Tour taught me
was to understand my own game and how
to play well coming down the stretch when
you’re in contention. It’s important to stick
to what works for you, and that’s what I’ll
keep doing for the next couple of years.
‘Something that sticks out for me in
terms of a big lesson for my career is
equipment changes. I’ve been with Nike
since college and I was disappointed when
they announced they were going to stop
making equipment. Some great players
have made equipment changes and it hasn’t
worked out. I’m still playing with Nike irons
and will have to make a change in the next
12 months. But when something is working
for you in this game, it’s important not to

SUNSHINE TOUR
HIGHLIGHTS
2013 Big Easy Tour – Els Club (T8th)
2014 Zambia Open (T6th), Lombard
Insurance Classic (T6th), Vodacom
Origins – Arabella (T4th), Vodacom
Origins – St Francis (2nd), Vodacom
Origins Final (T4th)
2015 Zimbabwe Open (T3rd), Zambia
Open (T5th), Sun Sibaya Challenge
MARK RUNNACLES/PETRI OESCHGER/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

(T4th), Cape Town Open (T5th)

2016 Sun Wild Coast Sun Challenge
(T7th), Vodacom Origins – Sishen (T3rd),
Vodacom Origins – Euphoria (T8th)
2017 Eye of Africa PGA Championship
(1st), Royal Swazi Open (T8th)
Also 2017: Hainan Open (Challenge
Tour, 1st), NBO Golf Classic Grand Final
(Challenge Tour, T3rd), Kazakhstan
Open (Challenge Tour, 4th), Rolex
Trophy (Challenge Tour, 10th)

compleatgolfer.com 45
ERIK VAN ROOYEN
‘Putting is one of the best
parts of my game at the
moment, and it’s shown in
my performance this season’
deviate from it. Padraig Harrington won
three Majors and then changed something
and it didn’t work out. Martin Kaymer did
the same. Everything is working nicely for
me. I feel it’s about fine-tuning things and
to keep polishing that diamond instead of
trying to reinvent the wheel.’
Van Rooyen has also spent this year
fine-tuning his routine, and he’s surrounded
himself with the best people in the business
when it comes to his mind and his game.
He works on his mental preparation
with renowned sports psychologist
Maretha Claasen, and has been working
on his putting with visions specialist and
performance coach Dr Sherylle Calder.
‘An important part of my weekly routine
is to catch up with Maretha every Monday
and we’ll have a long chat where she helps
me get in my zone and be where I need to
be mentally.
‘And Dr Calder is amazing. I met her
in November last year at the Cape Town
Open. I wasn’t putting great. I’ve always
been a good ball striker but my putting
has let me down a bit. I didn’t know who
to turn to. I spoke to Tjaart van der Walt
and he set me up with her.
‘She’s been fantastic. She’s one of
a kind in what she does. If you look
46 compleatgolfer.com
say it’s so expensive on the Challenge Tour,
but it’s important to invest in yourself.
‘Even if I hadn’t got my card I would’ve
looked at it as a good season because
I got better as a player and I learned a lot.
That’s what I want, to keep getting better
at who she’s worked with, she’s very every year, because you will get there
good at what she does. She’s helped me eventually. It was a slog, but whether I got
an incredible amount. Putting is one of my card or not, it would’ve been completely
the best parts of my game at the moment, worth it.’ Lesson learned.
and it’s shown in my performance this
season. Working with her, it’s awesome
to think about the future and where we
might end up.’
BY NUMBERS
1
Where he ends up is now the next part Tournament wins on the Sunshine
of the journey for Van Rooyen. Tour – the 2017 Eye of Africa PGA
‘The goal up until this point has been Championship
3.88
to secure my card. I haven’t given it much
thought as to my new goal from here. I’m The
playing good golf and I’ve proved I can play average
at a high level. number
‘Now I’m on the European Tour and it’s of birdies
that extra step up. I guess, first of all, I need per round on the Sunshine Tour
62
to secure my card for the next season
Lowest round recorded
and then get my first European Tour win.
on the Sunshine Tour
You look at guys like Dylan Frittelli, who
– at the 2016 Sun Wild
obviously did that this year, so it’s possible.
Coast Sun Challenge
But yes, I’ll take some time to write down
71.24
some new goals.’ Career average
But, as Van Rooyen will be the first
TOM DULAT/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES
strokes taken
to point out, putting pen to paper is only per round on
a very small first step in that process. the Sunshine Tour
‘I feel like there are a lot of guys on the
Sunshine Tour who are good enough to
play on the European or the PGA Tour 2.7m Career prize money won
on the Sunshine Tour
but never get there. Players sometimes
PGA INSTRUCTION /// GOLF PRO GRANT HEPBURN

Practice
Makes
Perfect
South Africa has a long
history of producing world-
class golfers and in this series
of tips, Grant Hepburn looks
at what we can learn from
some of our best players.
This month he discusses
how copying Brandon Stone’s
putting drills can help make
you better on the greens.
 INSTRUCTION

Brandon Stone is one of the most exciting

young talents South Africa has produced
in a while. At 24, he already has two
European Tour wins to his name and
I am not alone in expecting plenty more
over his career.
Stone is tremendously talented, but he
is also a very hard worker – something we
saw when he worked his way through the
gruelling Challenge Tour to break through
to the European Tour. Now that he’s there,
he looks very much at home, but it’s
a tough route to your Tour card.
Like most players, Stone spends a lot of
time on the practice green, working on his
putting stroke. As the great Bobby Locke
used to say, ‘You drive for show but putt
for dough.’
While time on the green is important
for professionals and amateurs, it is vital
that you practise correctly, as this will
help you get the most out of your time.
The drills Stone uses are simple,
and focusing on the different aspects
of putting would be of great benefit
to amateur golfers too.

Repetition drill
For the first drill, pick a spot about six feet
from the hole, with a bit of break on the
putt. Stone likes to do this drill from eight
feet away, but for regular ammies, six feet
is more than enough. Now see how many
consecutive putts you can sink. For Stone,
20 in a row is a prerequisite, but he also
likes to put a bit of pressure on himself
by trying to beat his personal best each
week. At the moment that’s a whopping
47 in a row.
The beauty of this simple drill is that
it helps you develop a great putting
technique. You know the line and the
speed, so it’s a matter of making a good
stroke. It is also a great confidence builder.
What’s important in the putting stroke is
SAMANTHA PINTO/WARREN LITTLE/HM IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES

to make sure the length of the backswing

is always less than the throughswing, as
this encourages an acceleration through
the strike zone. I try to limit my backswing
to half the length of the throughswing
and if I’m hitting it too far or short, I adjust
my backswing accordingly, ensuring the
throughswing remains much longer.
Notice how my head hasn’t moved
until the ball has fallen into the hole
– a lot of amateurs come up and out
of the stroke way too early.

compleatgolfer.com 49
INSTRUCTION

Compass drill
For this drill, Stone places balls at four positions around the key is to read the line of each putt before you hit it. If you select
hole, similar to the points on a compass. The good part about the right spot, you will have excellent diversity, with a left-to-
this drill is that each putt will have a different break, so the right, a right-to-left, and an uphill and a downhill putt.

Grant Hepburn has been a regular face in Compleat Golfer

Grant Hepburn for more than a decade. His CV includes time coaching
on the European and PGA Tours, and an impressive list
of top amateurs and pros. He is the CEO of Golf RSA and
the South African Golf Development Board. Follow
him on Twitter @granthepburn.
Speed control drill
For his last drill, Stone works on hitting putts from the same line,
but different distances, so he places balls in a line, one foot apart.
This is a great drill for practising pace control, as the line changes
very little when you putt from different lengths. The key is to focus
on the rhythm of your putting stroke. Maintain a good rhythm as
your putting stroke increases in length the further you get from
the hole. Like Stone, it is a good idea to set and attempt to break
records as you go, as this helps to keep you focused on each putt.
compleatgolfer.com 51
 e B er t i e
Th lyn and
C a i
R
t
SA Sh o w
eir Natio
had th ews from a
rou
al at Glendowe
nal Finnd the coun
try
r.

Golf nd other n
This a

Caitlyn McNab and Bertie Steenkamp Men’s A Division the champion, especially for the first event,’
were named the Golf RSA Champions 1 Bertie Steenkamp 71 77 148 he said. ‘We all know there are a lot of great
of Champions after they won the ladies 2 Brent Kirstein 78 72 150 amateur golfers in South Africa so I’m
and men’s divisions. The National Final 3 Sebastian Terblanche 80 71 151 delighted with this win.’
at Glendower featured club champions 4 Jannie Bronkhurst 78 74 152 In the men’s B Division, Wellington Golf
from across the country battling it 4 Vaughn van Deventer 78 74 152 Club’s Johan Brand shot superb rounds of
out to determine the ultimate club 79 and 80 to win by six strokes over Port
champion of champions across
various handicap divisions.
LADies siLver Division Elizabeth Golf Club’s Neil Webster, while
Bryanston Country Club’s Tyron Rees
1 Caitlyn McNab 71 75 146
McNab, from Serengeti Golf and ran out a narrow winner in the C Division,
2 Lenanda van der Watt 77 76 153
Wildlife Estate, took a six-shot lead edging out Mooinooi’s Bokkie Greyling
3 Jordan Rothman 77 80 157
into the final round courtesy of a wild by a point.
4 Kera Healey 79 83 162
opening round of 71 that included In the Ladies Bronze Division, it was
six birdies and her first hole-in-one.
The 15-year-old Golf RSA Elite Squad
Men’s B Division Kameeldoring’s Antoinette Human who
prevailed by four points over Waterkloof’s
1 Johan Brand 79 80 159
member played steady golf on the Lenie Cronje.
2 Neil Webster 79 86 165
final day to win by seven strokes over For ladies champion McNab, the event
3 Christopher Henry 88 81 169
Akasia’s Lenanda van der Watt, claiming was a huge amount of fun, and not only
her second amateur title in the process. due to the fact that she ended victorious.
Steenkamp had to battle not only LADies Bronze Division ‘I had so much fun out there as I’m
a strong field of the country’s top club 1 Antoinette Human 37 24 61 friends with everyone in the fourball,’
champions but also a bad back, as he 2 Lenie Cronje 31 26 57 she said. ‘I was just doing what I love.
prevailed by two strokes over Westlake’s 3 Cinteche du Plessis 33 23 56 The win feels like a bonus.’
Brent Kirstein. 3 Jennifer Theron 34 22 56
The Upington Golf Club member is WHAT IS GOLF RSA?
a former SA Country Districts team Men’s C Division Golf RSA is the new governing
player, but is limited to no more than 1 Tyron Rees 37 29 66 body for amateur golf in South
two rounds of golf per month these 2 Bokkie Greyling 31 34 65 Africa, comprising the South
days due to his bad back – so two days 2 Shane le Roux 36 29 65 African Golf Association, Womens
of golf on a gruelling course was a 4 Leonard Fritz 34 30 64 Golf South Africa and the South
challenge. ‘It’s a great privilege to be 5 Cilliers Miller 32 31 63 African Disabled Golf Association.

52 compleatgolfer.com
 golf rsa

Fourth in ArgentinA
South Africans Matt Saulez and Malcolm
Mitchell, ranked third and fourth respectively
in the SAGA amateur ranking, got their
Argentine sojourn off to a solid start with
a top-four finish at the 46th Copa Juan Carlos
Tailhade at Los Lagartos Country Club.
While Joey Savoie and Josh Walen from
Canada raced away to claim the country’s
third team title, by a mammoth 16 strokes,
the KwaZulu-Natal pair played steadily,
without really getting anything going.
Saulez offset a trio of bogeys with
three birdies for an even-par 71 to
finish the championship in a tie for
10th on three-over 287, while Mitchell’s
day started with a double-bogey. He
closed with a 75 to finish joint-19th,
on 10-over 294.
‘I had a pretty solid final day; didn’t
make too many mistakes,’ said Saulez.
‘Unfortunately I didn’t take advantage
of any of the par fives, which was
disappointing, because that prevented
me from posting a decent sub-par score.’
2017 Club Champions of
Champions are (l-r): Bertie
Steenkamp (Men’s A Division),
Caitlyn McNab (Ladies Silver
LeADing teAMs
1 Canada 142 142 138 134 556
Division), Johan Brand (Men’s
2 Brazil 139 146 139 148 572
B Division), Antoinette Human Malcolm Mitchell (front) and
3 Argentina 141 147 148 142 578
(Ladies Bronze Division) and Matt Saulez teamed up to claim
4 South Africa 147 147 141 146 581
Tyron Rees (Men’s C Division) fourth spot for SA in Argentina
5 Colombia 148 148 147 143 586

Sandra Winter collected her fourth Winter DoMinAtes

SA Mid-Amateur Championship Sandra Winter hoisted the SA Women’s
title, at Kimberley Golf Club Mid-Amateur Championship trophy for
a record fourth time, despite playing the
Kimberley Golf Club course ‘blind’ after
a nine-hour trip from the Southern Cape.
Having won the event in 2011, 2012
and 2016, she again won in wire-to-
wire fashion, prevailing by 11 strokes
over Desiree Earle and Sonja Bland.
Winter has long been one of the
country’s best amateur golfers, and has
represented South Africa abroad, at the
World Amateur Team Championship
and Astor Trophy. She was delighted
to add another title to her résumé.
‘It was a very special moment when
I completed the hat-trick last year, and
this win is even more special,’ she said.
‘The course was quite tough and competition
was strong. The kikuyu fairways have no
run and you had to be accurate with your
approaches into the firm greens.
‘By the final round, I felt I had come
to grips with the course, but not knowing
by how much I was leading or what the
field up ahead was doing was daunting.
I don’t have a lot of time to practise, but
I still apply what I learned as a player in
the WGSA programme.’
Elmien van Niekerk from Colesberg
images: supplied

Golf Club captured the B Division title on

255, while Newcastle golfer Lynette Lotriet
won the C Division with 106 points.
G ARTH MILNE

FITNESS
Keep the suspense
Another in our monthly series of instructions helping you
get the most out of your body – and improve your game

I am a fan of ‘bang for your buck’ viral on YouTube. Always ensure the placement. This is important for
type exercises. This is any exercise two adjustment lines on the straps are beginners to note because keeping
that challenges your core while utilising even. These can be adjusted to vary your feet close to your body is a good
multiple joints and engaging groups of your workouts, but making sure they’re way to start. If that’s too easy, gradually
muscles. A suspension trainer is one aligned will stop them from slipping move your feet away from your body
of the best tools with which to do this. and possibly causing an injury. to increase your incline.
A suspension trainer leverages gravity You can radically change an entire When using a suspension trainer you
against your body weight and you are able workout just by adjusting your foot must keep the straps taut and your abs
to perform hundreds of exercises.
You are in control of how much
you want to challenge yourself Push-ups
because you can simply adjust Take a standing position with your body at a slight angle, as shown. Drop your arms
your body position to add or down until the straps touch your shoulders. Engage your glutes and core, and keep
decrease resistance. them engaged throughout the exercise. Do not break your wrists from neutral.
Something as simple as a
chest press or bicep curl becomes
a core-stabilisation exercise.
Suspension trainer exercises
train for reactive stability as your
centre of gravity is constantly
on the move. If your core isn’t
tight, you’ll lose balance on the
straps. Bracing your core before
you move your body becomes
second nature. You’re relying
on your own ability to match
your centre of gravity with your
base of support. This ability will
increase the possibility of you
developing an athletic, balanced
and powerful golf swing.
Before working out on a
suspension trainer, make sure
it is set up properly and can
support your full body weight.
This may seem obvious, but
you don’t want to end up going
 Is, Ys & Ts
This is an effective exercise for
Rows improving control of your rotator cuff
Start with your feet underneath the handles, then let your body out by straightening and hence the club. Your elbows should
your arms. Brace your core and glutes, and pull yourself up by pinching your scapulae not bend during any of the movements.
together. Keep tension in the straps at all times. You can rotate your hands into a Brace your core as usual and pinch
neutral position to work your rhomboids, or keep your palms down and elbows high your scaps to finish the movement.
to work your middle trapezius and scapulae stabilisers. If you struggle, just stand further from
the anchor point to decrease the load.
Repeat the sequence ‘I. Y. T.’

and glutes tight. We introduced the

use of a suspension trainer in the art
of planking last month, but here are a
couple of fundamental exercises to help
improve the strength and function of
your upper body as well as integrating
your torso with your core.
Start with 5-10 repetitions of each,
amounting to 30-45 seconds of work.
The key here is to take your time.
The slower you go, the more your time-
under-tension and the more strength
you’re building in your postural muscles
from each exercise.

Garth Milne is a golf fitness specialist

who trains a number of professionals
on the world’s pro Tours, as well
as emerging amateur players. He
dedicates a lot of time to junior
academies across South Africa, but is
primarily based at the Serengeti Golf
Academy, where he and PGA pro
Doug Wood run their Wanna
Be A Champion programme.
For more information, visit
images: supplied

wannabeachampion.com.
Twitter: @SmileyMilne

compleatgolfer.com 55
 THEO MANYAMA
RULES
Another in our monthly series from
one of South Africa’s rules gurus that
will help you conquer the golf course
As a rules official I don’t
often find myself stumped
by a particular ruling, but
that was the case recently.
English professional Matthew
Southgate was playing at the
DAP Championship during
the Web.com Finals when he
had one of the most bizarre
incidents we’ve seen this year.
Southgate was putting on
the 15th green at Canterbury
GC when a leaf blew across
the green, struck his ball
and moved it slightly offline.
He went on to finish the
hole, and was then informed
that he had incurred a four-
stroke penalty – two strokes
for playing from the wrong
position and two for signing
for an incorrect scorecard.
I read of the ruling and,
frankly, I was surprised.
I immediately phoned the
Royal and Ancient, and they
IMAGES: SUPPLIED
told me they were equally
/GETTY IMAGES
surprised, but for a different
reason. They were surprised
CG_ZSTAR_strip2 2017-01-10T08:44:32+02:00
they hadn’t received more
calls about the ruling.
According to the rules,
Southgate should have
replaced his ball in the
original position and putted
again. I have no problem with
that. But the initial two-stroke
penalty raises questions in
my mind.
OFFICIAL RESPONSE
Jim Duncan, the Web.com Tour’s vice-president of rules and
competitions, said: ‘Matthew’s putt was deflected by a leaf
in motion and the putt was missed. Rule 19-1 requires the
stroke to be cancelled and replayed. Matthew proceeded
to tap in his next putt and continued with his round. The
result was the following: two penalty strokes for a breach
of 19-1 (Matthew did not cancel and replay the stroke; see
Decision 19-1/3) plus an additional two penalty strokes for
a breach of 6-6d (see the exception for Rule 6-6d).
TAKE
NEW Z-STAR® SERIES
YOUR
PERFORMANCE
FURTHER
Tour-validated technology for players
that demand ultimate performance.
I can tell you that 90%
of rules officials would have
given the player the option to
replay the stroke or play from
where his ball was – without
penalty. Imagine if the ball
went in the hole?
But the rule says he had to
cancel the stroke and replay
the putt.
I wouldn’t be surprised if
this is one of the rules that
gets revised at some time.
WHO IS THEO MANYAMA?
He has long been one of
world golf’s most respected
rules officials. In 2015,
Manyama completed his
‘Grand Slam’ of having
officiated at every Major
when he was invited
to officiate at The PGA
Championship and he
was on hand to provide
rules direction at the 2016
Olympic Games in Rio de
Janeiro. He also received the
Minister’s Excellence Award
at the annual South African
Sports ExcellenceAwards.
As a tournament director
and rules official, Manyama
is respected worldwide by
players and officials alike.
He has been a rules official
at 16 Masters, nine US Opens,
19 Open Championships and
one PGA Championship, as
well as countless World Golf
Championships and regular
Tour events.
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 gary lemke
COLUMN
the magic
of tiger
Let’s talk about Tiger.
Because, let’s face it, Woods is
box-office royalty. Or, in this
increasingly screen-driven
world, a clickbait goldmine.
The 14-time Major champion
is back in the public eye, and in
a good way, this time. Not like
July, when he was captured in
a disturbing police mugshot,
disorientated, incoherent and
dishevelled after being found
at the wheel of his car at 3am
a few kilometres from his
Jupiter Island mansion.
Tiger has what is routinely
called ‘bouncebackability’. It’s
not a great word, but it’s part
of the modern sporting lexicon
and it certainly applies to the
42-year-old, who won his first
Major in 1997 and the last of
his 14 at the 2008 US Open.
Just when it seemed a shoo-
Keyur Khamar/getty images/gallo images
in that the then 33-year-old
phenomenon would leave
Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 Major
titles in the rearview mirror,
his whole life, and career,
unravelled on that fateful
night in November 2009
when he crashed into a fire
hydrant, fleeing an argument
with his now ex-wife.
A year ago Tiger announced
yet another return to the
competitive arena after
spending more months on
the sidelines, appearing
at the annual Hero World
Challenge, which he hosts
every December. In February
he withdrew from the Dubai
Desert Classic and 2017
has flashed past as he has
battled against an addiction to
painkillers and back problems
that threatened to leave him
in a wheelchair.
So, just the sight of him
teeing up at this year’s Hero
World Challenge is something
the golf world can celebrate.
For now, it’s not about the
winning, which is something
you’d never expect to hear
when discussing Tiger Woods,
a driven man who never knew
the meaning of the word
‘second’ when growing up.
In talking to the media,
which doesn’t come naturally
to him, before his latest
comeback, he said, ‘I’ve had
four operations on my knee.
Forget when my back was
bad, pre-surgeries and pre-
back problems, people were
saying the same thing, “Why
don’t you go back to 2000?”
I can’t. My knee is trashed
from all those years of playing
that way. I can’t do that any
more. I have to look for a
different way.’
So, the remodelled Tiger
is back on the range and
on the tee. Hallelujah. Those
who might be too young to
remember him taking the
world by storm 20 years ago
can at least get a glimpse of
what made him potentially
the greatest golfer.
Winning again is unlikely;
not when he’s a walking
emergency ward playing
against a generation of
American twentysomethings
that include Jordan Spieth,
Justin Thomas and Brooks
Koepka, not to mention those
golfers from outside the US.
compleatgolfer.com
However, even if Tiger is
going to resemble a faded
Mike Tyson climbing into the
ring with pillows for gloves
and protective headgear for
a sparring session, the mere
fact he’s in the public eye
again – for all the right
reasons – is something
we can only applaud.
Tiger is also good for
other golfers. He has made
more millionaires out of
journeymen professionals
than any other person on
the planet. He was the reason
television networks and
sponsors threw money at
the game, which now sees
the pros playing for a million
dollars a week. There isn’t
one pro out there who doesn’t
want Tiger to be visible on
the Tour again – even if he
languishes somewhere down
the leaderboard.
And that’s why Tiger is box
office. We simply can’t ignore
him. Genius comes once in
a generation – and sometimes
not as often as that.
59
 EST
INN

60 compleatgolfer.com
 COAST
NER Situated some 130km to the north of Cape
Town, this course provides an all-round
enjoyable experience. By Mark Sampson
IMAGES: MARK SAMPSON

The 18th
COURSE OF THE MONTH
he west coast of South
Africa runs for about
780km – from Cape Town
to the Namibian border.
It is generally dry due to the
climate controlled by the cold
waters of the Atlantic Ocean, with
a countryside consisting mainly
of fynbos and renosterveld.
Compared to the rest of
the country, it is a vastly
underpopulated area with few
towns. Saldanha Bay is the main
city on the coastline, surrounded
by numerous smaller towns like
Yzerfontein, Paternoster, Velddrif,
Hopefield, Vredenberg and Darling.
Many of these are primarily tourist
destinations with nature, wild flowers
and wine being the main attractions.
Of all the West Coast getaways,
Langebaan is undoubtedly the most
popular, with many activities on offer,
stemming from the massive lagoon
favoured by boaters, kite-boarders
and fishermen.
The stunning West Coast National
Park is just a drive and chip down
the road, while the town itself has
numerous shops and restaurants. At
the centre of the growing metropolis
and playing a major part in its growth
is the aptly named Langebaan
Country Estate.
From humble beginnings, and not
without some trying times along the
way, this estate is going from strength
to strength. It is continuously updating
and upgrading its facilities, which include
golf, housing and general activities.
According to the estate’s CEO, Craig Scott,
most of the plots have been sold and they
are in discussions to open another section
and add a retirement village. In terms of
recreation, trail-running and mountain-
biking routes have been created, not only
for home owners but also for the general
public. Scott emphasises that the estate
and golf course welcome visitors.
On the edge of the West Coast reserve,
the estate maintains high standards on
and off the course to promote local fauna
and flora. There are strict guidelines for
new houses when introducing plants to
the garden: they have to be indigenous
and endemic. The course has numerous
environmentally sensitive areas – which
are strictly off-limits to golfers and home
owners – to help stabilise the local flora
and to seed neighbouring areas.
Several ‘green’ corridors have also
been established to allow springbok,
bontebok and other small mammals
freedom of movement.
Since the estate opened its doors in
2003, it has matched and influenced
the growth of the Langebaan area. The
golf course, initially designed by Bill Kerr,
 was out of kilter and in 2006 it was
decided to commission Gary Player’s
Black Knight Design company to
HOLE YARDAGE PAR STROKE redesign it. They made numerous
1 358 4 1 changes and added a number of large
2 335 4 9 waste bunkers and a massive water
3 188 3 11 feature in front of the clubhouse to
divide the 10th and 18th holes. Most
4 454 5 17
importantly, the tees and greens were
5 362 4 7 upgraded and are now a feature of the
6 145 3 13 course. The greens are generally large
and don’t have excessive slopes, which
7 394 4 5
allows for golfers to manage the wind
8 494 5 15 a bit better.
9 405 4 3 The course meanders through the
Out 3 135 36
estate with houses set well back. Only
25% of the land is allocated to plots and
10 328 4 6 building is restricted to 50% of the erf.
11 114 3 18 At 6 041m, the course is no monster,
12 469 5 16 but in windy conditions some of the
holes can play exceptionally long.
13 399 4 4
Off the back tees, for tournaments,
14 338 4 12 the course stretches 6 359m.
15 364 4 2 From the start, Langebaan sets the
tone with the stroke one. At 358m, it is
16 158 3 10
a challenge as it is played into the teeth
17 320 4 8 of the prevailing south-easter rising
18 416 5 14 from tee to the green. A fairway bunker
In 2 906 36
right is the main concern off the tee box,
The 2nd so favour the left side of the fairway.
TOTAL 6 041 72 A medium- to long-iron will be left to

The 4th

The 9th

compleatgolfer.com 63
COURSE OF THE MONTH

GREENFEES
The 13th Members:
18 holes R135
9 holes R80
Affiliated:
18 holes R335
9 holes R210
Non-affiliated:
18 holes R495
9 holes R300
Students:
18 holes R160
Affiliated juniors (U18):
18 holes R125
Cart rental (visitors):
18 holes: R290
9 holes: R175

ROAD DISTANCES
(FROM, ESTIMATED)
the green with its surface protected by a bunker another bunker on the right. The green slopes Cape Town: 132km
left and right. A par here signifies a solid start. from back to front, but shouldn’t present any Port Elizabeth: 855km
The signature hole is the 7th. Check out the pro major challenges. It’s a definite birdie opportunity Bloemfontein: 1 112km
tip (on page 67) on how to walk away unscathed for the longer hitters.
Kimberley: 1 005km
from this 394m par four. Aside from fun and enjoyment being the
East London: 1 092km
The 13th is a typical risk-and-reward hole into priority of the estate, its slogan of ‘Live It, Love It’
Johannesburg: 1 448km
which Black Knight put a lot of thought. Totalling rings true throughout. Scott is adamant that while
Pretoria: 1 512km
399m in length, it is long, but played with the maintaining high standards, the estate opens its
wind it is manageable. A strong dogleg right to arms to all visitors, across all its facilities. Durban: 1 685km
left, it can be shortened over the corner, but a From a golfing perspective these include the
waste bunker and several trees await a mis-hit new mashie course, which is fast proving a hit
RETURN FLIGHT
shot. Go too long and two fairway bunkers on the with the casual player who may be intimidated PRICES
right side will make for a tough par. A medium- by the main course. A state-of-the-art driving (ESTIMATES ONLY,
iron should be left to the gently sloping green range can accommodate 60 players at all levels. TO CAPE TOWN INTL)
protected by a bunker front left and back right. For those looking to learn the game, or the serious Durban: R1 648
It’s a great hole, all things considered. golfer wanting to improve, two indoor bays with Johannesburg: R1 678
The 18th is a grand finish to the round with a FlightScope meter are available. This enables Bloemfontein: R1 878
water left of the fairway. At 416m, it is a rather the teaching staff, led by head professional Max East London: R2 478
tame par five, hence its stroke rating of 14. Water Birkenhead, to analyse swings and illustrate what Port Elizabeth: R2 818
is a danger off the tee box, so keeping the ball changes are needed. The estate also has a gym,
on the right of the fairway is advisable, leaving a conference facilities, bar and restaurant equipped GETTING THERE
lay-up for most. The lay-up area is not the widest, to handle any occasion. (From Cape Town): Take
so check the yardage and keep in mind what your In terms of golf courses on the West Coast, the N1 north. Turn left on
favourite approach distance is before going for it. outside Cape Town, the course at Langebaan to the R27 (Paarden Eiland
Greenside, a bunker between the green and Country Estate is without doubt the best along turnoff). Continue along the
water is the only protection if you go left, with the entire stretch of coastline. R27 (West Coast Road) for
approximately 100km until
you reach the West Coast
1-Stop petrol station. Turn
left towards Langebaan.
Continue for 8km. The
entrance is on your left.

ADDRESS
1 Oostewal Road
Langebaan
7357
S33 04 20 E18 03 18

CONTACT DETAILS
Golf lodges: (022) 772 2112
Clubhouse: (022) 772 2112
Pro shop: (022) 772 2498

The 17th WEBSITE

langebaanestate.co.za

64 compleatgolfer.com
 2018

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LANGEBAAN COUNTRY
ESTATE GOLF COURSE
Hole No 7, 394m, par four
The 7th at Langebaan Country
Estate is a stunning par four
meandering from a high tee
box down towards the green.
It is the highest point on
the course and with it come
the best views of the lagoon,
CG_UltiSoft_strip2 2017-01-10T08:43:30+02:00
West Coast National Park and
Saldanha Bay in the distance.
At sunset, it’s an absolute treat.
Local PGA professional
Max Birkenhead gives us
suggestions on how best
to score par.
With the high location comes
exposure to windy conditions,
which are common to the area.
The right-to-left shaped fairway
can be a difficult target as the
south-easter blows across
it from left to right, says
Birkenhead. For the straight
hitters, the left edge of the
fairway is a good target,
allowing the wind to feed
the ball back to the middle.
Depending on how long you
are off the tee, make sure the
fairway bunker on the right is
kept out of play as finding it
often results in a bogey. That
said, favouring the right side
of the fairway is a good idea
to open up the green.
For the average golfer
a mid- to long-iron will be
left to the green. It’s a large
TAKE
YOUR
PERFORMANCE
FURTHERSuper low compression,
SIGNATURE HOLE
PGA professional
Max Birkenhead
target protected by a bunker
front left and a drop-off to the
right of the green. Make sure
you don’t go over the back
as the rough is thick and
numerous trees will make for
a difficult up and down. During
the approach keep the wind in
mind and think about taking
one club extra in order to keep
the ball down.
Leaving the ball short is
better than going over the back
but be aware that the apron is
a tight paspalum grass species,
which can make chipping very
difficult. If you find yourself
here, a rescue club is the best
option to get a good roll on the
ball. This stroke-five 394m
hole requires a combination
of course management and
good ball striking.
ultimate feel.
environment
 game on Langebaan Country Estate is doing
a good job of keeping wild animals
on the course and maintaining a
healthy balance. By Mark Sampson

Some may say the jury is out
regarding wild game on golf
courses. No doubt, it comes
with pros and cons. The most
common argument for courses
having game is that it enhances
the golf experience.
The trend of fewer rounds
being played requires some out-
of-the-box thinking and it could
be argued that game helps
attract more golfers, tourists
in particular. There’s nothing
quite like heading back to the
UK to tell your mates how you
were surrounded by a herd of
antelope while making a birdie.
The downside, of course, is
hoof marks on the greens and
in bunkers, and possibly some
‘pruning’ of your garden hedge
or favourite azaleas. Most
courses feel that this is all
manageable and worth the
isolated incidents.
Langebaan Country Estate
image: mark SampSon
on the course. It also boasts over
130 bird species and a long list
of natural flora, while having
one of the largest selections of
tortoise species in the country.
Of the introduced game,
springbok and bontebok are
the main species that add value
to the playing experience and
estate. Previously, ostriches
were also housed on the estate,
but were deemed to be a danger
during their breeding season.
Like most things in nature,
balance is needed between
land and animal in terms of
basic survival and having
enough food and water in the
area. This means continual
management after their
introduction to the course,
and knowing what is a safe
and viable number to prevent
undue stress on the course
and surrounding vegetation.
Interestingly, the course
of best management for
the introduced species.
Bontebok are one of two
sub-species in South Africa,
with the blesbok being the
more common of the two on
the highveld. The endangered
bontebok is present further
south in the fynbos and
renosterveld areas of the
Western Cape.
Thanks to the expertise of
the local farmer, the antelope
are given a safe haven not
only to live, but also to breed.
This season the herd has
increased by three. As soon
as the numbers become too
great, the farmer relocates them.
At the same time, golfers and
visitors are treated to some
close encounters they wouldn’t
usually experience.
Managing 450 hectares of
land, which includes housing,
restaurants, conference centres,

has long been an advocate of has an agreement with a a spa and a golf course, is
introducing game to the course local farmer, who houses the no easy task, yet somehow
and is blessed with a number bontebok and helps manage Langebaan Country Estate
of small mammals residing and direct the course in terms is excelling at it.

compleatgolfer.com 69
eQUiPment

new
Horizons With the festive season upon
us, we have a look at what
might catch your eye just
in time for the holidays.

A bad workman always blames his tools, so they

say. And that’s something every high-handicapper
tells themselves as another drive goes wayward
off the tee, or an iron shot pulls left on what should
have been a straight approach.
‘Try my 4-iron next time,’ a playing partner might
say. And lo and behold, two holes later, the golfer
has an opportunity to hit a 180m shot and asks for
the 4-iron. The strike is true and the ball flies to the
riCHarD HeaTHCoTe/geTTY imageS/gaLLo imageS/SUppLieD

green. ‘Wow, what is this? TaylorMade? I must get

myself a new set of irons.’
That’s a discussion that goes on everywhere and
it’s the addiction we have to improve our game that
continually sees us browse the catalogues and walk
into the golf stores to see what the latest equipment
is on the shelves. Let’s admit it: some people buy a
new pair of shoes every month, others keep trading
in their cars for newer models. Why should golfers
be any different?
In our December issue of Compleat Golfer we take
you through some of the latest releases brands are
putting out there just in time for the festive-season
holidays – which means more time outside in the
sun on your nearest golf course.
 EQUIPMENT
718 AP2
Raise the bar on the gold standard for
Tour iron excellence. If you demand
ultimate playability with consistent
distance and forgiveness, these are
the irons for you.
TBC

718 AP1
Labelled the ultimate game-
improvement iron, with
explosive ball speed and an 718 AP3
even more forgiving face, These new irons represent the
718 AP1 irons reward you in best of both worlds. Everything
every way you can imagine. Titleist has learned from creating
All while maintaining the and advancing its AP1 and AP2
coveted classic look and feel. irons has been merged to create
TBC its longest, fastest player’s iron.
TBC

718 CB
Traditional looks packed with
modern technology. The 718 CB irons
continue Titleist’s legacy of delivering
TITLEIST
incredible Tour-proven performance
in a sleek, cavity-back profile.
TBC

718 T-MB
What began as the
ultimate utility
iron has grown
into a full set of
uniquely designed,
technologically
advanced irons that
deliver distance at
every loft.
TBC

718 MB
For the purist there is no substitute
for a one-piece, muscle-back iron. The
718 MB is the modern choice for those
desiring a traditional, forged look and
feel, a classic muscle-back designed
for today’s ultimate in shot-making.
TBC

compleatgolfer.com 71
EQUIPMENT

COBRA
8-24 F-MAX FAIRWAY
Designed for golfers with moderate swing speeds,
the F-Max fairway woods offer a shallower profile
at address, promoting a higher launch for those
struggling to get the ball airborne.
R2 499
F-MAX OS DRIVER
Cobra’s lightest, most forgiving
driver engineered for golfers with
moderate swing speeds who 8-24 F-MAX IRONS
require maximum draw bias. Featuring lightweight
R3 799 shafts and additional swing
weights, the F-Max irons
deliver maximum speed
and forgiveness for
8-24 F-MAX golfers with moderate
HYBRID swing speeds.
Extremely forgiving, it R8 999
incorporates an offset
design engineered to
create an added draw
bias for more accurate
approach shots.
R2 299

MIZUNO
MP-18 MMC IRONS
Being the most forgiving in their
range, the MP-18 MMC irons are
designed for better shot control and
are aimed at mid- to low-handicap
golfers. Players looking to combine
forgiveness and playability will not
be disappointed with the quality for
which Mizuno irons are renowned.
MP-18 R15 999 (available in RH only) MP-18 SC IRONS
Sculptured by Mizuno’s
master craftsmen, a
(SPLIT CAVITY)
A player’s cavity-back
throwback tribute to the
design that combines
muscle-back blades of
stability and workability
the past that have been
which is Tour-ready,
re-engineered on the irons
but aimed at
of Major winners. These
low-handicap and
irons are designed for the
professional golfers.
low-handicap golfer and
R15 999
professional who are purists
of ball striking and want the
ability to manufacture shots
on demand.
R15 999 (available in RH only)

AD333
This new-generation AD333
is a high-performance, two-
piece golf ball that delivers
an exceptional balance
of distance, soft feel and
greenside control. Best
suited to golfers with
a medium to high swing
speed, they come in pure
white and Tour yellow.
R29.99 per ball
0311X DRIVING
IRONS
A high-performance,
low-spin driving iron
with a striking profile
that inspires confidence,
the 0311X is designed
to deliver a more
penetrating ball flight,
keeping the golf ball out
of the wind and in the
middle of the fairway.
R7 500
SRIXON
XXIO 10 IRONS
These feature a synergy between the newly
developed smart-impact shaft that promotes
consistent body motion during the swing
and the new high-energy impact head that
maximises the sweet spot. Unlike excessive
wide-sole designs, these provide a more
comfortable look at address.
R19 999
XXIO
10 WOODS
XXIO (pronounced zek-si-oh)
offers clubs with real distance gains
for moderate swing speed golfers,
and with the newly launched XXIO 10
clubs, golfers can experience even more.
They use intricate technology. However, in
this makeup three innovative and unique
technologies create TRUE-FOCUS IMPACT,
enhancing the size of the sweet spot and
improving consistency of your impact
pattern so you hit the sweet spot more
often. The combinations create
unparallelled gains in distance
and accuracy.
Driver: R8 999
Fairway: R 5 999
Hybrid: R3 999
PXG BAT ATTACK
PUTTERS
A modified mallet-style
design with a face-balanced
hang angle, Bat Attack uses
a double-bend shaft that
creates a half-shaft of offset.
Designed for players with
a straight-back-straight-
through stroke.
R11 650
0311T SUGAR DADDY
MILLED WEDGE
Fine-tune your short game with
PXG’s series of performance-
engineered, forged and milled
wedges. Designed to add
versatility to your bag, PXG
wedges are available in loft
and bounce options.
R12 000
compleatgolfer.com 73
 CLEVELAND
CBX WEDGES
Built to be more forgiving
and easier to hit than Tour-
designed wedges, while
providing more spin and
versatility than set-matching
wedges. This new wedge,
modelled to complement the
address profile and swing
weight of the most popular
cavity-back irons, is designed
to look, feel and play like the
game-improvement irons
used by 84% of golfers.
R1 999

GOLF SMART SOLE 3 WEDGES

LAUNCHER HB IRONS
These feature a hybrid
construction to help flight the
ball higher and give you the
confidence to attack the pin.
The hybrid-like long-irons provide
all the distance and forgiveness
found in traditional hybrid designs,
and the iron-like short-irons
combine the forgiveness of a
hollow construction with the
spin and control you’d expect
from typical irons.
Graphite: R11 999
Steel: R9 999
Now in its third generation, these wedges
feature a new sole design that’s optimised
for smooth turf interaction. Players with
inconsistent swings will experience better
contact on bunker shots, chips and full shots.
Each wedge has a loft angle that makes it
easier to chip on to the green and get out
of the sand, as well as better feel, thanks
to a repositioned centre of gravity.
R1 799
LAUNCHER HB WOODS
Back with a suite of technologies just right for dedicated
golfers who prefer forgiving clubs to launch it high and split
the fairway are the all-new Cleveland Launcher HB woods.
The Launcher HB driver, fairway and hybrid provide high
launch, low spin and distance combined with forgiveness
that is sought after by most golfers.
Driver: R4 999
Fairway: R3 599
Hybrid: R2 999

LAUNCHER CBX IRONS

These combine all of Cleveland Golf’s proven
wedge-spin technologies with a forgiving cavity-
back design to help achieve incredible distance.
The Tour Zip Grooves and
laser milling produce high
levels of spin from the
fairway and the rough,
providing dramatically
improved control
around the course.
Graphite: R11 999
Steel: R9 999
 EQUIPMENT

G400 DRIVERS

PING
The streamlined shape advances aerodynamics and
stability to Ping’s highest levels. The multi-material
design combines reduced drag, a forged face to increase
speed and distance, and a tungsten back weight for
producing its fastest, most forgiving driver.
TBC

G400 CROSSOVER
Now in its second generation,
the Crossover combines
the precision and control of
an iron with the ball speed
and forgiveness of a hybrid.
Fast ball speeds, a higher
max height and straight ball
flights provide unmatched
versatility.
TBC
G400 FAIRWAYS
This wood’s ball speed and
stopping power come from an
innovative maraging steel face,
making them the hottest, highest-
launching fairway woods produced
by Ping. The material is commonly
used in the aerospace industry,
where strength and flexibility
are necessities.
TBA
G400 IRONS
The face-flexing technology
allows for Tour-level distance with
stopping power and forgiveness.
These irons flex like a catapult,
launching the ball higher and
further. One Ping pro said during
testing, ‘This G400 7-iron has turned
into my 6-iron but in an 8-iron
window.’ Golfers can expect one less
club to the green, with the height of
two less clubs.
TBC

CALLAWAY O-WORKS BLACK

The new O-Works Black putters
APEX MB were driven by extensive feedback
A true muscle-back from Odyssey’s staffers. Some
is only suited for the players prefer a clean, simple look
best of the best players, at address and this all-black finish
which is why they are has been a popular choice with the
so prevalent on the pros for years. With an impressive
professional Tours. The lineup of new head shapes, it’s
pros know what they just another example of Odyssey’s
want from the precision commitment to relentless
and performance innovation.
in their irons, and TBC
Callaway relied heavily
on their input in
developing its new
Apex Muscleback irons.
This classically crafted,
TOULON PUTTER
Odyssey believes a great putter is the
forged design comes in
sum of great parts. The head, face, sole,
a beautiful chrome
hosel, weight, shaft and grip have to work
finish, with a thinner
in harmony to form a finely functioning
topline and the
whole that delivers the best possible
smallest blade that
combination of feel, sound and roll. This
Callaway has to offer.
is what has gone into the Toulon putter.
TBC
They are premium putters for golfers
acutely aware of how a club’s performance
is born of the intersection of look, sound,
feel and technology.
TBC

compleatgolfer.com 75
 C300 HYBRIDS
With unique power holes across
all the woods and hybrid metals,
Wilson has taken technology to
the next level to bring golfers
a club that not only performs
better, but technology you
can see and feel.
TBC

D350 IRON/HYBRID SETS

Distance technology has been instilled
across the sole of the new D350 iron/
hybrid set. These clubs are specifically
designed to help get the ball airborne
and forward. Height has become an
important part of development in all
clubs and this is a key feature in the
success of the D350.
TBC

C300 IRONS
Distance plus forgiveness is
a key ingredient in these all-
new irons. They are designed
to go further while still being
more forgiving to the golfer,
making them easier to hit
and improving your iron

WILSON
game from tee to green.
TBC

C300 FORGED IRONS C300 DRIVERS

The design focuses on distance and feel through
holes strategically positioned on the toe and sole,
providing maximum flex and expanding the sweet
spot across the entire striking surface. Golfers will
experience a much softer feel on all shots, without
having to sacrifice distance.
TBC
Power up your long game with the
C300, a revolutionary new driver with
the power, feel and accuracy that only
Wilson Staff can deliver. The first
driver-head design with power holes.
TBC

C300 FAIRWAY
The first-of-its-kind
fairway woods by Wilson
Staff is a step in a direction
that is sure to challenge
competitors in the market.
The range boasts new-age
tech to improve your game
on mis-hits and create more
consistency throughout
your game.
TBC

76 compleatgolfer.com

TAYLORMADE
P790 IRONS
This beauty is also a
beast, packing powerful
performance into a clean,
classic design to deliver
unprecedented distance
in a player’s iron through
a combination of forged
construction. Golfers will
experience feel, forgiveness
and workability unlike any
iron of this calibre.
Steel: R19 999
Graphite: R22 999
MILLED GRIND
BRONZE WEDGE
‘Wedges that are hand-ground lend themselves
to inconsistencies from wedge to wedge,
especially when mass produced. TaylorMade’s
new milled grind wedges ensure precision
where it matters most. There are three uniquely
milled grinds for all types of swings and turf
conditions.’ – Paul Demkowski, expert engineer,
irons and wedges
R2 299
27809TPumaCompleat 2017-08-31T12:02:26+02:00
EQUIPMENT
MCGB IRONS
‘The CGB name is iconic and
represents some of the longest
and most forgiving irons TaylorMade have ever created. The
concept has been recreated with all their latest technologies
to bring never-before seen performance to golfers of all levels.’
– Tomo Bystedt, senior director, iron creation
Steel: R18 999 Graphite: R21 999
P730
IRONS
Designed off
TaylorMade’s
heritage of Major ARDMORE 2
championship- SINGLE BEND
winning blade-irons, The TP Ardmore Red
especially with Collection incorporates
TPMB ’11 and TPMB TaylorMade’s striking
’14. Golfers who have Tour red finish into a
played with MB will long, modern-shaped
know this is for the mallet design. With clean
highly-skilled player. aesthetics, adjustable sole
R 19 999 weights and TaylorMade’s
pure roll insert, the TP
Ardmore Red will inspire
confidence on the green
for all players.
R3 999
T H E Y E A R t Golfer
Complea dia
is the meor Els for
partner f nd this

A S
Autism ae look

W
month whe many

A T
back at tts of 2017

TH
highligh

Another year has flown by,

with Compleat Golfer getting a
front-row view of how generous
South African golfers can be.
As the official media partner
to Els for Autism’s Drive to the
SA Open, we have seen not
only some good golf, but also
the kind spirit of those who
have made time to support
Ernie Els’ initiative. From Pearl
Valley to St Francis Links and
everywhere in between, teams
of two battled, albeit in jovial
spirit, for a place in the pro-am
at the SA Open, while separate
‘battles’ emerged at the dinners
that followed the golf, with
auctions helping raise more
funds for the worthy cause.
If you have not yet signed
up for an Els for Autism golf
day, don’t delay when the next
series rolls through a course
near you.

HOW DID OUR
READERS HELP?
Els for Autism funds its
centre mainly through
golf days, which form
part of the ‘Els for Autism
Drive to the SA Open’.
There was an enthusiastic
response to the 15 events
leading up to the final
and a chance to play at
the SA Open Pro-Am.
imageS: SUppLieD
ELS FOR AUTISM
HOW IT STARTED
The Els for Autism
Foundation was established
in 2009 by Ernie and Liezl
Els to focus on autism,
a couple of years after
discovering their son,
Ben, was severely affected
by the disorder, which
impacts one in 68 people
worldwide. Els for Autism
aims to provide affected
families with best-practice
interventions and support.
In 2011, Ernie and Liezl
initiated a project to create
a service that would give
lower-resourced families
of children on the spectrum
in South Africa free access
to effective treatment and
the Ernie Els Centre for
Autism was born.
CONTACT
The Children’s Memorial
Institute (Gate 13), cnr
Empire Rd and Joubert
St Ext, Braamfontein 2011
Tel: (011) 484-7254
ernieelscentre4autism.co.za
southafrica@elsforautism.org
compleatgolfer.com 79
JournEy
to
Sold as one golfer, one
caddie and one epic golfing
adventure, the Longest
Hole was that, and a lot

thE
more, 82 days later.
By Wade Pretorius

End
images: andrew King
 conversation in Kenya
and a passion for golf
and adventure sparked
an epic expedition
through one of
the world’s most
deserted countries.
It was impossible
to classify the
event into either a ‘golf’ or an ‘adventure’
story. And then you have to factor in the
‘humanity’ and ‘man’s best friend’ elements.
Two friends – Adam Rolston and Ron
Rutland – separated by a numbers of years
but united by rugby, found themselves in
Kenya near the end of Rolston’s career as
a professional rugby player plotting one of
golf’s finest feats: the longest hole played.
Fortunately, the duo had key individual
strengths to convert this pipedream into
reality, even if the sheer audacity of the
task – to play golf across Mongolia – took
many outsiders by surprise.
Rolston’s sporting talents run deep and
as a former scratch golfer, the Northern
Irishman was a good fit for the role of
golfer, while Rutland is a banker-turned-
adventurer who once spent more than
two years cycling across Africa to get to
Europe in time for the Springboks’ ill-fated
2015 World Cup campaign.
That said, their plan was shocking. There
is a reason more than half of Mongolia’s
population of three million lives in the
capital. The landscape is as diverse as it
is harsh – from rocks, snow and glaciers
to the searing heat of the Gobi Desert, it is
hardly the place a golfer would look to tee
it up. But then again, nothing about this
story can be described in normal golf terms.
The player and caddie
‘In a normal caddie-player relationship,
I know they often say “we did this” and
“we need that”, but there’s ultimately
a hierarchy-type relationship. This trip
was very much a team effort,’ says
Rutland. ‘Although it was very much
a golfing adventure – you know, it was
about getting Adam across Mongolia –
in this case I was the one with adventure
experience and he’d never done anything
like it in his life.
‘We were on a rugby tour in Kenya
and came up with the idea together, but
it took all the skills I learned in previous
expeditions just to get to the start line
– or, in this case, the 1st tee.’
On the 1st tee, the relationship flipped
on its head once again because the only
way the two budding adventurers would
make it to the green, an estimated par
14 000, would be by sticking together.
Rutland laughs and says, ‘Once we hit the
ground, the relationship couldn’t be more
different to a normal golfing one because
at times, he would hit and then run over to
me and help push the cart up a steep hill. At
times, it was so steep I would be holding the
cart, waiting for him to hit and then help
get us over the hill. You certainly don’t see
Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth doing that.’
The bag
Fourteen clubs, a few balls, a sand bag and
a pitch-mark repairer are all essentials for
a normal round, but not in this case. ‘Ha
ha; no, a bag wouldn’t have cut it. Where
would our bedrooms go?’ says Rutland.
A custom-built cart was designed to hold
everything including two tents, a first-aid
kit, the camping equipment, food, water
and cooking utensils.
‘Weight was of paramount importance;
we knew the terrain would be tough so
every kilogram counted. We debated it
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 THE LONGEST HOLE

and decided the extra tent was the way to

go – it turned out to be a good call because
we needed some space after spending so
much time together in trying conditions.’
From a golfing perspective, Rolston had
a driver, a 3-wood, a 4-iron, a 7-iron, an
8-iron, a wedge and a putter.
‘The driver was hit once – off the 1st tee
– and the 3-wood probably twice, the 4-iron
a dozen times and the putter only on the
green. My biggest fear was that we’d go all
the way across Mongolia and Adam would
chip in. Imagine what a waste it would have
been carrying that 600g, or whatever it is,
all that way and never using it.’

The coUrse
Rutland spent some time in Mongolia
10 years ago and while Rolston thought
it might be good, and a lot easier, to play

‘aT This raTe he’s going

To UlaanbaaTar’
A stray dog became almost as famous as Rolston and Rutland after
joining the pair fairly early in the journey. ‘We were often asked online
“How are you guys? But more importantly, how’s UB?”’ laughs Ron.
After some early friction, the pair decided to keep the dog and named
him ‘UB’ after the final destination. ‘He made his home under the cart
and followed us everywhere. I had to carry his water, so it was Adam’s
job to feed him. He became very protective of us and would nip at
anyone who came too close to the cart.’ Rutland had never owned a
dog, but UB quickly worked his way into his heart, with the hardened
adventurer brought to tears when recounting how they parted. ‘He was
a companion and ja, it was so hard saying goodbye. We left him with a
lovely couple in a national park and it was good to know he’ll be happy.’

across his homeland, Mongolia was decided
as the perfect place. Not only because of
the dramatic conditions, but also due to
its barren plains.
‘It’s the land of no fences. Can you
imagine trying to do this across South
Africa? How many farms and fences you
would come across and how many permits
you would require?’ says Rutland.
A major obstacle was getting the timing
right. ‘Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital city
in the world and we only had a four-month
window. And with visas, etc, we set up a
very tight schedule. We got some tips for
our route because we needed a path that
was physically possible, even if many
thought it was crazy to do it in a country
with such temperature extremes, and that’s
before you factor in the mountain passes
and grass plains.’
The 1st Tee
It took the duo two and a half days to get
to the 1st tee, at Khuiten Peak. ‘We looked
for the most western point of the country.
Dozens of people told us we were mad
or crazy, with comments ranging from
“That’s impossible” to “Do you not have
anything better to do?”’ says Rolston.
‘That first week was the hardest of my
life. To get to the 1st tee we had to take
a Russian jeep through a national park
for five hours. From there, it was ridiculous.’
Eventually, Adam and Ron set up their
European Tour tee markers, Ron put on his
custom-made caddie bib and passed Adam
the driver. There would be no turning back.
The roUnd
The Longest Hole was backed by the
European Tour, the Sunshine Tour and
the Mongolian Golf Association, and
was played in the true spirit of the game.
‘Of course we wanted to set the world
record, but we also felt the strong urge to
play in the spirit of the game. We took our
drops, our unplayables and the like, and
that added to the score.’
An app recorded every shot, with
users worldwide following the progress
online and being notified when their ball
was in play. ‘It’s a game of honour and
we appreciate that. At times it would’ve
been easier to walk a few hundred metres
and carry on around an area that was
unplayable, but that’s not right.
‘We watched as the ball bounced around
rock gardens and, at times, Adam was

compleatgolfer.com 83
THE LONGEST HOLE
just hacking away trying to advance
the ball. His pitching-wedge – which he
unfortunately lost a few days before the
finish – had lost its ‘P’ and grooves after
being used to batter us towards the finish.’
Being alone, with hardly any human
contact for days, there were more than
a few hairy moments.
‘Our planning was pretty good but we
had some interesting times. Water was
a big concern – in the desert it’s life and
death if you don’t have any. Once, we had
only a day’s water left but out of nowhere
a shepherd appeared and we managed to
communicate enough for him to give us
directions to a well. We threw out what
we had left and filled up from the new
source. We tasted it and it was instant
regret. It was saline water and disgusting
– it tasted like animal hair.’
THE HALFWAY HOUSE
‘The longest we’d go without seeing a
settlement or people was five or six days,
so we had to make sure we always had
84 compleatgolfer.com
enough food and water for that time. We
also sent supplies ahead of us, so it was
more manageable to carry everything,’
explains Rutland, a vegan in a land that
fills its stomach on meat and cheese.
‘To be a vegetarian in Mongolia was
not easy. Fortunately for our planning,
Adam’s girlfriend is a vegan, so he’s
used to not eating a lot of meat.’
The pair survived on a $3-a-bag
dehydrated food product in one flavour
only – Louisiana beans and rice. ‘It has
loads of calories, which is good, and is
fairly balanced, but far from ideal when
you are walking the distances we were.’
A far cry from the local golf favourites
of bacon-and-egg breakfasts and the pie
and gravy at your local course.
THE FINAL STRETCH
The journey attracted substantial media
interest, with local TV stations picking up
on the pair’s travels, which meant there was
a fairly large crowd, including the chairman
of the country’s golf board, waiting at Mt
Bogd Golf Club, the only established club
in the country, for the finish.
‘Quite a few of Adam’s family members
and friends met up with us and walked
the last 15km. It was incredibly emotional,
THE NUMBERS
2 011km The total distance
covered
1 800 The number of kilometres
travelled by UB
20 093 The total number
of strokes played
20 000
The amount, in US dollars, raised
for the SA Golf Development Board
and Laureus Sport for Good
80
The number of days
Rolston and Rutland
spent playing the hole
135 The total number of
balls lost on the trip
250 The total number of
shots played per day
6 093
Rolston’s score over par
10 000
The amount paid for Rolston’s
8-iron, in rands
maybe more so because he’d never been
so far out of his comfort zone,’ says Rutland.
‘The area before the course was really
rough and eventually Adam hacked it
on the club’s 18th fairway and then hit
his approach to 40 feet. For three weeks,
Adam was stressing about three-putting
on the last. And when we got there and
the crowd swelled, the pressure was on.
His first putt flew by and he left himself
about eight foot and downhill.’
Fortunately, Rolston boxed the putt,
prompting a ‘Tiger Woods-like fist
pump’ as the pair embraced with
the journey completed.
THE 19th HOLE
With just four days off during the trek,
Rutland admits it will be a little while
before his next adventure. ‘It was the
hardest thing I’ve done in my life. Pulling
a cart for seven hours a day in those
conditions ... it almost broke me.’
But like anyone infected by the bug,
he knows a new adventure awaits.
And for Rolston, who was some 6 000
shots over par? His love for golf has not
been diminished one bit and he’s ready
to carry on playing and working his
way back to scratch.
 o f w inning e
a chance BX wedg
Stand leveland C h
C 99 eac
a new lued at R1 9
s va
wedge
r CBX fou
ay
ing aw
d Gol f is giv
n
Clevela

The new
Cleveland
CBX is built to be
more forgiving and easier to hit than Tour-
designed wedges, while providing more
spin and versatility than set-matching
wedges. This totally new wedge design
– modelled to complement the address
profile and swing weight of the most
popular cavity-back irons – is designed
to look, feel and play like the game
improvement irons used by 84% of golfers.

KEY INNOVATIONS
A cavity-back wedge design offers
more forgiveness and blends with the To enter the
look, feel and weight of cavity-back
iron sets. competition, sign up at
A rotex face, the most advanced compleatgolfer.com and
wedge spin technology, helps the
Cleveland CBX produce spin just answer this simple question:
like a Tour-designed wedge.
A dual-v sole grind offers forgiving
What face does the
turf interaction, delivers extra assistance TERMS & CONDITIONS new Cleveland CBX
on bunker shots and provides versatility The competition will start on
when executing short game shots. 27 November 2017 and end wedge feature?
Feel balancing technology repositions on 22 December 2017. Please
the centre of gravity for better feel and visit www.compleatgolfer.com
distance control. for competition rules.

86 compleatgolfer.com
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celebrity

Heinz
Winckler
South Africa’s first Idols winner
talks about attaining the perfect
fluke, what people ask him most,
Cornel van Heerden/Supplied/gallo imageS

his dream fourball and finishing

a round and not being able to
shower. By Gary Lemke

88 compleatgolfer.com
 Given your profile, is there any
particular line of questioning
you’re asked when you tee up
in a group of strangers?
A lot of people ask me, ‘Being
a singer, what do you do during
the week? Play golf?’ Most
people think a singer only
works on weekends, or that
a pastor or dominee only on
Sundays. But it’s hard work
throughout the week and
I wish I could play more golf.
I probably only play a full 18
holes about once a month or
so, unfortunately. But I love it
every time I’m out there. We
have three boys, Reuben [3],
Simeon [5] and Lian [7], so
that also keeps us very busy.
Are there any regular courses
you play on?
I live in Somerset West, but have
an official handicap through
Playmoregolf, where my home
course is listed as Simon’s
Town, even though I’ve never
played there! I’ve been playing
golf for about 10 years, since
we got back to South Africa
around 2007-08. So I tend to
play Boschenmeer in Paarl,
Stellenbosch Golf Club and
Strand. Quite recently I played
at Devonvale and shot a 93,
which you can imagine I was
rather chuffed with, being off
a 24-handicap. I’ve also played
overseas, in Raleigh, North
Carolina, when I was working
in the US.
May we presume you’ve
never had a hole-in-one?
Not at all! I actually have the
certificate [laughs]. It was on
the 9th at Stellenbosch Golf
Club. It’s uphill, about 145m,
and I hit a 6-iron, but couldn’t
see the hole, only the top of the
flag. When I got there I asked
where my ball was. I couldn’t
believe it when I found it in
the hole. I was with my dad
and when we went back to
the 19th I bought drinks for
a few people, but the bar was
ASHLEY VLOTMAN/SYDNEY SESHIBEDI/LEE WARREN/GALLO IMAGES
packed and I didn’t have the
guts to tell everyone!
What would you say is
the strongest part of
your game?
I suppose it’s the same as
most high-handicappers.
I’m consistent off the tee
and manage to find most
fairways. I’m even consistent
with my approach shots. My
long-irons aren’t bad. But it’s
around the greens – my short
game – that lets me down.
Those little pitches … they say
practice makes perfect and
that’s probably true about a
short game. But I’m putting
a lot better than I used to,
thanks to a friend’s advice,
and I find I’m making a lot
of those 2-3 metre putts now.
Anywhere you can save a shot
here and there helps plenty.
What type of golfing partner are you?
Have you noticed any effects
of the severe drought in the
Western Cape in any of the
I try not to get too serious on the course. It’s about places you’ve played?
Actually, yes. I played at my
having fun. I take time out to reflect on the course; son’s school’s golf day at Strand
and the showers were closed.
most of them are so beautiful. I’m quite relaxed, If anyone wanted to shower
before prize-giving they needed
to go home. But even though
but I can have a short temper with myself. I’ve hit we haven’t had enough rain,
the courses generally look good.
the ground with my club on occasion if I’ve played Are you an avid golf follower?
a couple of bad shots. When I started, I didn’t My three boys come with me
to the driving range, but the
bug hasn’t bitten them yet. My
know all the rules and etiquette and there were seven-year-old is more interested
in watching rugby or cricket on
a few times when I didn’t mark my ball correctly, TV as opposed to golf. I enjoy
watching golf, especially the
or I walked over someone’s putting line ... they bigger tournaments. But, as you
know, it can take up a whole day,
so often I’ll catch the highlights.
didn’t take too kindly to that! You then see just how many
great shots the pros hit!
WINCKLER BIO
The 39-year-old studied
law at Stellenbosch
University, but won
South Africa’s first
season of Idols in 2002.
In 2003 Winckler came
fourth in World Idols,
with Kelly Clarkson
finishing second. Idols
started a new profession
in his life, which has
seen him nominated for,
and winning, numerous
awards. In 2016 he
released his first Christian
contemporary worship
album. In 2015, Winckler
starred in the romantic
comedy Mooirivier.
GrowinG
Pains
This veteran of the circuit got back
on the winning trail before another
setback. But there’s still plenty to
look forward to. By Mike Green
 ess than a week after
winning his second
Sunshine Tour title
after a gap of over 11 years since his
first one, Alex Haindl had to withdraw
from his next event as his back problems
flared up again.
Before he won the Sun Sibaya Challenge
at Mount Edgecombe in October, Haindl,
who took his first title in May 2006 at the
Suncoast Classic, had been experiencing an
impressive run of form. He hadn’t finished
outside the top 20 in six consecutive events,
and three of those were top 10s.
The win was gratifying and reward for
some of the most admired hard work on
Tour – Haindl is widely respected as a
grinder and someone who works tirelessly
on his game.
‘I’ve always said I’d love to win again, but
it isn’t the only thing I’m going for,’ he said
after his victory. ‘I just try to put together
as many good events as possible. So, to
win is very nice. It’s a little bonus.’
It is a bonus, because there were times
he thought he’d never play golf again.
‘I have degenerative discs and damage to
the nerve from the wear and tear the golf
swing puts on the lumbar spine,’ he says.
‘My discs dry out, so the gap between the
vertebrae narrowed and would collapse on
to the nerve when the rest of the muscles
got fatigued, sending the surrounding
muscles into spasm. It’s like having a
car without shocks. This would leave
me in severe pain and not able to put

BY NUMBERS
10 Most consecutive cuts
on the Sunshine Tour

63
Lowest round recorded
on the Sunshine Tour – at
the 2009 Highveld Classic
at Witbank Golf Club

102
Eagles (two under
par) made on the
Sunshine Tour
Carl Fourie/gallo images

4.9m
Sunshine Tour
career prize money
earned in rands

compleatgolfer.com 91
SUNSHINE TOUR
‘it has always been important
to me to perform in south
africa, because it’s where
i earn my bread and butter.
But i would love to get back
to the European Tour’
any pressure on my right leg as that would
send a sharp pain from my foot up through
my back and into my neck. Walking or
swinging a golf club became impossible.
‘I started having serious issues in 2008-
2009, when I would get these symptoms
after eight or nine weeks in a row on Tour
and I would be out of action for a week
or two. While I was playing
on the European Tour in 2012
it started happening more ORDER
frequently and the workload
my back could handle
OF MERIT
2001-02
became significantly less.
2002-03
‘I would arrive at events
2003-04
and get in nine holes of
2004-05
practice if I was lucky and
2005-06
then try to recover before
2006-07
teeing it up on Thursday.
2007
‘In 2015 it became a
2008
permanent problem. I couldn’t
2009
walk 100m without the pain.
2010
‘Speaking to neurosurgeons
2011
didn’t make me feel very
2012
optimistic, as they wanted
2013
to do a spinal fusion. There
2014
would have been little hope
2015
for me to continue playing
2016-17
professionally because
2017-18
I would have lost most
92 compleatgolfer.com
of my rotation. Luckily for me, Shaun
Pollock suggested I see his neurosurgeon
in Durban, Dr Stephen Joubert. I ended up
having a dynamic decompression and
stabilisation done which had much the
same effect as the fusion, but I kept most
of my rotation. The surgery was a success
and most of the time I have been pain-free.
‘With the work I do with
my strength and conditioning
trainer, Herman Liebenberg, at
the Sports Performance Clinic
in Bloemfontein we have
203
managed to keep my back
152
strong and, barring a couple
175
of occasions, relatively free
185
of pain since then. The work
75
I do with them [one and a half
9
to two hours a day, five days
11
a week] has now become as
76
important, if not more than
51
the hours spent physically
11
working on my game.’
40
He almost didn’t play at
45
the Sun Sibaya Challenge,
41
as he had been experiencing
27
pain again. ‘My brother
69
Andreas, who caddies for
49
me, convinced me to play.
5
He said, “Well, you need to
get into Mauritius and you need to win
somewhere,” so I said, “Let’s go!”
‘And then, before the Vodacom Origins
of Golf Final at Simola, it happened again.
It wasn’t the best timing, because I was
feeling confident and comfortable going
to a course where I have played nicely in
the past. But it doesn’t worry me too much.
I’ve been through this enough!
‘During the pro-am I was in the bunker
and as I addressed the ball I felt a sharp
pain in my lower back. The 1 600km drive
from Durban to Knysna wouldn’t have
helped. I went for treatment twice the
following day to try to get myself into
playing condition, but when I woke up
on Thursday morning my back was still
in spasm and I had to withdraw.
‘This was only the second time I’ve
had to withdraw from a tournament while
being at the event, so I have been lucky in
that regard. The back is a temperamental
thing – it happens!’
Through all the years between his titles,
Haindl has always been the man you’d
expect to see on the range or the practice
green when everyone else has gone home.
‘I’ve always been very hard on myself,’ he
says. ‘I tend to try to grind myself back into
form by overworking a bit on the range and
in the gym. That doesn’t work. You need to
let things progress for themselves.’
To have that level of commitment, you
have to have a good support system. ‘My
wife, Maggi, and my girls, Mikayla and
Skylar, have always been the ones who’ve
 kept me going,’ he says. ‘I think it must be
very difficult being married to a golfer, or
any athlete who travels as much as we do!’
The support system in Bloemfontein
is necessarily circumscribed, due to the
city’s size. But it’s very effective. ‘I moved
to Bloemfontein with my dad in 1992 after
my parents got divorced and I’ve been here
ever since,’ he says.
‘It’s a great place to raise a family because
it’s nice and quiet. I also get to spend more
time with my family because I don’t sit in
traffic for a few hours every day. Going
to the golf course or the gym only takes
15 minutes, so I can always slip away
quickly to pick my kids up from school.
‘Schoeman Park, where I’m a member and
do all my practice, is a great little course. It
isn’t very long, but it teaches you to execute
every shot imaginable. It’s also relatively
tight, so it offers excellent practice off the
tee. The members are also a great bunch
of people and it’s always nice to be there.’
In Bloemfontein, there’s a large group
Carl Fourie/gallo images
of people who help him. ‘Adrian le Roux,
Morne Castelyn, Herman and the rest of
the team at SPC are a huge part of my
support,’ he says. ‘Quinton Williams and
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2005 Vodacom Origins – Bloemfontein
(T3rd)
2006 Suncoast Classic (1st), Seekers
Travel Pro-Am (2nd), Vodacom Origins
Tour Final (2nd), Highveld Classic (2nd)
2009 Highveld Classic (2nd)
2010 SAA Pro-Am Invitational (2nd),
Nashua Masters (T2nd)
2011 Vodacom Origins – Simola (3rd),
Suncoast Classic (T3rd)
2012 Telkom PGA Championship (T2nd)
2013 Zambia Sugar Open (T2nd)
2016 Vodacom Origins – Arabella (T3rd)
2017 Sun Sibaya Challenge (1st),
Sun Wild Coast Sun Challenge (T2nd),
Zambia Open (T3rd)
Corne Viljoen are always willing to help to me to perform in South Africa, because
if I have questions about the swing, and it’s where I earn my bread and butter,’ he
my practice partner and good friend says. ‘But I would love to get back to the
Jacques de Villiers is a positive influence. European Tour. I enjoyed my time over
Then there’s my mental coach, Christo there and still believe I could contend. I’ve
Spies, too.’ always felt my game suited the conditions.
The win has reignited Haindl’s belief As soon as I can afford it I will go back to
in himself. ‘It has always been important Q-School and give it another shot.’
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 IN A DA
ALLCompleat Golfe
rwas t he med
ia part ner to
one of t he mos
t
 topping at security ‘There’s no place like Pearl Valley at Val Host for the day was Ryk Neethling,
at the entrance to de Vie Estate’. the former Olympic swimmer turned
the Pearl Valley golf Anyone who has played on this course in businessman who is the face of Val de
course, I tell the guard the Paarl/Franschhoek region will confirm Vie Estate and it’s been an absolute delight
I’ve come for the ‘Val de that it’s a memorable experience. And this to watch him grow from a nervous 18-
Vie celebrity golf day’. day was no different, as over R500 000 was year-old at the Atlanta Games in 1996
She smiles and raises raised in aid of the Val de Vie Foundation, into a confident, highly successful and
the visitors’ boom. which enabled 2nd Harvest Foodbank at the still remarkably fit 39-year-old.
There’s so much pride Paarl School of Skills to provide in excess of
about her actions, 106 000 meals to children in the area.
something that says,

WORK
AY’S enj o yable eve
nts on the an
nual calendar
. By G ar y Lemke
images: supplied

compleatgolfer.com 95
 CELEBRITY DAY

Compleat Golfer was the media partner

for the occasion, formally known as the
Vodacom Shop Celebrity Golf Day presented
by Safari Outdoor, and it remains one of
those days you want to circle on the
calendar well in advance.
As the name suggests, there are
celebrities everywhere. Often, to see them
outside their ‘comfort zone’ can lead to
a little rubber-necking, but the day takes
on a relaxed, yet competitive nature.
The men’s lockers are personalised
with a name tag, so while I looked for
No 39 – mine – I came across names
like Rob Louw, Heinz Winckler, Allan
Donald, Nick Mallett, Kurt Darren, Albie
Morkel, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs,
Chester Williams, Reuben Riffel, Vernon
Philander, Warren Brosnihan, Jacques
Rudolph, Tiaan Strauss, Robin Petersen
and Thomas Msengana.
The format for the day is that a threeball is
entered and joined by a celebrity determined
by a ‘draw’, and as we waited in our golf
carts to drive to the tees for a shotgun start,
Province before moving to the Golden Lions
and then becoming a household name in
IN THE PRIZES
1st: Rob Louw, Thomas Msengana,
I was secretly hoping I didn’t get Mallett. the English Premiership, where he played Herschelle Gibbs, Vernon Philander
You’ve seen him get angry in the for Saracens from 2009. He relocated to 2nd: Rudi Brits, Kuifie van der Merwe,
SuperSport studio after the Springboks South Africa in 2015. Dan Frater, Mark Summers
have been poor, but I’ve also been on the Sports stars have a reputation for being 3rd: Nick Mallett, Edward Arendse,
same side as him in a cricket match against on guard when around the media and one Gerhard Murtz, Reuben Riffel
the Stormers on Schalk Burger Snr’s farm of the first things I did when introducing 4th: Wessel Wolmarans, Sean du Plessis,
in Wellington. On that occasion, myself and myself, publisher Wayne Willmore and Louw Lombard, Warren Brosnihan
former Bok prop Guy Kebble opened the fellow golf writer Wade Pretorius, was that 5th: Derval Callaghan, Mick Callaghan,
batting. Guy was adamant he ‘doesn’t run everything was off the record, ‘unless it Jonathan Perry, Andries Strauss
for silly singles’, so even a ball that stopped was too good not to print’. Joubert, however, 6th: Gideon Hugo, Henri van Deijl,
inches short of the boundary in long grass was equal to the task. ‘In that case, get me Pierre Marais, Chester Williams
only turned out to be one run. a beer to settle the nerves,’ he said.
With the score 18-0 after 10 overs, Mallett And he was nervous, although he quickly NEaREST To PIN
selected a couple of choice words as he found there was no need to be, as we teed 3rd: Tiaan Strauss
called us in from the boundary and sent off from the 5th hole. Later, after the round 6th: L du Plessis
himself and Adrian Kuiper in to up the had finished, Joubert’s wife Minki – yes, 13th: Rob Eston Barry
run rate. Which is why I was dreading that Minki – spilt the beans and said, ‘Ernst 17th: Gerhard Murtz
him being Compleat Golfer’s celebrity, was so worried he was going to get paired
if only because he would have used with a scratch golfer.’ LoNgEST DRIvE
his entire colourful vocabulary at my He needn’t have worried and one hopes 9th: Jacques Kallis
expense out on the course. he enjoyed his day. He certainly added value 18th: Maggi du Toit
Compleat Golfer was assigned Ernst to the fourball and despite ‘losing more balls
Joubert (below, left), who started his than I can remember’ and ‘finding every one
provincial rugby career at Western of the thousand bunkers on this golf course’,

compleatgolfer.com 97
CELEBRITY DAY
entrenched the saying that a bad day on
the golf course beats a good day at the
office. Not that the 37-year-old played
poorly. But he’s a modest, down-to-earth
man whose default seems to be to steer
away from the limelight.
As we made our way around the course,
which took us past sponsors’ stalls that
awarded prizes to longest drives and
nearest to the pins, a good bit of banter
and a few ‘wet holes’, we found ourselves
agreeing that we didn’t want the round to
finish any time soon.
With an interactive scoreboard, updated
by the VPar system, it was clear Compleat
Golfer wasn’t going to be in the prizes, so
it became more a matter of restoring some
pride. Right at the outset the former loose
forward apologised for his swing. ‘With my
back injuries I can only do a half-swing,’
he said. In reality, he talked himself down
because, even if it is slightly restricted, he
is still able to get nicely off the tee. And
even with an official handicap of 21, you
can see that if he spends more time on
the fairways, he will be able to shave a few
shots off that figure. Although, with him
and Minki expecting their third child, he
is likely to have his hands full at home
in the coming months.
Between banter and shot-making,
Joubert explained how he had injured
his back quite badly, which now requires
him to take anti-inflammatories if he is
to play golf, which requires rotation of the
hips and puts strain on the lower back. ‘It
was actually Gurthro [Steenkamp] who
dived on to me with his knees in my back
at a ruck,’ he says. ‘Nothing malicious but
being a [Bok] prop he did a bit of damage.
But we had a good few beers afterwards,
so I accepted his apology [laughs].’
In testing one another’s patience with
some good shots and some poor shots
– behind us the former Proteas cricketer
98 compleatgolfer.com
Rudolph, a single-figure golfer, admitted
he too was having a ‘bipolar round – up and
down’ – we tried to alternate the ‘captaincy’
off the tee.
Joubert was a reluctant captain, until we
threatened him with another Gold Sambuca
and he took ownership of our last five holes,
from No 18 to No 4. I asked him what his
thoughts were on picking a rugby captain.
‘I prefer selecting the team first, getting the
balance right and then picking a nominal
captain from that. In this day and age I don’t
think the captain’s role is that important.
Everyone knows their own roles and there
is always more than one captain in a group
and in different areas of the field.’
He also let slip that he is an accomplished
braaier – which self-respecting South
African male isn’t? – and is able to make
quite an impression around the fire at
their Stellenbosch home, although he has
some competition in former Namibian
flanker Jacques Burger. However, nothing
intimidated him around the fire or with
a beer in his hand.
Speaking of intimidation, there was
some serious locker-room talk once we
returned for a shower before the banquet,
prize-giving and charity evening, where
SPoNSoRS
Vodacom Shop (headline sponsor),
Safari Outdoor (presenting sponsor),
Turkish Airlines (travel partner),
Evolution of African Wealth in
collaboration with Finex SA (commodity
partner), Land Rover Cape Town and
Land Rover Stellenbosch (vehicle
partners), Autus Wealth (financial
partner), Cape Winelands Properties
(property partner), Swagg Lifestyle
(clothing partner), Compleat Golfer
(media partner).
MC Matthew Pearce was as professional
as ever.
Philander had, by all accounts, been
impressive on the course, with his playing
partner Rob Louw saying the Proteas fast
bowler ‘couldn’t miss a putt all day’. When
we had seen the names of this particular
fourball some six hours earlier, colleague
Wade and myself had predicted it would
be the one to win the main prize – a trip
to Turkey sponsored by Turkish Airlines.
Paired with Philander was musician
Thomas Msengana, Louw – fresh from
his appearance at Johann Rupert’s Dunhill
Links Championship – and Gibbs, and true
to form, this fourball were the big winners.
Everyone had a story to tell afterwards
and some – like former rugby loose forward
Brosnihan – even did it while having their
hair cut after getting out of the shower.
It came as no surprise to see that Kallis
won longest drive on the 474m 9th hole,
and when one considers that only a few
months ago he scored the first hole-in-
one of his favourite pastime, you can see
how good a golfer he is. He also remains
one of the most down-to-earth sporting
superstars you’ll come across.
Strauss might be known to an older
generation as a former dual rugby
international with the Springboks and
Wallabies, and others will recall how
this tough-as-teak boer used to tackle
wildebeest on the family farm. When
he tackled you, you stayed tackled.
However, here at Pearl Valley he also
showed an exquisite touch, getting closest
to the pin on the 136m 3rd hole.
images: supplied
 RUSH HOUR
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Look Who’s
Back
Operation Twenty Seven. No, it’s not
a code name for an undercover mission,
but the lingering effects of a car accident
seven years ago. Twenty-seven operations
since that fateful night around 8:20pm on
24 September 2010, near Ngundu Halt in
Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
It was a crash that left Marc Cayeux
trapped inside his overturned, burning
vehicle, after a policewoman had struck
a cow in her Mazda B1800 truck, swerved
into the opposite lane and cannoned head-
on into his Nissan X-Trail.
Although he’s told the story countless
times, it doesn’t get any easier.
‘My car landed on its roof and I remember
undoing the seatbelt. My friend was in
PETRI OESCHGER/GALLO IMAGES
Seven years after a near-fatal car accident,
Zimbabwe’s Marc Cayeux made the cut for
the first time on the Sunshine Tour
a car in front of me. He came running
to my car calling my name. That woke
me up a bit. They couldn’t get the door
open, and I heard him shout that the
car was on fire. That’s when I clearly
remember saying to myself, “I’m not
going to die like this.”
‘From that moment until now, it’s
been a case of, “I can get through this.”’
In the other mangled vehicle,
Manyame District chief superintendent
Tsitsi Sadzamare died at the scene, along
with a passenger. Cayeux’s right knee
moved some 9cm into his femur, which
was completely shattered. ‘I still remember
watching my left foot just hanging, almost
separated from my leg,’ he recalls.
#ICYMI
Time stood still. The nearest ambulance
was three hours away.
Cayeux was stabilised on the scene
by a passing nurse and driven in a bakkie
towards Harare, where they met the
ambulance halfway. He was transported
to hospital in Harare, getting there at
2:30am. There were problems with his
medical insurance and the hospital
seemed ill-equipped to deal with the
extent of his injuries.
Finally, he was flown from Harare to
Johannesburg, arriving at 2pm on the
Sunday, and pumped full of morphine
to dull the pain. And that’s when the
operations started, seemingly relentless
in frequency.
Jana, then his wife of less than a year,
stayed with him in ICU, and a week after
the accident delivered the news that the
couple were expecting twins, siblings for
Ross, who was welcomed into the world in
2008. That bittersweet joy was tempered
when Jana lost one of the twins, although
son Jason was later safely delivered.
Seven years later, November 2017,
Cayeux shot rounds of 66, 71 and 73 to
finish the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final
at Simola Golf & Country Estate 10 shots
behind Jaco Prinsloo, but feeling like the
winner of a Major.
‘It’s coming right and it’s
proving a point to me that I can
accomplish things I believe in’
‘It’s been amazing. Just to make the
cut was another box ticked, even though
I never had any goals for the first year
coming back,’ he said. ‘It’s been a tough
seven years, so in my first year back,
I had no expectations. I just tried to get
back into the swing of things and learn
all over again. It’s a physical challenge for
me. Going through rounds and mentally
blocking out the pain is what’s required.
‘It’s coming right and it’s proving a point
to me that I can accomplish things I believe
in. And I can achieve goals I want to set
for 2018 because I feel I can compete.’
– Gary Lemke
compleatgolfer.com 101
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 3 January 1982
Johnny Miller of the United
States defeated Severiano
Ballesteros of Spain on the
9th hole of a sudden-death
playoff at the $1-million
Sun City Classic and won
the richest prize offered
in golf.
After struggling through
two hours of playoff activity,
Ballesteros faltered, three-
putting on the ninth extra
hole for a bogey.
Miller two-putted for his
par to capture the $500 000
first prize in the five-man
event, played on the Gary
Player Country Club course.
To put the prize money into
perspective, any of the four
Majors carried a first prize of
only $60 000.
Miller and Ballesteros
finished the regulation 72
holes tied at 11-under-par 277.
Each shot a 71 over the last 18
holes. Jack Nicklaus missed
the playoff by a single stroke.
He failed on a short putt of
about three feet to save par
on the 72nd hole and fell out
of a tie for the top spot.
Nicklaus was four strokes
behind Miller and Ballesteros
at the turn, then reeled off
three consecutive birdies,
starting on the 12th, and
got a share of the lead with
another birdie on the 16th.
He finished with a 278 total.
Lee Trevino and the host,
Gary Player, the only others
in the invitational field, were
out of the title chase after
the second day. Trevino had
a 289 and won $110 000,
while Player had a 292
WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN/SASPA
and received $100 000.
‘Playing against Seve was
very helpful to me,’ Miller said
of the Spaniard. ‘You couldn’t
help but draw from his
energy and my experience
with him was nothing short
of remarkable.’
The crowds had gone crazy
and the golf was of such a
high quality that Tony Jacklin,
who was commentating
on the playoff, said it was
the finest exhibition of shot
making he had ever seen.
Any doubt about the future
of the tournament was
dispelled the following year,
when Sol Kerzner doubled
the size of the field to 10.
compleatgolfer.com
ALSO 35
YEARS AGO
South Africa’s Johan
Kriek beat American
Steve Denton 6-3 6-3
6-2 in the Australian
Open men’s final.
Alain Prost, in a
Renault, won the South
African F1 Grand Prix
at Kyalami, beating
Carlos Reutemann, Rene
Arnoux, Niki Lauda and
Keke Rosberg.
Dance floors were
alive to the sound of
Dr Hook’s ‘Baby Makes
Her Blue Jeans Talk’.
The South African
Navy frigate SAS
President Kruger sank
with the loss of 16 lives
after colliding with
SAS Tafelberg in the
South Atlantic.
Andries Treurnicht
and another 22 National
Party MPs voted for no
confidence in Prime
Minister PW Botha.
Liverpool won the
English First Division
title for the 13th time
in their history, with
Ipswich Town runners-
up, ahead of Manchester
United and Tottenham.
Durban City won
South Africa’s National
Professional Soccer
League, beating Wits
University and Kaizer
Chiefs. Bloemfontein
Celtic, AmaZulu and
Leicester City were
relegated, while Cape
Town Spurs, Welkom
Real Hearts, Mamelodi
Sundowns and Ireland
United were promoted.
105
a corner dedicated to golf’s triers /// ANDY CAPOSTAGNO
COLUMN
Behind the scenes
By the time you read
this, the 2017 Nedbank
Golf Challenge will be
over and you will be
in no doubt of who did
what during the week.
As I write, however, the
tournament formerly known
as The Million Dollar looms
in the distance. You therefore
have the advantage over me.
Or do you? What with the
whole tournament going
legit and all that, I’m willing
to bet that none of what
follows was observed in the
shadow of the Pilanesberg
this year.
A large man with a black
eye, checked trousers and
a cap pulled unnaturally
low, swinging his clubs
somewhat gingerly.
That was Craig Stadler
back in the early days of
the tournament. Legend has
it that on the Wednesday
night before the first round,
he stayed up rather late. The
combined effects of the late
hour and more than one
106 compleatgolfer.com
alcoholic beverage caused
the Walrus to stumble on the
steps leading down to Raffles
nightclub, and collide with
a large mirror.
A young, blond fellow,
hurling a television set out
of an upper-storey window
at the Cascades Hotel.
That was John Daly, who
won The PGA Championship
at Crooked Stick in 1991 as the
ninth alternate. His now well-
known addictive personality
was advertised in colourful
fashion at Sun City in the
same year.
A short, somewhat chubby
Italian demanding his glass
of whisky be exactly that,
not a shot topped up with
ice and water.
That was Costantino Rocca
(below), the former factory
worker who turned pro later
than most and never let
himself forget how lucky
he was. At the beach party
at the Valley of the Waves
on the Wednesday night
he was determined to
enjoy himself. In his
only appearance at the
tournament, Rocca shot
76, 75, 67, 73, but still took
home $100 000.
A large, Afrikaans boertjie
telling jokes in a creche.
That was Ernie Els in the
circular baby-care centre,
which is adapted to the
needs of the fourth estate
every year. On day one, Ernie
was paired with big-hitting C
American, Fred Couples. After
the round we asked him how M
his length compared with Y
after the round we Boom-Boom’s. ‘I don’t know,’
replied Ernie, ‘I didn’t shower CM
asked ernie how with him’.
A slender Spanish youth,
hitting balls on the range
MY
his length compared
CY
with his hands taped to CMY
the shaft of the club.
with Boom-Boom’s. That was Sergio Garcia in
the midst of the horrors
K
‘i don’t know,’ he few can appreciate. He had
developed a nervous habit
replied, ‘i didn’t of gripping and regripping
the club as he stood over the
shower with him’ ball. Someone once counted
113 of these twitches before
a shot. At Sun City, Sergio’s
father came up with an idea
to eliminate this habit. It must
have worked; after all, he won
The Masters this year.
A laid-back Zimbabwean
giving an interview to a
former England cricketer on
his golf cart, while driving to
the tee to begin a playoff with
Tiger Woods.
That was Nick Price in 1998,
steven munday/stuart franklin/getty images/gallo images
talking to Robin Jackman
after Tiger had holed his
chip on the 18th to take the
tournament into extra time.
Jackers couldn’t believe his
luck as his chat went out live
on Radio 2000 and he got a
lift to the tee box at the same
time. And in case you were
wondering, Nicky won.
Energy. Harmony.
Perfection.
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