Newsletter | April 2023

Well done to all who participated in the Club Championship and well done to all the Winners. Special congratulations to Jack Bucannan and Casey Hattle on your wins. It’s worth mentioning that it is not often, if ever, that Twin Sisters come First and Second in Club Championships.

Our course was in reasonable condition, mainly thanks to the man above for sending us lots of rain when we most needed it.

We had 2 meetings to discuss the changes to our Constitution that is necessary to bring it in line with the Constitution of the Country, but both had to be cancelled because we did not have a quorum and the objection by 2 members on a technicality that stopped the progress. To have a quorum we need plus minus 350 people present which is near impossible. Way forward? Without a constitution we may not have a Golf Club!! Food for thought!!

Achievements under our tenor for those of you that say the Committee do nothing:

1. Road from Club House to the 10th
2. New flooring to entrances, pro shop and offices
3. Upgrade to Ladies Locker Room
4. Pizza oven in kitchen
5. Stabilised the seaside on the left side of the 2nd Tee Box
6. Installation of new pumping system for distributing water from and to our dams
7. Placed a Pro Golfer, Arno and upgraded the Driving Range
8. Purchase of new Golf Carts
9. New outside furniture
10. Distance markers on all Par 3’s
11. Tee Box markers with sponsorships
12. Tee Box White Fences
13. Upgrade and New Invertors in Club House
14. Rebuilt Temporary housing for Golf Carts
15. Painting of Club House and Bowling Club
16. Implementation of Hogan Path’s
17. Appointment of Food and Beverage Manager
18. Appointment of Golf Director
19. Promotion of Debbie
20. Upgraded Club Security and Access Control

Our AGM has been postponed to the 9th May. This has been bought about to give time to our Auditors to sort out Taxation with the Tax Man

Which are you ?

Some help the group to grow and grow.
When asked to help they don’t say NO.
Some drag, some pull, some don’t, some do.
Consider, which of these are you.

Regards

Billy O’Brien
Acting Captain

We welcome the following new members

Monthly Golf Fixtures & Results

Lady Captain’s Corner

The 2023 Ladies Club Championships were held on the 5th and 12th of March. We played in pouring rain on the 1st day. The ladies however took it in stride, did their best and even joked and exchanged funny stories of their experiences on the course over pizza afterwards.

The last day’s weather was amazing. It was unusual for us because we tee’d off early, from 7am; and from the 10th tee and these were just the perfect excuses we needed for poor performance – hahaha!

Casey Hattle is our 2023 Ladies Club Champ, a title she’s had now for the 4th year in a row!! Isn’t that incredible? How does she do it? I thought it might be time to get to know her a bit more & see what maketh a champion.

From left to right: Casey Hattle (2023 Ladies Club Champ), Billy O’Brien (Acting Club Captain), Megan Hattle (Runner-up)

1. How long have you been playing golf and what made you start?

   My golf journey started at Westlake, as I used to live in the Southern Suburbs, I would say around 13 / 14 years ago. I think I was around 23 years old at the time. My late step dad was an avid golfer and that’s what made me get into golf. He kept pleading with me to join Milnerton, which I then did, I really can’t remember what year that was.

2. Did you and do you still take lessons?

   When I first started golf I had around 10 sessions of lessons to learn how to play the game, as it was a first time thing for me. Since then I haven’t had or don’t currently go for any lessons.

3. How often do you practice and what does that entail?

   With owning my own business, unfortunately it does not give me much time for practising. I wish I did have the time though. So I get to play golf once a week on a Saturday and that’s it. I arrive about 30 minutes before tee off, and that will give me some time to putt and chip. The short game is probably the most important part of your game. Everybody can a hit good drive and second and third shot to the green, but it’s the chipping and putting that makes the difference between getting a Birdie, Par or Bogey or worse.

4. What makes a good golfer?

   I would say a good putter. And a person who can clear their mind of negative thoughts from a previous bad hole. 1 bad hole, doesn’t have to mean a bad round.

5. Who is your favourite professional golfer?

   Female – Lexi Thompson and male – John Rahm

6. What are some of your favourite courses to play, besides Milnerton of course?

   Besides Milnerton, Leopard Creek is the absolute best course I’ve played. Arabella is my second home so that’s right up there as well. I also enjoy Simola. And for a more local coarse I would say Boschenmeer.

7. Do you have a preference for any brand of golf balls and clubs?

   I play with a Callaway Chrome soft golf ball. I also enjoy the matt green Callaway Superhot ball. The feel of that ball off the face of my clubs feels great. With irons I’ve always enjoyed my TaylorMade’s. Driver I also enjoy TaylorMade, but my last driver was the Callaway Epic and I’ve really been enjoying that.

8. What are some of your biggest golf accomplishments? Have you ever had a hole-in-one?

   I have still never had a hole in one ☹ I’ve been close many times but never in the hole. So I will keep trying, one of these days I have to be that lucky. I’ve had a couple of eagles. A big accomplishment would have to be holding onto the Club Champ title 4 years in a row. That is very special to me.

9. Best score ever shot? When & where?

   Gross 73 at Milnerton.

10. Any tips or advice for the ladies?

    Head down. Always keep the head down. Commit and follow through on the shots. But most of all, ALWAYS enjoy yourself. We are privileged to play this beautiful game. You get to meet wonderful friends that become family.

Massive congratulations Casey and Jack Buchanan, the 2023 Club Champion.

From left to right: Jack Buchanan (2023 Club Champ), Casey Hattle (2023 Ladies Club Champ)

Winners of the monthly competitions

To many more wonderful golf days,

Ntsoti Morojele
Lady Captain 2022

Monday Senior Section

The seniors have been through the mill so to speak battling the Cape weather the past month. In fact they should be applauded for persisting in their efforts to hand in good scores.
On the 6th of March the seniors teed off for their yearly championship game. The results were as follows:

Most valuable Team Player

A day that provided good golf, a splendid lunch and most important of all, excellent camaraderie.

A sincere thank you to all the sponsors with the hope we will see you next year again.

Arie Meulman

Golf Course Report

I trust that all participants of the club champs enjoyed the tournament and that the course held up well.

This April we are doing course maintenance before winter to improve the turf condition.

1. We are hollowtining greens, and fertilizing.
2. Verticutting tees, topdressing and fertilizing.
3. Verticutting surrounds, topdressing and fertilizing.
4. And we will be slicing the fairways and fertilizing.

I trust that there will be minimal disruption to yourselves during the process.

Regards
Craig

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