Newsletter | March 2024
Just when you think all is lost then the man above looks down and sees how thirsty our course is, so he sends us rain and with that Potsdam started supplying again, For those who didn’t know that we were only watering the Greens and the real dry areas on the Fairways. We had only 2 days of water left.
Club Champs are just around the corner. All the Best to everyone participating. I am seriously considering giving them a miss this year not because I want to give someone else a chance but because my game is so crap. I had to fork out a bottle of Whiskey to Craig Arnold and Ted Cowell lately. What an embarrassment it was ~ 18 Holes and not win one hole?
Raking of Bunkers has become a real concern. The latest is when you see someone coming out of the Bunker and you check and there are still footprints. Their answer is that the footprints were there before they went in and that they raked their own footprints, and it is not their job to rake other people’s damage. If this is your attitude – we don’t want you as a member. Go somewhere else. We as a committee are trying very hard to get our Club’s grading up, this sort of behaviour does not help. In future I suggest the guilty party be disqualified from the competition on the day. Any suggestions on this matter would be very welcome.
Our next projects that are planned to start after Club Champs is:
- To extend Golf Cart pathways – extend pathway on 2nd; new pathway along the 6th Tee Boxes; New pathway on 7th Hole.
- Remove reeds from waterbodies on the 1st hole and the 8th hole and possibly 15th hole.
- Planning on re-upholstering the furniture in the men’s locker rooms.
Well done to Arno and Franzie for all their hard dedicated work in making the Range into something special. What a pleasure it is nowadays to go there and hit a few balls. They appreciate all the support they get from Members & Visitors.
We hope that you all like the New Tee Markers and the new Photo Frame at the back of the 5th Tee Box. I have seen it put to good use!!!
As I have grown older I have learnt that it is better to drop the “ego” than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with a relationship I will never be alone.
Happy Golfing
Billy O’Brien
Captain
We welcome the following new members
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Monthly Golf Fixtures & Results
Lady Captain’s Corner
Hello Ladies
Fore the Love of Golf: Recounting My Path on the Greens
I can hardly believe how time has flown! My time as your Lady Captain is drawing to a close, and what an incredible journey it has been. Allow me to share a few giggles and reminisce on how my golf journey all began.
It was back in 2009, and oh, what a comical start it was! My very first try at playing on a golf course was at the Met after work. Ah, the memories of that first day on the course are as vivid as ever! It still brings me lots of giggles thinking about it. I couldn’t hit the ball and when I did, I was lucky to hit it more than a meter! Mind you this was after taking a few lessons and was I thought I was ready to play. Between the freshies and bewildering golf jargon from the “coach” I was doubting whether I was cut out for it.
My seasoned friend, the golf guru of the group, strolls up to us waiting on the tee and asks, “Did you wet your towel?” I wanted to burst into laughter until I realised she was serious. I didn’t understand the question. Has she lost her marbles? Wet my towel? Is that some secret golf ritual? How do you wet a towel? Needless to say, it was the beginning of my crash course in Golf Etiquette 101!
After a few attempts at “addressing the ball” (at first I was cordial – “please please work” and eventually annoyed “WTF”), a few freshies and finally a connection that was more like a tap on the ball, she tells me to “take a mulligan.” I didn’t understand and again she was dead serious (of course by now there’s a crowd waiting to tee off behind us!!) and I just froze and looked at her blankly! One of our friends, bless her heart, asked what a mulligan looks like as she’s rummaging in the bag, and our golf guru told us, “go back to the tee and try again!” Oh, the joys of beginner’s golf! Needless to say we let through a lot of people and didn’t even finish 3 holes. I was exhausted.
The best part for me those early days was the fashion, of course! I mean, let’s be real, if I couldn’t hit the ball, at least I could look fabulous while trying. My first 10 lessons were with ex-professional player Lana Orgovanyi. She swore by the 7-iron, claiming it was the easiest club in the bag. That’s what she taught me to use, and wouldn’t you know it, I eventually became quite good with irons. In fact, I used to play my trusty 6-iron on the fairways instead of Woods!
I’ll never forget the day we walked into the Proshop to get my first set of clubs. We were on the hunt for left-handed ones since I’m left-handed myself. The sales assistant gave me a left-handed iron to swing, but it was a complete disaster. There I was, standing like a right-handed golfer with a left-handed tool—it was as awkward as it sounds! Without a word, he left and returned with a right-handed club. Lo and behold, this time it worked like a charm—I could swing it! And just like that, we walked out with right-handed clubs, turning me into a left-handed right-handed golfer!
It didn’t take me long to become hooked on golf. Before I knew it, I was living and breathing it. We went on a few golf trips and I played in a lot of Corporate sponsored golf days. One memorable year, I even made it to the BMW Regionals at Fancourt—I was fearless back then! There was also an occasion when we went away for a friend’s birthday. While the other ladies went shopping and enjoyed spa sessions, I was the lone female on the golf course with the lads! BTW this is one of many times in my life where I’m ‘different’ J. (I just remembered a time in a village called Hankø in Norway, we caused quite a stir (& stares) because we were ‘different’ J; but I digress).
I once had a caddie hand me a ball: “There, use this one. It’s a soft ball”. I had no idea golf balls had a personality beyond brand names! But since then, my preference is for soft balls even though I can’t tell you the mechanics of why they work (not always mind you) for my swing.
Fast forward to 2017 when I joined Milnerton GC, I’ve not only enjoyed playing in the ladies competitions but I have also been fortunate enough to represent our club in League matches and other tournaments like Interclub, West Coast Challenge and WP events. I am eagerly looking forward to sharing more rounds with all of you and who knows, perhaps one of these days I may even achieve the elusive feat of a hole-in-one! But while I wait for that, I’ll keep capturing the spectacular views on the course!!
Well enough about me.
Saying Goodbye to Jo
It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to Jo Elves, who left us unexpectedly on the 5th February 2024. Jo was a familiar face at our Ladies events, including our weekly competitions, Interclub, and League matches. Her absence will be deeply felt by us all. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her loved ones during this difficult time.
Club Updates and Events
Dawn Blackshaw and Lorette Hegie were picked to represent Wetern Province at the annul Town v Country tournament on February 26, 2024 which was held in Worcester. I’m happy to say that WP (Town team) did very well!! Congratulations ladies.
Save the date for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 19, 2024. Nomination forms are now available on the noticeboard, so be sure to submit yours and join us for this important gathering.
Wishing all our members the best of luck at the upcoming Club Championship scheduled for March 3rd and 10th, 2024. It’s time to showcase your skills and enjoy some friendly competition on the course!
Celebrating Our Golfing Gurus
It’s time to raise our clubs to our Golfing Gurus and their triumphs on the greens:
Monthly Medal | 03 Feb (Sat) | Winner (Best nett): Casey Hattle |
Monthly Medal & Putting | 06 Feb (Tue) | 1st place Silver Div (Best nett): Dawn Blackshaw |
2nd place Silver Div (Nett): Ros Howard | ||
Best gross (Silver Div): Ros Howard | ||
1st place Bronze Div (Best nett): Tanya Williams | ||
2nd place Bronze Div (Nett): Chutchada Lekcharoensuk | ||
Best gross (Bronze Div): Tanya Williams | ||
Harris Cup | 13 Feb (Tue) | Winner: Atella Hefer |
Runner-up: Tanya Williams | ||
3rd place: Ros Howard | ||
7 Club Single Stableford | 27 Feb (Tue) | Winner: Ntsoti Morojele |
Runner-up: Dawn Blacksaw | ||
3rd place: Ros Howard |
The laughs, the memories and the friendships forged on the greens will stay with me forever. Remember, golf isn’t just about the scorecard; it’s also about the connections we make, and the joy of being out in nature with friends. Keep swinging, keep laughing, and keep making memories!
Warmest regards,
Ntsoti Morojele
Lady Captain 2023
Golf Course Report
Hi All Members
Not much to report as far as our course is concerned, considering we did not get any effluent water from Potsdam for just about the whole month of February. Our course is in a good condition as it can possibly be. For this time of the year being the end of summer. Thanks mainly to the 7th dam which this committee enlarged on the irrigation side. Our main line, which runs from the pump house to the 18th, needs to be replaced. We have had endless problems with the pipe bursting everywhere and this is due to putting in a pipe that is not strong enough to cope with the pressures it gets put under. All in all, our course is in a reasonable condition and ready for Club Champs.
Wishing all Competitors the Best of Luck.
Enjoy your golf.
Regards
Shaun Buchanan
(President)