Getting golf development right in Gauteng
The SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) recognises that Gauteng is one of the most important golfing regions in the country. Due to the number of clubs and players in the province, Gauteng is seen as a hub of the game.
The board is therefore placing emphasis on ensuring the success of development in its Gauteng regions. With the support of local clubs, the regional unions and sponsors like The Pro Shop, the SAGDB is putting measures in place to unearth and nurture the undiscovered talent in areas such as Soweto, Alexandra and Mamelodi.
Gauteng North enjoyed strong growth in the second half of 2007 following the appointment of Willie van Zyl as development manager for the region in June. Van Zyl is an experienced golf administrator and a former president of the Gauteng North Golf Union.
He has appointed three new coaches since taking over the region, and the SAGDB is now offering coaching in Soshanguve North, Soshanguve South, Mabopane, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville. Van Zyl says that this growth in the region has been wonderfully supported by local clubs.
“Hillside Golf Club has really been fantastic in terms of supporting development,” he says. “There is a large contingent of underprivileged children that play and receive coaching at the club.”
Silver Lakes, Pretoria Country Club, Akasia Golf Club and Cullinan Golf Club have also made significant contributions. These clubs have donated balls and equipment and made playing and practice facilities available for SAGDB players.
With this ongoing support and efforts being made to draw in more schools and clubs, the region is enjoying encouraging growth.
“I have no doubt that the standard of golf in our region is going to improve in 2008,” van Zyl says.
The Central Gauteng region, which operates around Johannesburg, has also been experiencing positive changes. A new regional coach was recently appointed, and new chapters were opened in Soweto and Diepkloof to cater for youngsters in those areas. The chapters are located close to the Soweto Country Club and Crown Mines Golf Club.
The new regional coach is Mpoki Jacob Nxongo, a member of the Soweto CC. Nxongo has more then 50 years of experience in the game and has played on the PGA tour. He has already been involved in the development of the game in his community, where he has been offering coaching to youngsters for a number of years.
Under Nxongo’s guidance, the SAGDB is now offering coaching to players from Gordon Primary School in Alexandra, Tshebedisano, Paul Mosaka and Pimville Primary Schools in Soweto, and Vulumazibuko and Dumezweni Primary Schools in Diepkloof.
Gauteng Central’s development manager, Thenjiwe Sithole, believes that the region will strengthen in the coming year as stronger monitoring is put in place. Through regular visits to all the operating chapters, she and Nxongo will be able to ensure that learners are receiving quality coaching and progress in line with the SAGDB’s coaching programme.
The SAGDB’s Central Gauteng region is also receiving generous support from the region’s golf union, through its support of the rand-a-round project. Through donating one rand from every round played on their courses, local clubs have raised tens of thousands of rands for the SAGDB, the junior golf foundation and the union’s own development projects. The Royal Johannesburg and Kensington, Glendower, Germiston and Crown Mines golf clubs have all also offered support through providing memberships and playing opportunities to SAGDB players.
As the SAGDB continues to offer opportunities to underprivileged players in Gauteng, this ongoing support will be crucial. Through its strong relationships with clubs and unions, the board is well positioned to nurture the game in underprivileged areas and provide opportunities to talented youngsters who would otherwise be lost to the game.
