Golf Development is Making Strides in the Midlands

Since 1999, Mooi River Country Club has been offering outstanding support to golf development initiatives in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Working together with the SA Golf Development Board, the club has been offering children from the Bruntville township opportunities that were previously out of their reach.

There are currently 69 learners from Bruntville Primary and Mnyezaneni Secondary schools involved in the SAGDB programme in Mooi River. The club gives these youngsters access to the course and practice facilities every week from Monday to Friday.

The SAGDB’s development manager for KZN, Joseph Kunene, said that the Mooi River Country Club management and committee have been extremely positive towards the development programme. He said they have been supportive and welcoming in allowing the juniors access to the facilities.

Kunene said that he is especially pleased that 21 of the juniors on the programme in Mooi River are girls. He said that many of these girls were attracted to the game by the achievements of Philile Mnculwane, who began playing with the SAGDB in 2001..

Philile Mnculwane

Philile is currently a member at the club, and plays in the ladies competition almost every Thursday afternoon. She also recently won the Bronze division of the Sanlam Cancer Challenge at Mooi River.

“Philile has been present at all coaching sessions, and even though most of the girls who started with her have fallen off the programme, she didn’t stop because she loves the game,” Kunene said. “In 2003 a group of new girls started in the programme because they saw what Philile had achieved.”

Kunene added that he has spoken to the president of the KZN Ladies Golf Association, and hopes that three more girls will be granted memberships at Mooi River soon.

The level of commitment and enthusiasm shown by the SAGDB’s learners has also helped the development programme to secure additional support in the area. Ex-Springbok golfer, David Suddards, who owns a business in Mooi River, has indicated that he would like to donate prizes for monthly tournaments at the club. Suddards has also helped in his personal capacity by walking with the SAGDB players during tournaments and offering them advice and encouragement.

“We really appreciate the support from David Suddards,” Kunene said. “We need more individuals like him who will pass on knowledge and experience to young up-and-coming juniors.”

Mooi River CC has certainly proved how beneficial partnerships between clubs and the SAGDB can be. The contribution it has made is crucial in sustaining the board’s aims of growing the game and making it more accessible to all South Africans.

“Support from clubs and the general golfing public is vital to us,” said SAGDB media liaison Patrick Cairns. “The kind of support we are getting in Mooi River is extremely encouraging and proves what a difference a close working relationship can make.”