Club Website | www.stfrancislinksgolfpros.co.za | Tel: +27 42 200 4500
Thursday, March 28, 2024



Bring on the YOUTH

Development players taught by our PGA Professionals and development Grads!

Christo Krugel, Brenden Pieters and Brian Wessels along with Head Professional, Thinus Keller (his birthday, today 27/6), form our primary team of PGA Teaching Professionals here at St Francis Links. I spent a good numbers of years on the tee as my primary responsibility as a PGA Professional. I thank the PGA Professionals who gave me the opportunity to learn the principles and good fundamentals of golf and for exposing me to some of the greatest teachers in the game. No one person deserves more thanks than Charlie Epps, who was one of the great innovators as a PGA Professional by bringing the best teaching Professionals in the game to our great Club, The Houston Country Club, in the early and mid-80's. Charlie was always seeking knowledge to make him better as a Club Professional and a teacher - he didn't need much help as a player! With his close friend Dick Harmon and the Harmon family, Charlie gave me and others the opportunity to first, learn from the best and then, teach as a part of our working day - a day that usually started before the sun rose and ended after it set.

Charlie created in-house golf schools for our members and invited the best in the game to share their knowledge in schools that ran in the early morning and afternoon for those who were working and through the middle of the day for those who could attend then. Gary Wiren was the first - he authored the first teaching manual for the national PGA of America. Then came Jim Flick, the head of golf education for Golf Digest and John Elliott, Davis Love Jr. and Jack Lumpkin, the legendary Paul Runyon and a support team that came from Ohio to Switzerland. We, as the Assistant Professionals set everything us and took everything down and inhaled all the knowledge that was on offer - I loved it and still do. Only time available prevents me from teaching more today.

 

35 years between photos and fortunately Charlie and I haven't changed a bit!

Charlie has been in the spotlight for years, growing the game and coaching the best players; he has his own radio show and makes sure Angel Cabrera keeps calm! Charlie coached Angel to two majors - The Masters and the US Open!


Our Teachers...

I am proud to have four capable and enthusiastic PGA Professionals on our team. While they all have specific roles to play in the golf operation, I am encouraging them to promote the growth of golf with all of our members, our friends and our juniors. They efforts are showing fine results with all who they teach - no better example than seeing one of the Tuesday Clinic ladies in the field last week and the development kids here this weekend. Christo was in charge of the juniors this weekend and did a great job with all of them. Below is his summary for the development kids and following is the results from the junior tournament played here on Sunday. We were pleased to host the kids and on Saturday, some of their fathers for golf and competition. If you want to get the most out of your game, BE A KID, AGAIN!

Every Great shot starts with a smile, play one great shot at a time!

Graduation Day

For the last few months these boys have attended our Development Golf sessions diligently. In an effort to grow the game of golf and the community of St Francis Bay the opportunity was given to the kids of Sea Vista to get involved, and they did!

We are so proud of:
Iwano Coenrad
Jaylen Vena
Kevin Felix



They got to play 9 holes on St Francis Links, as a graduation gift. There will be many more rounds after this one.
The boys were led by Romeo Kolanisi, who came through the Development program himself. Wow, what a guy!! — with Kolanisi Yonela Romeo.

Juniors are smiling at St Francis Links


Ladies' League on the UP!

Hi Jeff,
Pleased to report a very good day in PE today. We all played well and we all got valuable points which has bumped us up the ladder.

We played against PE 1 and PE 2 at PE Golf course!
We managed 18 out of a possible 24 points!

Allison Gillian and I won both our matches. Sandy was 3 down on both her games and came back strongly to get us a point. Sadly she says she could have done better on the last hole.

Yvette Zwartsenbosch and Zana Hankey collected 5 between them.
Last league match at the end of July against Walmer and JBay.
This will be played at Wedgewood .

Hopefully the magic will continue.......it's so lekker to win!!!!

Yours, Helen.

 


Keep reading!



More to remember!


This was our best year to date in almost every way:

  - We finished our 110th home on the estate (59 are permanent residents)
- 15 homes are under construction
- 24 homes are in the planning or application stages
- We are financially sound with great lifestyle choices for the entire family
- To date, we are 900 rounds UP on budget
- Our golf rounds featured golfers from more than 20 different countries - from Wisconsin to New South Wales
- We moved up in the nation ratings to No. 7 in Golf Digest
- The UK rates us No. 6
- The Swedish press rate us No.4
-
With our members, No. 1

The Invitational - our Annual Gentlemen's Member Guest

July 21-23 - Invitations are in the mail to you - please fill in your partner's details and send them back!


 
Don't stop yet! New Events are listed below!
 




Downhill putts are very difficult, we would much rather have an uphill putt. More 3 putts happen because the down slope was not judged correctly.


There are three ways to handle the downhill putt.

1. Read the putt. Walk around the hole and look at the severity of the slope. Play maximum break.

2. Hit the ball with the toe of the putter. By hitting the ball away from the sweet spot of the club, less force is applied, which causes the ball to roll more slowly. However, you’re taking the chance of opening up the putter face. This can cause a putt to go off target. Therefore, if you’re going to try this method, you have to have a tighter grip on the putter to keep the club face from opening.

3. The second way to control the putt is to choke down on the putter. Sometimes you may have to grip the shaft of the putter instead of the grip. Doing this will effectively shorten the club, which allows less power on impact.

If the downhill is extreme, grip even further down on the club shaft. This will probably feel very awkward and seem difficult, but practice it and you’ll find it easier to hit a short, controllable distance, even on a fast downhill putt.

See you on the practice green.

Thinus Keller
Head PGA Professional



21 June 2017 - Individual Stableford

1st – Rex McGregor 37pts
2nd – Barry Phillips 35pts
3rd – Avril Laird 34pts

Highlights
Rex McGregor Nett 71
Brian Wessels Gross 72
 4 Pointers
Gill Hammond 11th
Avril Laird 7th & 8th
Ronnie Bridge 11th
Charles Laird 11th
Rex McGregor 14th
Dunstan Hogan 11th
Jeff Clause 3rd
Hein Spangenberg 11th

Two Clubs
Rex McGregor 14th
Brian Wessels 7th

24 June 2017 - Individual Strokeplay

1st – Deon Marais 75net C/O
2nd – Bob Carmicheal 79net
3rd- James Bredenkamp 80net
 4 Pointers
Hein Spangenberg 14th
Danie Cronje 1st & 2nd

Two Clubs
Hein Spangenberg 14th

Housekeeping
NOoM 1&2 July Course closed for members
Kouga Sages on the 6 July
Open Wednesday 15th July




Click to enlarge

Itec Solutions will be our sponsors for Open Wednesday (2nd Wednesday) with meat and added prizes. Invite your friends to enjoy SA’s best with special rates for golf, snacks after the game and great prizes. Hey, Curry Night follows – stay or take away!

Monday Roll-up!
Pitch up and play (9 holes or 18 Par-3 from 2pm) let's add you to the Whatsapp group

All day Saturdays-Morning and afternoon fields
The afternoon field will be booked from 12 noon backwards with emphasis on "ready golf" - Prizegiving and Happy Hour at 17h00


July 2-3
July 12
July 14
July 18
July 21-23
July 23-26
SA Junior Order of Merit
ITEC Open Wednesday
Members' Get-together
67 Minutes for Madiba - Extreme Golf Fundraiser
The Invitational - annual Men's Member Guest
The PGA "Road Trip"




Jan 2-3
Jan 7-8
Mar 11
Apr 28-30
May 7
May 18-19
May 20
May 27
Jun 3
Jun 10
Men’s Member-Member, St Francis Bay wins by .18 of a point! Well done! 
The Pam Golding Annual, Derek Ryan and Scott Keevy, Champions
Greensomes over 18 holes (NEW) Sandra Marais/Ingvild Stiansen; Mauro Nettl/Yan Coesens
Club Championships - Ralph Richardson and Helen Bridges, Champions
Inter-Estate Challange (St Francis Links)
Woodlands' Dairy Golf Days for HOSPICE R400 000-00 raised for Hospice
Stulting School Day R280 000-00 raised on the day
Foursomes over 18 holes (NEW) Margot McGregor and Dr Lynn Slogrove, Champions 
Ladies' Invitational 
Sanlam – Links Qualifier

Jun 22
Jul 2-3
Jul 20-23
Jul 23-25
Aug 6
Aug 8-23
Sep 30, Oct 1
Nov 11-12
Dec 2
Els for Autism at St Francis Links (finals at Highland Gate)
National Junior Order of Merit
Men’s Invitational
The Annual "Road Trip"
Sanlam Cancer FINALS at St Francis Links 
Spring Programme – Course and Clubhouse Closed
Links Cup
Pam Golding Ladies OPEN Weekend
Ladies' Member-Member

Dates for Mixed Events, as well as the Knock-outs to follow.

Seasonal packages are now on offer

It's also the time of year for golf travel. We join others in advertising our course countrywide. The are are a couple of subtle differences between what you pay and what you receive in a golf package. We pride ourselves on over-delivering with personal services, additional opportunities, special events, shoot-outs and so much more. We'll supply the braai or what you need to do it yourselves; we'll serve your meals here or recommend the area establishments who will exceed your expectations (and of course, we'll do the booking for you). Why? Because we can and we want to!

Why not sign up for the special events coming up in the future and expand them into a few days of play! Play in the Inter-Estate Challenge, enter the Ernie Els for Autism in June, start planning for the Invitationals- ladies and men; Invite your friends in for the best golf in SA (and beyond).


Every great shot starts with a SMILE    

You’re interested; we’re interested?
 
We have some simple questions about your wedges.
If you can take a few minutes to answer them, then you’ll go into a draw with the chance to win prizes.

 

Putting the ‘game’ into your short-game
 
If you’ve got short-game practice time with a friend or family member, then make it more fun with a Par 18 Challenge.
This will test how well you’re likely to transfer the short-game skills you’ve improved out to the golf course.

 
You have 9 holes from 9 locations. Three test your chip and run skills. Three test your greenside bunker skills.
Three test your short pitch shots. With each skill there’s an easy, medium and hard test.

Make sure you putt out competitively as this should also put pressure on your 3, 4 and 5‘ putting technique and ability.

How close can you get to 18? Are you hitting it close enough, but not sinking putts?
Or are you just not putting the ball close enough to make an up and down?

 
 Invest in your short-game, it pays off. Invest in your knowledge and technique, invest in your practice,
invest in concentration. Expect more, and enjoy your golf.

You’re putting out and keeping score. How close can you get to 18? Or, if you’re competing with friends,
who wins or who takes the money?
This is a great game and a lot of fun.
 

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