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| Club Website | www.stfrancislinksgolfpros.co.za | Tel: +27 42 200 4500 |
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| Friday, April 26, 2024 | ||||||||||
 Open doors, Member get-togethers, Property Owner Forum and a well-functioning Board There is no doubt that we are different from other estates, because other estate managers and members tell me so. Every estate has issues, issues that range from services rendered (or not rendered) to the ongoing stories of noisy neighbours and pooping pets. Other estates have big issues that range from insufficient funds to member dissatisfaction and declining memberships and sales.
We are not unique in the fact that our members have issues as well. But the best way to resolve issues and concerns is by talking to each other. Whether it's a broken street lamp or a policy about caddies, home building standards or the quality of wi-fi, food service or tee time availability, it's important to us as your management team. I tell the good stories and many of our stories are very good, but that doesn't make us the best at anything, just trying harder with a great team. On Monday evening we had another member get-together where we, as EXCO, reported on the programmes and procedures in place on the Estate. We are expanding, we are growing and we are developing new strategies for continued success and member confidence weekly. Our management meetings include all department heads and key players in the Club and on the Estate. We are here to anticipate your changing needs and what's best for the estate and all our property owners. I opened the meeting by thanking our team for another good financial year and another year of growth on the estate. Liezl confirmed that by noting the 57 properties transferred in the financial year, with more than 20 homes under construction. Charl shared our plans for expanded garden services, estate maintenance, clean-up projects and re-cycling. Kevern, who always has the most interesting stuff to say, had plenty to cover. He updated us about the water crisis and highlighted that we are still under water restrictions and that no irrigation should be running if you don't have tanks, or water in those tanks. He then updated everyone on the progress of our water treatment works that will be commissioned in early November - this will take us closer to water independence! The temporary tower that Vodacom erected will be removed and any proposed new tower positions will be addressed with the neighboring homeowners. The Vodacom signal remains poor in certain areas and the only real solution on the table is to port over to MTN as Vodacom has indicated that they are budget-strapped for new projects in "rural" areas. MTN, on the other hand has stepped it up again with proposals to provide us with better internet service options and a new PABX system. Liezl also expanded on the growing pains associated with the implementation of Glovent, the application for visitor access management and communication. She expanded on the good work of the aesthetics committee, in place to back up the design review team and ensure our estate remains aesthetically consistent. She finished by sharing our expansive Festive Season Programme which will be released in its entirety in days, so look out for it! Like all estates, we will have issues and opportunities. But we do have in place the mechanisms for all of our members to be heard. It starts with a visit to us or a management call, then attend the monthly get-togethers as they are informative and hopefully entertaining. Stay for dinner and get to know the others members in the room better. As one of our residents stated last night, "We had a home at another Estate for three years and have met and made more friends here in 6 months". If you feel the need to take your concerns or ideas further, put your thoughts in writing to our home owner directors before the next Property Owner Forum in January and discuss it there. From the forum, the Board will consider, review and respond. Why does it work better here than at other estates? We talk to each other. It works much better than in the "cocktail circuit"! Remember, after 12 years, we are growing steadily through sales and resales, home building, increased rounds of golf, greater national and international recognition, new projects like the water treatment plant, recycling, continued alien eradication programmes, ongoing upgrades and improvements to the course, the Clubhouse and the estate, the improved quality of food and service and of course, the building of a great team of individuals. We used to say we were "bucking the odds", now we are "setting the pace"!
Wow, this was a proper weekend for the travelling golfers at St Francis Links. They came from Durban to Dublin to experience great golf and legendary hospitality!  Keeping it low When I give a short game lesson the first question I ask is: "Which club do you use to chip with?" The normal response is either sand wedge or lob wedge. There is nothing wrong with a sand wedge or a lob wedge, however what I soon find out is that they generally only use one club around the greens. I never see anyone chipping with a 7 iron. Very often when I ask the person to describe how they imagine the ball will fly through the air, pitch and roll out, I see a shot that travels too long through the air, relies on getting a lot of spin and is difficult to control. The margin for error is big. The art of bouncing the ball through the fringe...at our course it is predictable, is lost. It does not get practiced either.
When you practice, leave the wedges in the bag and use your 7 iron, 8 iron and 9 iron. With a bit of practice you will find that you can control the ball better, with an easier movement. Weight on the left, grip down, ball position middle or back, keep the head still and let the shoulders rock. Margin for error becomes a lot smaller. For more information or to book a lesson contact me pro@stfrancislinks.com Thinus Keller PGA Head Golf Professional Click here for all the latest results. 
Itec are 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, sometimes Curry Night follows – stay or take away!
Monday Roll-up! Pitch up and play (9 holes or 18 Par-3 from 2pm). All day Saturdays Morning and afternoon fields - the afternoon field will be booked from 12 noon backwards with emphasis on "ready golf". Monday Men's Book Club 5pm in Jack's Bar (no reading required) Ladies' Tea (and Coffee) Every Tuesday at 10am on the Veranda. Click here for the Links Majors and Special Events for 2018.  | ||||||||||
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