Santa says
TK, TK, TK wins for the 2nd year in a ROW!
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It’s not proper to write about myself so I’ll start by heaping my praise on Thinus and our great TEAM here at St Francis Links! The PGA members of Southern and Eastern Cape have seen fit to nominate and award him as their (our) Professional of the Year for 2020. Only last Monday, he received his award for 2019 at Simola.
So, to be sure, he has done it again and is now up for the National Award. This was the first time I was awarded as Club Manager of the Year as it is the result of the PGA modifying the awards and the selection process. I was blessed to be the National Club Professional of the Year three times in the past years. Thinus and I are all about TEAM and we have strong people around us who all understand our philosophy that you, our members, are royalty and your friends who come and visitors we attract, are treated as “members” for the day. At the Links, we focus on the experience and try to see that everything is in place from the daily course set-up to fresh towels on the cart when the rains come. We love hosting events for the members, our visitors and guests. We have a course that is one of the best on the planet and we have worked hard, over the years, on playability for better enjoyment. We also strongly believe that every person who comes through our gate is a potential new homeowner, ambassador or returning guest. Our world is all about hospitality, and providing it around a game we all love. For me, 1 September marked the start of my 30th year in SA. I am American by birth, and South African by choice!
We have spent the last 14 years building the “brand” known as St Francis Links. It’s working!
Our congrats to all nominees and winners!
PGA Regional Awards – Southern and Eastern Cape
PGA Management
Brendon Timm, Humewood
Francois De Lange, Pezula
Jayde Tannous, The Pro Shop – George
Jeff Clause, St Francis Links
Nic Grundtvig, Fancourt
Peter Berman, Scratch Golf – Knysna
Ryan Reid, Fancourt
Club Professional
Cliff Barnard, Plettenberg Bay GC
Francois De Lange, Pezula
Jamie Kietzmann, Simola
Justin Roux, St Francis Bay GC
Quintin Byleveldt, Pinnacle Point
Thinus Keller, St Francis Links – 2 Years in a ROW!
Wynand Myburgh, Fancourt
Other Categories
Coach
Cliff Barnard, Nic Bakker, Peter Berman (winner), Roelof Roeloffze, Val Holland
Grow Golf
Cliff Barnard, Nic Bakker, Peter Berman, Roelof Roeloffze (winner)
Entrepreneur
Adam McKinlay (winner), Graeme van der Nest, Jayde Tannous, Peter Berman, Roelof Roeloffze
Meet Rauzhea Buys
St Francis Links Sous Chef
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Rauzhea started working at the Links in 2017 as a student and he has an incredible story to tell below:
“My journey at the Links started when I took one faithful leap and relocated from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth in 2017. I had decided that being a chef was my career, so I enrolled at the South African Academy of Culinary Arts, headed by non-other than world renowned pastry chef, Ralph Gottschalk. Under the tutelage of chef Ralph, I developed a great interest in the world of culinary arts. I was then introduced to chef Jon Hodder at the Links for the December season that year, and the rest, as they say, is history. I am very proud to be the Sous Chef here today!
Along my journey at the Links, I received an amazing offer for work at a prestigious hotel in Cape Town, an offer I gratefully accepted in March 2020, before anyone knew a pandemic would hit the world. Unfortunately, due to the rocky Covid-19 tremors, I lost my job as the hospitality industry was hit hard. Amazingly, I received a call and then a warm welcome back by the people at the Links, who extended a helping hand, which I obviously could not resist. I currently lead a team of 8 dedicated people, producing what is some of the best food in the entire St Francis Bay area. I have returned with vigor and enthusiasm, it is always good to leave through the front door, so you can also return that way! I see myself as completing my degree in Food Technology one day and finally becoming a Food Scientist (YES! that is an actual profession). This is my one great dream and I know that I am currently laying the foundation to achieve that great desire. Even though I am over 1000 kms away from my family, I am constantly surrounded by people I can call my second family. So here I am, Rauzhea Buys, current Sous Chef at the Links, ready to take this industry by storm, and turn a few heads in the process.”
Book your next meal or come down to the clubhouse and meet Rauzhea and the rest of our staff when you sit down for a meal, we cant wait to meet you.
Meet Rauzhea >
Shaun Leads the Under-11’s to victory
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Shaun Viljoen was the best player on the day as the Eastern Cape Under-11’s beat the boys from Southern Cape and Border for the title!
I watched a rare eagle at 18!
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You can click below to see all the results from the week past. But there is nothing like seeing a golfer’s face when he or she has just holed out from the tee or fairway. Yesterday, Charl was on a mission on his first nine holes (10-18) coming to 18 level par off a 9 course handicap. He then holed his second shot with a 9-iron, spinning it back into the hole from the back edge of the green. But it was Hein and Yan who took “the meat” in ITEC Wednesday, counting Charl and me out on 44pts. Debbie McCracken had a big smile last Wednesday when she bettered Dr Lynn in the Silver Division Monthly Medal. Sally Nienaber took care of business winning the Bronze Division Medal. It was all Deon Marais on the same Wednesday when he fired a nett 67 (41pts) on his way to first place in IPS. TK joined Christopher Van Rensburg, Jacques VD Walt and Dave Hart and they won the 4-ball Alliance by 3pts on Saturday with 84pts in total.
Click the buttons below for the summaries.
The 2020 Calendar and Results
We look forward to our sponsored days with ITEC, Selective Lighting/The Fire Works, Pam Golding Properties, and Village Square SuperSpar events.
To view the current schedule, as well as the results, click the button below.
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