[27/10/2008] - SAGDB proud of its girls
[27/10/2008] - SAGDB team shines in WP schools league
[25/08/2008] - SAGDB team selected to take on Ernie's foundation
[23/07/2008] - Dale Hayes shows his support for growing the game
[17/07/2008] - SAGDB hosts inter-regional event at King David
[17/07/2008] - SAGDB team competes at inter-provincials
[07/07/2008] - Acushnet Golf gives SAGDB a shoe-up
[07/07/2008] - SAGDB teams compete in inter-provincials
[07/07/2008] - American college star to give golf clinic at Westlake
[06/06/2008] - SAGDB players excel at Khathu tournament
[30/05/2008] - Martin Pinto retires from SAGDB
[21/05/2008] - Two SAGDB youngsters in Boland team
[30/01/2008] - "Adopt-a-Chapter" programmes boost golf development
[22/11/2007] - Top PGA professionals provide unprecedented support to development coaches
SAGDB proud of its girls
The SA Golf Development Board's (SAGDB) coaching programme across the country prides itself on the number of girls it has brought to the sport. With the support of Womens Golf SA and its affiliate unions, the programme has been giving opportunities to girls from under privileged communities or a number of years.
One example of the progress being made is 15-year old Monique Ramkisson from Parkrynie in Kwazulu Natal. She is a grade 9 pupil at Umzinto Secondary School and a member of the Scottburgh Golf Club. Ramkisson has only been with the programme since March 2007, but has already brought her handicap down to 10.
Her success began when she impressively finished tied for first in the
C-division of the Durban Region Championships held at the Royal Durban Golf
Club in July last year. She also made it through to the finals of the Sanlam
Cancer Golf Challenge played at San Lameer Golf Club during the same year.
In March 2008, Monique represented the KZN region in Mpumalanga at the Interprovincial Games. She followed that up by winning the A-division matchplay at Scottburgh Golf Club and finishing second in the B-division of the Durban Region Championships in Dundee. She received the Prentice Memorial Trophy for her efforts.
Monique has been very consistent and disciplined in her golfing career and the SAGDB's manager for KZN, Joseph Kunene, expects more good things from her.
"The level of commitment and enthusiasm shown by her has helped to motivate the SAGDB coaches in the KZN to continue dedicating their time, " he says.
Zethu Myeki is another promising junior been excelling under the SAGDB's coaching efforts in Border. The 15-year old grade 9 pupil from Sinikiwe High School in Mdantsane is currently a member of the West Bank Golf Club where she plays off a 16 handicap.
"I was greatly inspired to see young black kids in my community
participating in
golf rather than soccer and netball and it encouraged me to switch from
netball
to golf," says Myeki of how she came to the sport.
Myeki joined the SAGDB in 2007 and quickly showed promise. In March of that year she won the girls competition in the Ben Jonas Trophy played at Gonubie Golf Club. She repeated that feat earlier this year and also won the Steve Biko Memorial Trophy held at King William's town in September. She was also voted best player at this year's Border SAGDB trophy.
"The SAGDB is enormously proud of what Zethu has achieved since joining the program," says Millie Zim, the development manager for Border. "She is the most humble and competitive young player with highly established morals and values. Her hard work is fairly being recognised and rewarded."
Myeki enjoys reading constructive books, watching television and her dream is to become a medical doctor after her tertiary education. She also plays netball at school.
While the SAGDB is very pleased to see talented girls coming through the programme, the board knows that there is still room for improvement. Golf is still widely seen as a men's sport and there are continuing efforts to generate more interest in the sport form the young ladies.
With players like Myeki and Ramkisson already coming through the SAGDB's programmes though, the future of the sport in South Africa is looking increasingly positive. Thanks to the excellent work being done by the board's coaches and the ongoing support from the country's golfing structures, more and more young players like these two can expect to benefit from the board's vision of growing the game or all South Africans.
SAGDB team shines in WP schools league
As part of its drive towards bringing more youngsters into the mainstream of golf in South Africa, the SA Golf Development Board entered a team into the B-section of this year's Western Province school's league. The team was made up of some of the programmes top youngsters from Belville South.
The team enjoyed an outstanding season in the Northern Division, winning seven of the eight match-ups against schools such as De Kuilen and D.F.Malan. The team's only slip up was against eventual league winners Stellenberg.
The games were all contested over 9-holes of matchplay, with the SAGDB team winning 40 individual matches over the season, halving eight, and losing only eight.
The league reached its climax earlier this month with the finals played at King David Golf Club. The SAGDB, as runners-up in the Northern Division, took on the Southern Division winners Bishops.
In a one-sided contest, the SAGDB team swept Bishops aside by five and a half points to half a point. This result confirmed the SAGDB team as the overall second best team in the WP school's league B-division.
The WP team consisted of Ryan Braaf (c), Darren Julies, Adrian Braaf,
Kurt-Lee
Elias, Jonathan Swanepoel and Brett Lawrence. Team manager and SAGDB coach,
Edwin Meyer, did an excellent job ensuring that the team was always
prepared.
The development board is extremely pleased that its players are working hard and acknowledging the importance of performing well at all the tournaments in which they participate. The continued progress being seen amongst the board's players is hugely encouraging for the future of the sport.
SAGDB team selected to take on Ernie's foundation
The top 20 players in the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) were in Cape Town weekend for the board's national trials. The trials, held at King David Golf Club, were held to select an eight-player team to compete against the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation (EEFF) in the annual Johann Rupert Shield.
The 20 players were drawn from seven of the SAGDB's ten regions, with the highest representation being from Gauteng East and the Free State, which contributed five players each.
"I must convey my congratulations to all the players that participated in the trials," said the SAGDB's managing executive Ken Viljoen after the event. "There is great potential and talent, especially amongst the younger players."
While Viljoen expressed concern that many of the players needed to
significantly improve their course management, he was confident that the team selected could seriously challenge the EEFF in next month's tournament.
"There are numerous stakeholders that will be watching this tournament with keen interest to see whether the SAGDB has the talent to match the EEFF," he said. "I believe we do."
The eight players chosen for the SAGDB national team are: Winston Adams (Boland), Phiwakahle Mkhoma (KZN), Sipho Sithole (C.Gauteng), Kopano Mkhize (E.Gauteng), Toto Tshabalala (FS), Tuto Nthuli (FS), Delano Taylor (WP), Nicolas Mzamo (WP).
Tshabalala and Taylor will be competing in the event for the second time, having been part of the SAGDB's team at the inaugural competition last year.
The Johann Rupert Shield will be contested in a Rhyder-Cup like format on Fancourt's Bramble Hill course on the sixth and seventh of September. The tournament aims to strengthen the relationship between these two important development initiatives and provide the SAGDB with a chance to measure the success of its coaching programme.
The SAGDB players will be flown to George by SAA and accommodated at the Town Lodge as part of these organisations' ongoing support for golf development.
Dale Hayes shows his support for growing the game
One of the most recognisable figures in South African golf, Dale Hayes, has made a significant contribution to the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB). Hayes has facilitated the donation of over 1 000 club heads through his home club, Zwartkops Country Club.
The clubheads were bought by Zwartkops after the closure of the factory that was making them. Hayes believes that it's important to support the work of the SAGDB as they continue to increase participation in the sport locally.
"The SAGDB is really starting to do a lot of good work now," he said. "For people involved in golf clubs, it's critical to grow the game.
The clubheads will be distributed nationally by the SAGDB to the areas of most need. The SAGDB will source shafts to go with them, so that more of its players can enjoy the benefits of having their own clubs to use.
Hayes, who is well-known as the presenter of Supergolf, knows that the SAGDB shares its goals with all of South Africa's golfing structures.
"Their ambitions are exactly the same as ours," said Hayes. "That is to grow
the
game of golf."
SAGDB team selected to take on Ernie's foundation
The top 20 players in the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) were in Cape Town weekend for the board's national trials. The trials, held at King David Golf Club, were held to select an eight-player team to compete against the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation (EEFF) in the annual Johann Rupert Shield.
The 20 players were drawn from seven of the SAGDB's ten regions, with the highest representation being from Gauteng East and the Free State, which contributed five players each.
"I must convey my congratulations to all the players that participated in the trials," said the SAGDB's managing executive Ken Viljoen after the event. "There is great potential and talent, especially amongst the younger players."
While Viljoen expressed concern that many of the players needed to
significantly improve their course management, he was confident that the team selected could seriously challenge the EEFF in next month's tournament.
"There are numerous stakeholders that will be watching this tournament with keen interest to see whether the SAGDB has the talent to match the EEFF," he said. "I believe we do."
The eight players chosen for the SAGDB national team are: Winston Adams (Boland), Phiwakahle Mkhoma (KZN), Sipho Sithole (C.Gauteng), Kopano Mkhize (E.Gauteng), Toto Tshabalala (FS), Tuto Nthuli (FS), Delano Taylor (WP), Nicolas Mzamo (WP).
Tshabalala and Taylor will be competing in the event for the second time, having been part of the SAGDB's team at the inaugural competition last year.
The Johann Rupert Shield will be contested in a Rhyder-Cup like format on Fancourt's Bramble Hill course on the sixth and seventh of September. The tournament aims to strengthen the relationship between these two important development initiatives and provide the SAGDB with a chance to measure the success of its coaching programme.
The SAGDB players will be flown to George by SAA and accommodated at the Town Lodge as part of these organisations' ongoing support for golf development.
Dale Hayes shows his support for growing the game
One of the most recognisable figures in South African golf, Dale Hayes, has made a significant contribution to the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB). Hayes has facilitated the donation of over 1 000 club heads through his home club, Zwartkops Country Club.
The clubheads were bought by Zwartkops after the closure of the factory that was making them. Hayes believes that it's important to support the work of the SAGDB as they continue to increase participation in the sport locally.
"The SAGDB is really starting to do a lot of good work now," he said. "For people involved in golf clubs, it's critical to grow the game.
The clubheads will be distributed nationally by the SAGDB to the areas of most need. The SAGDB will source shafts to go with them, so that more of its players can enjoy the benefits of having their own clubs to use.
Hayes, who is well-known as the presenter of Supergolf, knows that the SAGDB shares its goals with all of South Africa's golfing structures.
"Their ambitions are exactly the same as ours," said Hayes. "That is to grow
the
game of golf."
SAGDB hosts inter-regional event at King David
The SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) held its annual Western Cape inter-regional u/17 tournament at King David Golf Club in early July. The tournament was sponsored by Old Mutual.
The tournament was contested between three teams from the SAGDB's Western Cape regions - Boland, Western Province and the Southern Cape. The best 11 players from Western Province, 10 from Boland and seven from the Southern Cape were selected for a chance to compare their progress against their peers.
"We are very fortunate that Old Mutual came forward to sponsor the tournament,"said the SAGDB's manager in Western Province Michael Bredenkamp. "Such tournaments provide opportunities for these young players to show what they can produce and are an indication of the strength of each region. It would be great if such tournaments could be held more often and more companies came forward to sponsor them."
The main objective of this tournament was to embrace the expanding talent of young and up-coming golfers in the SAGDB's programmes in the Western Cape. It also provided an environment that encouraged the development of positive social skills such as integrity, patience, respect and self-belief in the players. The SAGDB believes that these young stars should not only be prepared as golfers in the future, but as role models to other underprivileged children.
Although the course was tough, all the players showed a determination to impress. Their scores reflected the quality the coaching they have been receiving from their coaches in the three regions.
Jaquin Hess of the Boland carded the best round of the day, winning the tournament with a gross score of two-over par 74. Western Province's Kurt-Lee Elias finished second on 75, with the Boland's Winston Adams third on 77.
17 of the players were selected from this even to participate in the National South African Golf Development finals to be played in Gauteng, at Zwartkop Country Club on the 20-22 July 2008. Seven of these players were from WP, six from Boland and four from the Southern Cape region.
"I strongly hope that all selected players will proudly represent the province and display fantastic golf In Gauteng," Bredenkamp said.
SAGDB team competes at inter-provincial
A team of talented u/12 players from the SA Golf Development Board's (SAGDB) Western Cape regions was in action in early July at Clovelly golf club. The team competed in the national u/12 inter-provincial tournament that also featured sides from across the country.
The SAGDB team was selected from the best youngsters in the Western Cape that were not picked for their own provincial teams. The intention was to broaden the number of players exposed to this level of competition to improve the available talent base.
"Although it was the first time for some players competing in this tournament, they displayed very positive play," said Johan Erasmus, the SAGDB's manager for the Southern Cape. "They proved that there is talent within the regions."
The SAGDB youngsters were understandably nervous on the course, and although they showed determination, they also were exposed to a new standard of play at this level.
Keenan Africa from Boland was the best player in the SAGDB team at the event, finishing 51st in the field of 84 players. His scores consistently dropped over the five 9-hole rounds as he became more comfortable with his game.
Players from the SAGDB that competed for their provincial teams also performed encouragingly, with Eastern Province's Rushane Peters coming 35th, and Devan Appolis from Boland in 40th position.
"I think our players need to play more competition golf, in order for them to mature in this game", Erasmus said. "However, the inter-provincial tournament has exposed these youngsters to new experiences and has given them the opportunity to make new friends."
Acushnet Golf gives SAGDB a shoe-up
Acushnet Golf, the distributor of Footjoy, Titleist, Pinnacle and Cobra golf equipment, has donated 1 460 pairs of golf shoes to the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB). The Footjoy shoes have a value of around R350 000.
The equipment will be of major benefit to golfers in the SAGDB's programmes, as the vast majority of players come from poor communities and would never be able to afford their own footwear. The learners commonly arrive at coaching sessions barefoot or in worn tekkies or slops. Some wear their school shoes.
Having the correct footwear will therefore not only help to improve their games, but will also build their self-esteem. Knowing that they have the correct gear will give them added confidence and build their belief that they can compete on the same terms as any other young golfers.
The donation forms part of Acushnet's ongoing support for growing the game of golf in South Africa. The company handed over 100 pairs of shoes to the SAGDB's Gauteng region earlier this year and has also donated Titleist balls through the Sunshine Tour and the SA Golf Association.
"We have always supported the SAGDB," said Beau Barnard, General Manager of Acushnet South Africa. "We will supply more product as and when it becomes available."
The shoes will be distributed around the country in all nine of the SAGDB's regions.
SAGDB teams compete in inter-provincials
In a move that will benefit the growth of golf in South Africa, teams from the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) are competing in two of the SA Junior Golf Foundation's (SAJGF) inter-provincial tournaments during July. The teams, made up players in the development programme from around the country, were invited by the foundation to give the learners an opportunity to compete against the best young players in South Africa.
"We hope this initiative will prove that we have the players to compete at this level," says the SAGDB's managing executive, Ken Viljoen. "I hope that once our players see what standard is required to win at this level, they will put in extra effort to achieve it."
The two SAGDB teams are competing in the u/12 tournament at Clovelly Golf Club in the Western Cape, and the u/14 event being played at Irene Country Club, in Gauteng North.
The SAGDB squads are made up of the top age group players from around the country who were not selected for their respective provincial teams.
"All our players were still considered for their SAJGF provincial sides," explains Viljoen. "These players that we selected are the balance of the talent in their age groups."
American college star to give golf clinic at Westlake
15 golfers from the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) programme in the Western Cape will be attending a special golf clinic at Westlake Golf Club on 4 July. The clinic will be run by United States college golfer Chloe Nelson.
Nelson is Eastern Washington University's top woman golfer. She finished the 2007-2008 year with the lowest stroke average in the school's history and was the top performer in a team that finished in the top five in all of the last six tournaments of the year.
Nelson's visit to Cape Town is part of an initiative by the South African Services SETA. She previously visited Soweto, where she ran a similar clinic for girls at the Soweto Country Club.
"It is a great privilege for us to be invited to send players to this clinic," said the SAGDB's manager for the Western Cape, Michael Bredenkamp. "Hopefully it will also serve as an eye-opener for people to see the wonderful work the SAGDB is doing for golf in South Africa."
The development board will be sending 15 of its most promising beginner golfers to the clinic in the hope that they will gain something above what they have already learned from their coaches. The board also hopes that these youngsters, who are still new to the game, will be inspired by Nelson to become even more passionate about the sport.
"I think it will also give them a boost to show Chloe what they can already do," Bredenkamp said.
The SAGDB is working with all of South Africa's golfing bodies to grow the sport in the country, and is always grateful for outside initiatives such as these that add to its programmes.
The clinic will be held at Westlake Golf Club from 9am to 1pm on Friday 4 July.
SAGDB players excel at Khathu tournament
The success of golf development in the Free State has been an encouraging one for the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB). A significant number of the board's players in the region are drawn from the rural areas around Qwa-Qwa, where their playing and practice facilities are very limited. Most of them have to practice on patchy soccer fields and dry school grounds.
When these players do get onto the golf course, many of them have to contend with the run-down fairways at the old Qwa-Qwa Golf Club. The course was part of the old Sun City resort in the area, but when the casino was moved the course was abandoned and neglected.
Since the players in this region are faced with these ongoing difficulties, it is particularly gratifying that so many of them are doing well in junior events. Five players from the SAGDB's programme in the region competed in the recent Khathu junior tournament held by the Free State & Northern Cape Junior Golf Foundation and produced good results. The tournament is widely regarded as one of the major junior events in the region because of the tough challenge presented by the Khathu layout.
"The team representing the SAGDB was at its best," said the SAGDB's manager for Free State, Ratha Motaung. "They proved to all that in the near future they will be a force to be reckoned with."
The SAGDB's top player on the day was 15-year old Sello Lebeko who finished second in the 65-player field. 17-year old Thabo Ramathinyane also competed strongly to end sixth.
"Sello's game is improving daily," Motaung said. "He did extremely well as this was the first time he competed in the A division of a competition."
Lebeko is currently playing off a five handicap and his potential has already been noticed by the local foundation. He was recently selected to play in the Free State boys u/16 team for a provincial hexangular tournament in Aliwal North.
Ramathinyane is one of the most committed SAGDB players in the region and is currently playing off a three handicap. He was also recently provided with a new set of golf clubs sponsored by The Pro Shop.
"The new equipment is working for him," Motaung said. "And his regular attendance at coaching and training session is improving his game."
With the continued dedication of the region's players and coaches and ongoing support from organisations like The Pro Shop, the SAGDB hopes to continue improving results in the Free State. There is great talent in the region and the development board wants to ensure that players have the chance to reach their potential, despite the difficulties they face.
Martin Pinto retires from SAGDB
Martin Pinto, one of the longest serving directors of the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB), has reached the board's official retirement age. Pinto joined the SAGDB in 2000 when it merged with the Golf Development Trust.
Pinto has served in a number of executive capacities at the SAGDB over the last ten years and was a member of the board of directors that steered the SAGDB through a difficult restructuring phase in 2006.
Pinto has played more than one role in sports development in South Africa, having been the first black president of the SA Golf Association. He was also a member of the National Olympic Committee of South Africa.
He started the Golf Development Trust in the early 1990s, before South Africa's golfing structures decided to combine their efforts into a single development body in 2000. The Trust was then merged with the SAGDB, which is now the officially recognised body for growing the game.
Two SAGDB youngsters in Boland team
Two players from the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) programme in the Boland have been selected to their province's u/14 team. Trevor Thomas from Parkview Primary in Atlantis and Shane Ross, who attends Worcestern Gym, were chosen for the u/14 interprovincial tournament to be played in Johannesburg in July.
13-year old Thomas has been with the SAGDB for 7 years and currently plays off a 15 handicap. He was also a member of the Boland u/12 team last year.
"Trevor has worked hard on his game to bring his handicap down from 19 to 15 this year," says the SAGDB's manager in Boland, Andre Rossouw. "His short game is very strong."
Thomas is being guided by one of the SAGDB's most promising coaches, Shaun Adriaanse. He has also learnt a lot from caddying for his coach's brother, Edgar, in league matches.
14-year old Ross played for Boland u/12 in 2006 and is the C-division club champion at Riverside Golf Club. He has benefited from the excellent work being done by Worcester's development coach Kulk Martinus.
"Shane has a strong mind and a cool head," Rossouw says. "His approach is to play consistent golf."
Importantly, both youngsters also enjoy support from their families. Thomas' grandfather Brian has been an important part of his development, while Ross receives strong backing from his father Shaun. While the SAGDB does all it can to assist the young players in its programmes, having support from their families makes an enormous difference.
The SAGDB is very proud of its players that are selected to compete at provincial level and is pleased to be able to provide these opportunities for youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds. Not only will Thomas and Ross have a chance to compare themselves to the best young players around the country, but they will also be exposed to a range of new experiences.
"I hope they will lift their standard of play and get motivated to become much better golfers," Rossouw says. "But this opportunity will also broaden their life experience and let them meet new friends."
"Adopt-a-Chapter" programmes boost golf development
In its efforts to grow the game of golf across the country, the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) is increasingly gaining support from golf clubs, local governments and community organisations. In a number of areas around South Africa, these bodies are funding development initiatives through the "adopt-a-chapter" programme.
"Adopt-a-chapter" invites interested organisations to finance the running of a coaching centre in their local area. This could include covering the costs of transporting learners to facilities, covering playing fees and reimbursing the development coach. The SAGDB in turn provides the support structure and PGA-approved coaching programme.
The initiative has already been implemented in a number of areas, with great success. In KwaZulu-Natal, Prince's Grant Golf Club opened a development chapter under the programme last year, while Ethekweni District Municipality is funding the running of a chapter in KwaMashu. The municipality has now announced that it will be supporting the establishment of a second chapter in the rural areas of the district, particularly Amatikwe and Etafuleni.
"The deputy head of sport and recreation for the Ethekweni municipality, Vusi Mazibuko, visited the KwMashu chapter towards the end of last year," explains the SAGDB's development manager in KZN, Joseph Kunene. "After seeing the progress being made by the children, he decided there and then that he wants to start a new chapter in the rural areas in 2008."
Kunene believes that the new chapter will provide a big boost to the development of golf in the region as it will provide opportunities to a further 60 or more children.
"These chapters are started with grade 3 pupils only," Kunene says, "which is the right age to get them to learn the basics."
The SAGDB is also seeing increased interest in the programme in the Boland where the Breede River Winelands Rotary club has raised funds for a new chapter in the Robertson Valley and Montagu area, due to open in February. This will enable local youngsters to receive coaching closer to home, when previously they would have had to travel to Worcester.
"In most cases where we have had successful players, it was in places where they lived in walking distance of the practice facility or the golf course," says Andre Rossouw, the development manager for Boland. "It will be a big advantage to have a local chapter where we can find the best talent and develop it to the highest potential."
Rossouw adds that there is limited entertainment for children in these areas, and golf will therefore provide a positive activity for many of them.
"There is great talent that awaits our arrival," he says. "We already have the support of the municipality and local sports people, and hopefully success here will see us expanding to even more towns."
As the adopt-a-chapter programme gains momentum, it is hoped that even more organisations will add their support to the development programme. Already one of the best known clubs in the country, Durban Country Club, has expressed an interest and will be starting a programme there in February.
"A primary school has already been identified in Chesterfield township," Kunene says, "and the club will pay all the costs of transport, equipment, balls and meals, and will provide the services of three PGA coaches at the club."
This level of assistance is a significant endorsement of the "adopt-a-chapter" programme. As Rossouw notes, more and more clubs are starting to recognise the important work being done by the SAGDB.
"Most clubs are willing to support the development programme in some way," he says. "And they are becoming more willing to lend their support as they see the success of our players."
Kunene believes that the support currently being offered is just the beginning."I am now in the process of approaching other municipalities to do the same as Ethekweni," he says. "And I hope other golf clubs will also follow soon when they see what is being done. People recognise what the SAGDB is trying to achieve and this is the reason they want to be involved."
Top PGA professionals provide unprecedented support to development coaches
Some of the PGA's leading teaching professionals, including Jamie Gough, Ben Fouchee and Vaughn Tucker, are getting behind an initiative to provide additional support to coaches from the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB). These professionals have been appointed to act as mentors to the board's development coaches and support their training of aspiring young golfers.
"SAGDB coaches are responsible for taking the game to children at schools in previously disadvantaged areas," explains the PGA's director of education and SAGDB board member, Dennis Bruyns. "In order to make the game sustainable for these children, they need to be taught correctly. Therefore it is important that the PGA gives all the support and encouragement it can to the SAGDB coaches so that they can become more skilled."
The mentoring programme has been established through appointing a qualified PGA teaching professional in each of the SAGDB's operational areas. These professionals will be mentors for the SAGDB coaches in their region and will conduct regular workshops for ongoing formal training.
All of the coaches contracted to the SAGDB come from the underprivileged communities in which they teach. This is therefore a chance for them to have access to a level of training that would otherwise be out of reach for them, and forms a vital part of the SAGDB's broad vision to grow a culture of golf in areas that have had limited access to the game.
"The SAGDB coaches will also be able to seek advice and assistance from their mentor when and where required," Bruyns explains. "This will also allow the SAGDB coaches to build up practical hours that will count towards their advancement as a coach and this could eventually result in them becoming fully qualified PGA coaches."
The mentoring programme is an extension of the National Training Programme which the SAGDB ran over the past two years to enhance the skill of its coaches. Having gained a thorough background, the coaches will now be provided with ongoing support to ensure that they continue to improve their knowledge.
SAGDB managing executive Ken Viljoen says that the mentoring programme will be a crucial part of the development programme's efforts to raise standards.
"Over time, we have identified a need to improve the practical coaching skills of our development coaches," he says. "So this is an opportunity for the PGA professionals to pass on their knowledge and experience to our coaches, who will in turn pass what they learn on to the children in our programmes."
Viljoen believes that it's particularly exciting that the two golfing bodies are working so closely together to the benefit of the national game as a whole.
"Together with the, we PGA recognised the need to give our coaches the chance to develop their skills to a new level," he says. "I would particularly like to thank Dennis Bruyns for his vision and insight that have made this project possible."
The professionals appointed by the PGA are recognised as some of the top golf coaches in the country. Their experience and knowledge will therefore be invaluable to coaches for whom formal training would otherwise be unattainable.
Gough has been appointed to mentor the coaches in the Western Cape, while Martin Briede will assist in Gauteng. Michelle de Vries, who has already had a long and influential relationship with the SAGDB, will mentor coaches in the Border area.
The other PGA teaching professionals appointed as mentors are Tucker in the Southern Cape, Fouchee in Boland, Graeme van der Nest in Eastern Province and John Dickson in KwaZulu-Natal.
As the recognised body responsible for growing the game nationally, the SAGDB receives support from all of South Africa's official golfing bodies. These bodies are all represented on the SAGDB's board of directors and assist in guiding its objectives.
The PGA is playing a particularly crucial role in supporting the board's aims through its technical support. Not only has it assisted in drawing up the SAGDB's national coaching programme, but it has now embarked on this initiative to provide much needed assistance to the board's development coaches.
Bruyns believes that the results the PGA is looking for through establishing this programme are simple: "Better coaches - better players."