ALL-ROUND WINNERS

Sport is in South Africans’ blood, many people love engaging in indoor and outdoor activities, and our sportspeople excel in many fields – from cycling to swimming. We have also been so fortunate to watch a Springbok men’s team that keeps winning on and off the field. And we have Ernie Els.

There isn’t much more that can be said about Els’ playing record – 79 professional victories, including four Majors, two World Golf Championships and a record seven World Matchplay titles. And he has had his best year to date on the PGA Tour Champions, where he won his first Major in July. But in this month’s issue, Gary Lemke looks at how Ernie Els is also earning legendary status off the course.

His Els for Autism Foundation is an invaluable resource and he continues to give back to South African golfing youngsters through his Ernie Els Foundation. There are plenty of reasons he is so loved and revered in this country and around the world. And we are privileged to call him one of us.

We are also privileged to be able to watch our youngsters continue to break through, locally and internationally. This month’s Rising Star, Barend Botha, quietly went about his business on the PGA Tour Americas and before anyone knew it, he had secured his playing rights on the Korn Ferry Tour for next year.

GolfRSA National Squad member, Zané Kleyhans, has made a rapid rise to the upper reaches of amateur golf and her results show that this climb will only continue.

The Sunshine Tour continues to produce players of the highest order – from 21-year-old Yurav Premlall who recorded his maiden win on the Tour in September, to Jacques Blaauw who celebrated his first win in eight years on the Tour in June. In this month’s Inside the Ropes feature, the Sunshine Tour stalwart shares more about his process and what keeps him motivated.

Like Els, the Sunshine Tour and its players also keep giving back, as shown at the Sishen Vodacom Origins of Golf pro am where nearly 35 children from the Kuruman chapter of the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) received coaching from Tour professionals at a golf clinic.

You can read more about Sishen Golf Club, which surely has one of the most unique settings in this country, in our Fairways and Beyond feature. Plus, we look at the important role golf continues to play in wildlifeconservationand Dr Kirsten van Heerden delves deeper into why golf is good for stress... believe it or not!

We hope you enjoy reading all this and more in our October issue!

Philippa Byron

Editor

IMAGE: TYRONE WINFIELD/PERFECT EXPOSURE