Van Staden burns up course at golf day
Many regular players and sponsors have once again called this year’s KLCBT Golf Day the best one yet. The day was accompanied by fun and the most perfect Lowveld weather imaginable.
It was, however, regrettable that more than 40 players had to cancel due to medical reasons, reducing the initially fully-booked field of 144 players to just over 100. According to COO Linda Grimbeek, however, every possible sponsorship was taken up, which made for a very festive atmosphere.
Unfortunately there was a long list of sponsors who were too late to book for this year.
Every tee offered some sort of beverage, game or competition, not to mention the three roaming mimes (Zelda Wright, Johnny Hattingh and Linda herself), who tried their utmost to keep mum. “But the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism cannot keep quiet,” said Grimbeek.
“It is one of the major events of the KLCBT Business Chamber, which contributes to the funding of their activities and advocacies for another year.
“The Chamber has received no funding from government or the municipality since 2008 and is very proud to be completely self-funded.”
Although the atmosphere was festive, there was one player, a multi-sport athlete, who meant business from his first tee shot. Holes-in-one are rare, and, although skill definitely increases the probability, a great element of luck is involved. When a former Pumas fly-half, Justin van Staden got closest to pin, hit the longest drive and was part of the winning four-ball from KMIA, a little luck is definitely involved.
Van Staden missed his shot at winning the elusive R20 000 cash prize offered by Kruger & Partners for a hole-in-one on the 13th, but aced it on 17, a short 135-metre par three known for fooling players with the pin position on the back of this narrow green, set tight against the donga on the left and a bunker on the right. Though he did not bag the R20 000, his shot cost him a hefty bar round.
“KLCBT wishes to thank all the sponsors who made the day possible and for all the players who participated. It was terribly sad that so many players had to cancel because of the pesky flu that is going around. They really missed out on a stunning day of golfing (Let’s say it was golfing… if anyone were to ask),” Grimbeek concluded.