‘Best Golf Party in the World’

FROM PAGE 18

From the outset it was determined that this would be the most memorable of any such similar events. To this end, a huge focus was and still is put into the after golf activities and entertainment.

There are, after all, only seven daily prize-winners, so the remaining 243 competitors should also receive a return on their investment.

From the outset, too, the tournament grew in both numbers and stature.

The main sponsor from 1990 through to 1998 was Lexington, closely aligned with both the Professional and Amateur codes of golf in South Africa. It was at the 1998 tournament that Lexington finally declared that, through 25 years of participation in the game, this was the finest amateur golf tournament in which they had ever been involved.

In 2000, a senior Sun International Manager, described the tournament as the “Best Golf Party in the World”.

It is recognised as the biggest amateur golf tournament in Africa with 75 percent of the annual entry filled by visitors. Through the years players have arrived from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Ghana and, of course, from every corner of South Africa.

Further abroad, more regular participants include players from Australia and the United Kingdom. Mr Chang, from Taiwan, and Marcus Fredericks from East Borneo, are those who have travelled the furthest.

THE 2012 TOURNAMENT

Through the eight days in 2012, over 1 600 rounds of golf and 600 players are anticipated. The format of the event remains consistent with the previous 22 years, eight individual stableford tournaments.

Further to that, order of merit points are earned by the leading 25 players in each tournament. From there they progress to an Overall Order of Merit Winner at the week’s end.

Midweek recognition is given to the Leading Visitor and the Leading Local, at the halfway mark (on Tuesday). A significant change this year is the introduction of the leading contenders for the Order of Merit, being drawn to play together from Sunday onwards.

The choice belongs to the player, of course, should the player prefer to stay with the original draw and forfeit the Order of Merit, that player may do so. Also included is a special Ladies Order of Merit, based on the aggregate top three individual stableford results scored through the week.

The nightly activities include the opening Saturday welcome, led by the traditional Piper, Ramon Allen, who has played for almost as long as the history of the event. Cushandra and Kelly follow, at the conclusion of the opening, while on Sunday, by tradition, is Karaoke.

You and Me and Lionel Askin perform on Monday evening, while on Tuesday night we have SMS. Wednesday live is the 4 Jay’s and Blue Sky.

On Thursday Ballyhoo of “Man in the Moon” fame, will bring back the past and on Friday, the penultimate night, the traditional Can Can Girls will proceed Simply Four, the main attraction.

The final night belongs to Bianca. As always, from Wednesday through to Saturday, the Coyote Girls will be in attendance.