Pro swaps clubs for bowls
Cruse changed pace after injury and is loving every minute on greens
PROFESSIONAL golfer Andre Cruse took a break from his clubs to pursue a new challenge in bowls and he describes the sport as very competitive. The 2001 Bloemfontein Classic winner is in Port Elizabeth participating in the Warwick Bowls South African Men’s National Championships, which started on Saturday and finish on Sunday.
A trip to Morningside Country Club, in Rivonia, Johannesburg, for chicken and chips landed the golfer on the bowling greens and 18 months later he is competing in his first national competition. Cruse, who has played on the Sunshine Tour for 31 years and won nine times, suffered a shoulder injury.
Now fully recovered, the 53-year-old golfer will be making his way to America to have a go at the Seniors golf tour next month.
Speaking at the Westview Bowls Club after the first round of the fours yesterday, Cruse said the plan was to make it through to the sections.
“I took up bowls about 18 months ago. I had a shoulder injury. I could bowl but not swing.
“I was off for six months and that is when I started playing bowls,” Cruse said. “I arrived at Morningside Country Club for some chicken and chips. I went to see a few guys there and they got me onto the bowling greens.
“Eighteen months later and I am taking part in my first national competition. I am quite excited and I am quite hooked by it.
“My wife tells me that she thinks I am more hooked on bowls now than golf but she says golf pays the bills.
“It has been fun playing bowls and I have met many great people. “For all those people who think bowls is not serious, it is serious and it is very competitive.
“I am absolutely loving it and I am amazed why more competitive golfers who are my age and older don’t play it. I love the competitiveness. It’s brilliant,” he said.
Unlike golf, where you can only blame yourself if something goes wrong during play, Cruse said bowls is more of a team sport.
“This week we are playing in the fours and you have three partners.
“When I play badly I berate myself and now when the other guy plays badly you have to try and get the best out of him.
“So, bowls is a totally different game. You need to have a balance with the four guys you are playing with. You need to be compatible and if you are not compatible it is going to be a long three days.
“On Sunday, we played very well in the pairs. We beat the section winners in our last game but their aggregate was better and they went through.
“On Monday, we won our first game in the fours just by one shot against the Correctional Services team.” THREE rounds of the fours were played in the Warwick Bowls South Africa Men’s National Championships in the Bay and surrounds yesterday.
Following those rounds, the leaders of the sections are: Section 1: P Spriggs (Westview) 9pts Section 2: G Fourie (Pta Municipals) 6pts and P Griessel (Fochville) 6pts Section 3: D Mauer (Jeffreys Bay) 9pts Section 4: D Buckthorp (Queensburgh) 9pts Section 5: D Piketh (Belgravia) 9pts Section 6: M Underwood (Comrades) 9pts Section 7: G Gatti (Italian) 9pts Section 8: A Fourie (Corr. Services) 9pts & W Rittmuller (Stella Park) 9pts Section 9: M Doyle (Roosevelt Park) 7pts Section 10: H Slabbert (Woods) 9pts and B Botma (SANDF) 9pts Section 11: C Kotze (Correctional Services) 9pts Section 12: B Radloff (Outeniqua) 9pts Section 13: B Robinson (Lynwood) 7pts Section 14: E Pick (SANDF) 9pts Section 15: T van der Poel ( Edgemead) 6pts & B Harrison (Randburg) 6pts Section 16: O Hollis (Walmer) 6pts, E Ferrierra (Correctional Services) 6pts, J Lott (Parkhill) 6pts and I McKenzie (Bryanston Sports) 6pts Section 17: C Bartlett (Albany) 6pts and L Ryan (WP Crocket) 6pts. The fours sectional play continue today followed by the first round of the knockout play.