The Major Golfing Events of the Year
July 10th – The Ladies’ Invitational
This marks the fourth year that we will be hosting the Ladies’ Invitational and the second year where you, our most valued lady Members, are being asked to participate and invite as many as three guests. As we are still growing in numbers, the more playing on the day, the better. So instead of inviting just one eager friend, allow one, two or three to join you. We will, once again, feature a fantastic day of golf, followed by a super lunch and a cooking demonstration from Chef Brad! Saturday morning tee times will be set aside for you and the main competition. If you have friends coming in for the weekend, a special rate is on offer for Friday and Sunday as well! What a great time to show off your favourite course to your special friend(s)!
Click Here for more details on the day!
For an entry form, click here.
July 16-18 – The Gentlemen’s Invitational
Who’s going to get their names on the Champions’ Board this year? The main event for the Gentlemen’s Invitational will again be played over two days, Saturday and Sunday of the OPEN Championship weekend, with a little practice round event on the Friday prior. Many of you have already made plans to bring back you best buddy for the weekend. Some of you are coming for the first time and a few of you have guests queuing up for an invitation to spend a weekend on South Africa’s Number ONE! Play golf on your favourite Links and then watch the best professionals in the world compete on the world’s best known links, St Andrews. If you need accommodation for the event, check out our member partners on the website, www.stfrancislinks.com/accommodation.
Click here for more information about this year’s number one golfing event!
For an entry form, click here.
St Francis Links – Staff trip to World Cup Match
The entire staff compliment at St Francis Links were offered a special day in Port Elizabeth – to watch a FIFA World Cup match. 30 staffers purchased a ticket and we supplied the bus transportation, food and drinks. As the bus entered Port Elizabeth on Cape Road, there was no doubt as to who was coming and why they were there. The St Francis Links flag was flying, the Vuvuzela’s roared and 10 hours later the memories became great stories to be shared with all.
This marks the fourth year that we will be hosting the Ladies’ Invitational and the second year where you, our most valued lady Members, are being asked to participate and invite as many as three guests. As we are still growing in numbers, the more playing on the day, the better. So instead of inviting just one eager friend, allow one, two or three to join you. We will, once again, feature a fantastic day of golf, followed by a super lunch and a cooking demonstration from Chef Brad! Saturday morning tee times will be set aside for you and the main competition. If you have friends coming in for the weekend, a special rate is on offer for Friday and Sunday as well! What a great time to show off your favourite course to your special friend(s)!
Click Here for more details on the day!
For an entry form, click here.
July 16-18 – The Gentlemen’s Invitational
Who’s going to get their names on the Champions’ Board this year? The main event for the Gentlemen’s Invitational will again be played over two days, Saturday and Sunday of the OPEN Championship weekend, with a little practice round event on the Friday prior. Many of you have already made plans to bring back you best buddy for the weekend. Some of you are coming for the first time and a few of you have guests queuing up for an invitation to spend a weekend on South Africa’s Number ONE! Play golf on your favourite Links and then watch the best professionals in the world compete on the world’s best known links, St Andrews. If you need accommodation for the event, check out our member partners on the website, www.stfrancislinks.com/accommodation.
Click here for more information about this year’s number one golfing event!
For an entry form, click here.
St Francis Links – Staff trip to World Cup Match
The entire staff compliment at St Francis Links were offered a special day in Port Elizabeth – to watch a FIFA World Cup match. 30 staffers purchased a ticket and we supplied the bus transportation, food and drinks. As the bus entered Port Elizabeth on Cape Road, there was no doubt as to who was coming and why they were there. The St Francis Links flag was flying, the Vuvuzela’s roared and 10 hours later the memories became great stories to be shared with all.
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South African Wins on the Weekend!
| While we were all rooting for Ernie (some of us until 3 in the morning), John Bland was enjoying a “Champion’s” sleep in Wales. From European Tour.com South African John Bland claimed his third European Senior Tour title with a one shot victory in The Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open at Royal Porthcawl.
The 64 year old carded a one under par 71 in the final round, seeing off Paraguayan Angel Franco in dramatic fashion. The pair were neck and neck at eight under after 16 holes, but Franco, three groups ahead of Bland, bogeyed the 18th and then the South African birdied the par five 17th to give himself some breathing space coming up the last. It proved crucial, as Bland found a bunker from the 18th tee and ended up with a bogey. |
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Bland’s compatriot Chris Williams took a share of second place after a level par 72, but overnight leader Bob Cameron capitulated on the back nine, carding four straight bogeys and two double bogeys for a 78.The challenges of Scottish duo Ross Drummond and Gordon Brand Jnr, in contention overnight, also faltered with rounds of 83 and 75 respectively.
Bland, who fired three birdies and an eagle to make it a second successive South African winner in this event following Bertus Smit, said: “The course was very tricky today but I handled it well and did everything right – except for the last when I found a bunker and got a little nervous.
Blandie and I go back nearly 20 years, to my early days at Fancourt. His swing remains the same – still swinging it at 85% like we all should! He hasn’t missed a fairway or green lately. Well done, Pards!
First European since Tony Jacklin!
 US Open Champion 2010, Graeme McDowell |
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 1970 Champion, Tony Jacklin
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My Irish friend, Keith, says his name is pronounced “Madooool”. Whether it’s Madooool or McDowell, it’s Graeme and he’s the first European (Northern Irishman laddie) to win the National Championship of America since Tony Jacklin in 1970 at Hazeltine in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His play was solid and he survived on a day when the three biggest names in the game failed to sustain a challenge. Pebble Beach and its “Open” set-up made true professionals look a bit amateurish, as they missed greens and never threatened perfection. But then again, when a group of selected amateurs (including a 1 and 3 handicapper) played the course just before the tournament began, only one of them could break 100 (99). |
| I have played Pebble Beach and I reckon that if I had one game to play, it would be there. The Pebble Beach I played was slightly different than theirs – the greens were primarily Poa-annua (the mix of colours you saw that resembled broccoli) and they were tricky to putt. However, the fairways were wider, the rough was lower and the wind was non-existent. In the middle of what would be a normal five and a half hour round on a perfect day, my playing partner had the audacity to moan about the pace of play. At the time, we were standing on the 8th tee, about to play the best par four in golf (I had just made 2 on the best little par 3 in golf) | |
and we had all just had pictures with the caddies with the blue sea behind. I could only look at him and reply, “do you REALLY have to be somewhere else right now?” On the 8th on Sunday, Ernie made a great par save. Then the Pacific magnets grabbed his ball at 10 and he spent the rest of the day playing catch-up. G McD survived; his Dad got the ultimate Father’s Day present
| and was first on the green at 18! Member, Bruce Brooker, wrote to me this week to express his absolute delight in achieving a lifetime “golfing highlight” by being there with his boys. They followed Ernie and Tiger (almost lost in the Tiger army) before parking off on the 8th for a perfect view of everything. It was my trip to Hazeltine for the 1970 Open that solidified my love for the game and all it stood for. I followed Tony Jacklin from Thursday to Sunday and had little time for anyone else. I’ll never forget (as a 14-year old) how well he played (dressed in black like GP) all four days. Maybe at trip around Pebble Beach will have the same effect on young Jeff or Dean Brooker! |  |
Regards,
Jeff
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