More than just tees and birdies for Bryanston golf’s ladies captain

There is more to golf than merely knocking balls into holes. For Bryanston Country Club’s ladies captain, Leigh Thackwray, apart from being a remarkable sport in itself, golf also offers opportunities for social cohesion and individual upliftment.

“The highlight of my year’s term as captain has been seeing club members getting involved in charity,” said the 12-par golfer, who plays league for the club.

As an annual captain’s tradition, Thackwray organised Charity Week, a week of golfing tournaments that raised funds for charity.

Between 12 and 21 July, she raised R200 000 for the Thandulwazi Trust, an education programme for maths and science, and Philile Foundation, a non-profit with early childhood development centres in disadvantaged areas.

This initiative is not over as Thackwray will add to this figure with the Charity Sunset Concert at the club on 10 September, where she hopes to raise another R80 000.

“Golf is wonderful. I just love the outdoors and beautiful golf courses. There is a huge social aspect and people of all races, ages and genders can play together.”

More than this, golf requires skill and through improvement, can bring a sense of achievement and greater self-confidence. Golf bursaries and sponsorships are also available for the talented. The only drawback of golf, she says, is when you play poorly and frustration creeps in.

One of Thackwray’s main hopes for the sport is to see more people from disadvantaged backgrounds playing. At the moment, Bryanston hosts free golf lessons for girls from Olievenhoutbosch, a township in Centurion.

The club also recently raised R30 000 for the South African Disabled Golf Association.

Details: Bryanston Country Club 011 706 1361/2/3.

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