Oosthuizen hopeful about the future of SA golf

At the SA Open Championships Louis Oosthuizen took to the green as the defending champion and the new player-host of the second-oldest national Open in golf.

The open was held between January 9 and 12 by the City of Joburg at Randpark Golf Club.

Before being held in Randburg, the Open used to be held by the City of Ekurhuleni at Glendower Golf Club.

At the preview ahead of the Open on January 8, Oosthuizen said the depth of golf worldwide had increased substantially. He highlighted that SA also had a deep well of talent coming through.

“Golf is very competitive worldwide. At any major championship now there are 50 to 60 players who can win it. It’s such a small margin between a top-10 finish in a major and a win,” said Oosthuizen.

“I think South African golf is in a really good spot. We’ve got lots of young players coming through and it might not happen right now, but I do think we have a few major champions coming.”

On the same day, 65 children from the townships of Soweto, Alexandra and Diepsloot attended a golf clinic at the club.

Professionals from the Sunshine Tour and European Tour attended the clinic to assist the children as part of the City of Joburg’s ongoing efforts to grow the game.

Soweto Country Club recently hosted the South African Open Pro-Am for the first time in history.

The newly refurbished course also has a South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) chapter for the coaching of young golfers in the township.

At a professional level, six golfers from the Gary Player Class, the Sunshine Tour’s talent identification squad for historically disadvantaged professionals, were invited by the City of Joburg to participate in the championship.

They were Dwayne Basson, Thabiso Ngcobo, Franklin Manchest, Keelan van Wyk, Makhetha Mazibuko and Musiwalo Nethunzwi.

Another four young golfers, two from Soweto Country Club and two from Diepsloot, were given the opportunity to spend the week inside the ropes with the professionals and experience the South African Open as honorary observers.

The strength of amateur golf under GolfRSA was showcased when a record 11 amateurs played in the national Open.

Among them was Glendower golfer Yurav Premlall, who was the youngest amateur golfer to compete in 2018’s December championship.

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He was 15 years old at the time.

With the SAGDB celebrating its 20th anniversary as the official body for golf development in South Africa, and the other coordinated efforts of foundations and golf academies such as the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation and Oosthuizen’s own Louis57 Academy, South African golf has a fully integrated and sustainable golf development drive.

“I think golf in South Africa is strong. I have one or two of the golfers in my foundation who are looking forward to starting a career in golf in the near future,” said Oosthuizen.

“It’s just good to see golf in such a good place in South Africa.”

Oosthuizen said having the opportunity to defend his title was great.

“When I received the call from Ernie Els and Sunshine Tour commissioner Selwyn Nathan asking me to be the player-host, it was a great honour and made the event extra special for me.

“My 2019 win here was emotional because it’s a title I always wanted.”