Junior golf tournament takes the sting out of being excluded from SALGA Games
Having taken on the role as youth golf development facilitator in 2015, Mbhele now coaches about 30 children between the ages of 12 and 20.
Golf was not included among the codes of sport which competed in the 2022 SALGA Games hosted in the Amajuba District over the weekend.
Even though youth golf development facilitator, Phumlani Mbhele, attended all of the SALGA Games preparation meetings hosted by the District, in the end, Amajuba was the only District to have a team ready to compete in golf, and golf was therefore excluded from the competition.
Unwilling to accept defeat, however, Mbhele called upon his business contacts and fellow golf players to assist in hosting a junior golf tournament over the weekend, affording young golf enthusiasts an opportunity to show off their skills on the greens.
“The kids were sad about being excluded from SALGA. They were looking forward to it, so I arranged the competition over the weekend to give them a chance to play,” he said.
Mbhele, himself, was mentored by former youth golf development facilitator, Sam Shabalala, when he was in school, and sees the sport as a means to teach young people discipline and courtesy.
“It is a gentleman’s sport,” he explained. “Golf teaches you humility and respect for others. When you play in a competition, you meet different people on the course, people who you wouldn’t normally interact with and you get to know them. It’s about meeting new people and extending your circle of friendship.”
Having taken on the role as youth golf development facilitator in 2015, Mbhele now coaches about 30 children between the ages of 12 and 20. The golf clinic is open to all children of all races, genders and backgrounds. All that is required is a passion for the sport.
“In the past, golf was regarded as a white dominated sport, so it is especially important to me to encourage children of other races to get involved,” said Mbhele.
“Most of the children who join the golf clinic are from rural areas and cannot afford the equipment, so we rely on the assistance of business sponsors and members of the golf club. I would like to appeal to anyone who has old equipment lying around that is no longer being used to donate it towards the promotion of golf among the youth,” he urged.
Anyone who is able to make a donation towards the golf clinic can contact Mbhele on 071 196 8902.
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