Bethal Golf Club welcomes green keeper Charl

BETHAL – The golfing community of Bethal has welcomed Mr Charl du Plessis as the Bethal Golf Club’s new greenkeeper.

Originally from the Free State, Mr Du Plessis moved to Bethal not so long ago.

He hopes to use all his knowledge and green finger talents to make Bethal’s golfing greens into one of SA’s top-ranked courses.

Mr Du Plessis grew up in a farming community in Builtfontein and finished the army back in 1983.

His father had sold their family farm back then. With the feeling of soil still in his fingers, Mr Du Plessis went into the landscaping industry.

In 1987 Mr Du Plessis was the greenkeeper for the Oppenheimer Park Golf Club in Welkom.

However, due to other work commitments he relocated to Orkney.

“I had taken the Oppenheimer Golf Club from a ranking of 114 to number 50 in SA,” he said.

After spending seven years in Orkney,Mr Du Plessis moved to Glenvista Country Club in Johannesburg.

Here he spent seven years and saw these golfing greens being ranked 10th.

Sadly, the death of his wife in 2007 made him decide to leave the greens and make a career change, up until last month.

Mr Du Plessis has now returned to the golfing greens and hopefully he is here to stay.

“I am doing what I love to do, I love it.”

Mr Du Plessis oversees the whole maintenance of the greens and knows pretty much everything when it comes to different types of grass, algae, fertilising, cutting, trimming, watering and everything it takes to get a green to top rankings.

In his spare time, Mr Du Plessis enjoys a game or two himself and although his newly-wed wife, Zema, does not put her hands to a golf club, she enjoys driving him around on the golf cart.

Mr Du Plessis has three daughters and two grandchildren who do not share the same love for the game, however, he told the Ridge Times he sneaks in a lesson or two with his youngest child.

“I try to teach my youngest and she will sometimes throw in a few shots,” said Mr Du Plessis.

He said this is a slightly challenging golf course and there is plenty of work that needs to be done.

However, an optimistic Mr Du Plessis said together with his team and the club, they can achieve top rankings.

“Everyone has welcomed me and placed their trust in me to see this golf course grow.

“Mooinooi Golf Club is my target. I am determined to achieve these standards and do even better for this club,” ended Mr Du Plessis.