Taking golf to new heights
RUIMSIG – Young golfer graduates in the top four to become a young PGA professional.
RN38MARIgolf FOR RN
alt head
Golf pro is Uysing it
Mari Rheeder
marir@caxton.co.za
RUIMSIG – Having a talent in a sport such as golf, does not mean that one needs to only play it, you can use your talent in many other ways by helping and assisting other golfers.
Martin Uys, the assistant golf professional at the Ruimsig Country Club’s pro shop, Golf House, qualified and graduated in the top four of the PGA (Professional Golf Association) of South Africa at the graduation ceremony held on 12 September. Uys explained that the PGA is a professional body that uses expertise and passion in a bid to encourage golfers to improve.
“It creates more enjoyment and participation, leading to more memorable moments,” said Uys.
He added that he studied under the PGA of SA for three years to achieve his professional qualification and his subjects included law, retail and marketing, teaching and anatomy, to name a few. “To me, qualifying is such an honour and is a humbling experience. It shows that perseverance pays off. Being a PGA professional is such an elite group. There are not a lot of people that have this honour. It opens international doors for you.”
Uys has chosen to take his PGA qualification and pursue working within retail, as opposed to following a professional golfing career, and now gives his expert opinion at the pro shop run by Gavin Drummond.
“I started to play golf when I was six and started coaching juniors when I was 18, this [was when] I realised the importance of growing the sport in South Africa. [This] became important to me and something I wanted to pursue,” said Uys.
He added that golf had taught him many lessons in life such as patience, and advised youngsters that becoming a good golfer did not happen overnight. “Enjoy it and do not over complicate the sport.”
Uys concluded that his mentor was Drummond who had taught him much about the industry. “[Drummond] has been a PGA professional for 30 years and is well known in the industry for his impact towards golf development and growing the sport. My golf, from a career perspective, would be to follow in Gavin’s footsteps, offering the same guidance, and mentor an assistant professional the same way in which Gavin mentored me.”
Details: Ruimsig Country Club 011 958 1905.
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