From the fairways

‘Fifty up’ for Ivan Curlewis

The popular golfer is a ‘legend in his spare time’.

WHAT Ivan Curlewis has meant, or contributed, to golf in KwaZulu-Natal over the past 50 years is difficult to put down in a few words.

For this reason, Margate Country Club held a golf day in his honour last Saturday, celebrating his 50 years of membership.

On the day he played with his son Andrew, Terry Yannikakis and Joe Espach, from upcountry.

This was followed by a dinner and speeches, where Ivan was presented with a framed caricature of his 50 years, drawn by well-known South Coast artist Lencel.

As expected, Ivan was ultra laid-back with regards all the fuss being made.

His wife Barbara and daughter Lauren added the glamour when they arrived for dinner after the golf.Ivan’s oldest son David is living in Wellington, New Zealand, and has three daughters.

A pharmacist by profession, Ivan has seen the club transform and grow over the years, and was pleased to have been been a part of it, either as a player or committee member.

Curly, as he is affectionately known, has won the club champs 34 times in six different decades.

He has served on the KwaZulu-Natal Golf Union as president, as well as on the South African Golf Association as KZN’s representative.

As a player he represented the province over many, many years, and later played for the South African Country Districts team, earning a green blazer.

He did all this without practising, unless you count a few practice putts before teeing off.

He is now enjoying watching Andrew make a name for himself on the Sunshine Tour.

The format on the day was a betterball Stableford, with a ‘two mystery holes with a twist’, where scores were deleted, not added, on two holes, certainly had the players talking.In the end, Jaco van der Wal and Theuns Esterhuizen won on 45 points, after originally having 52 points!

Allan Halvorsen and Pops Harrison were second on 44 points, followed on 42 points by Maureen Ogilvie and Joan Minnaar, Anton Kohrmann and Deon Meyer, as well as Ronnie Mtshaka and Koko Zithumane.

Nearest the pins were Theuns Esterhuizen (2nd), Dave Morrison (4th), Vusi Maphumulo (8th), Marius Visser (11th) and Fanie Terblanche (16th).

Nearest for two on the 7th was Heber de Beer. Longest day went to Dave Jenkinson and Louis Carriera.

>

Bothas produce another ‘Classic’

>

THE 24th Southbroom Amateur Classic was played last week at Southbroom Golf Club, where a total of 176 golfers teed off in very cold weather on the first day.

The cold weather extended into Tuesday morning but from Tuesday afternoon it changed back to the glorious South Coast winter weather locals are used to.

Kevin Daly and Andrew Bladen scored 51 points to win the day by one point over Robbie Botha and Melchi Botha.

The course was in wonderful condition, if a little dry, with fairly quick greens which the upcountry players enjoyed.

Some of the players mentioned the wind, to the response of the locals, ‘what wind?’

The golf over the last three days was something special with Robbie and Melchi in sensational form.

Both are very competitive players and they’ve won this event before.

Coming from the Cape, they were used to the conditions and took advantage of them.

Nevertheless, all the players had a really fun week with the golf, great food, and meeting up with old and new friends, and of course the odd beer or two.

Once again, the sponsors were fantastic. Barry Elliott of Hibiscus Insurance has sponsored the event for many years.

James Kilgour did a ton of work raising money in Johannesburg through his company Linvar – they also sponsor the club’s scorecards so look out for them.

They were the main two, there were others, and thanks to them.

Results: 1 Melchi Botha and Robbie Botha 182; 2 Cleve and Gavin Walker 173; 3 Darrell Bailie and Barend Kok 171; 4 Jaco Spamers and Jan Marais 171; 5 Graham Volck and Peter Volck 171; 6 Craig Barkhuizen and Guy Barkhuizen 171; 7 Ben Botes and Willem Pienaar 171; 8 Joe Hartmann and Kevin Smith 170; 9 Mark Mitchley and Neil Umpleby 170; 10 Johan Schnetler and Cyril Botha 168; 11 Stephen Joseph and Tony West 168; 12 Athol Mayhew and Tony Fuller 168.

In regular games, Julie Walker, Mari Fielden, Eileen Neilson and Lorraine Cook won last Wednesday on 89 points.

The men’s comp last Saturday was won by Colin Steyn and George Haswell on 50 points, while Sandra Fitzgerald and Janet Humphrey won the women’s comp on 46 points.

<

Ganes still has plenty class

GANES Munsami showed that he still has loads of class when he had a second nine of 33 gross (after an opening nine of 40 something) to help his team win the business day at Port Shepstone Country Club last Friday, sponsored by the South Coast Herald.

Rajen Naidoo, Sanjay Singh and Justin Pillay all did their bit as the team scored 97 points to win by two from Leon Bunge, Daniel Bunge, B Thompson and R Tedder.

Nearest the pins were Basie Geldenhuys (5th), Charles O’Dell (8th), Leon Bunge (14th), and Trevor Green (17th).

Longest drive on the 9th was Paula Danker.

The previous Wednesday’s comp was won by Jaco Buitendag on 40 points, with Graham Milligan next on 38 points. In a tie for third on 37 points were Phil Myburgh and Ken Morris.

Saturday’s comp was won on 47 points by Dalene Steyn and Roy Matkovich. There was a three-way tie on 45 points, shared by Willem Lindeque and Niel Retief, Bevis Fairbrother and Ken Morris, as well as Mike Webster and Roly Shaw.