Development golfers need a boost
“Assistance in Ekurhuleni is not as much as we would like but there are guys helping – which we are grateful for – and Golf RSA is also doing its best. We need personal commitment even with our resource challenges. I’m optimistic we are going to pull through.”
Ekurhuleni development golf coach Loyiso Barnes is pleading for support for the region’s promising underprivileged golfers.
This comes after his team finished fifth out of six teams in the B division during the South African Golf Development Board (SADGB) Nomads Motus Challenge at Benoni Country Club in December.
“Assistance in Ekurhuleni is not as much as we would like but there are guys helping, which we are grateful for. Golf RSA is also doing its best. We need personal commitment even with our resource challenges. I’m optimistic we are going to pull through,” said Barnes.
Barnes lauded his charges for putting up a fight but acknowledged that more investment is needed if the team is to compete with the dominant Western Province and Central Gauteng.
The team finished with rounds of 88, 105, and 116 for a combined score of 309 points. Gauteng North walked away with the championship with North West second while Border completed the top three.
“We wanted to see growth. That’s the most important thing. The problem is we only want to see them win. But once we get to the big competitions, the stakes are high. It puts pressure on the youngsters,” he said.
“I always tell them to play the golf course and create friendships. We try to deal with the mental ability of the players. They played okay but they were under pressure.”
Although Ekurhuleni started participating in this tournament later than their more successful rivals, under Barnes the team has made positive strides despite their resources constraints.
He explained he doesn’t want to make their challenges an excuse for their poor performance on their home course, saying they are taking it a tournament at a time.
“With hard work and commitment from the players, we can reach eventually reach the top echelons of the sport.
“It will happen even though we don’t have the resources the other provinces have. They are well-equipped. Central Gauteng has got more golf clubs so it’s easy for the players to get a backing from the clubs and businesspeople.”
SADGB creating better citizens
Barnes lauded the founders of the SADGB for giving opportunities to children from impoverished backgrounds.
“This is where we show that golf is growing in SA and to also showcase the SADGB is playing its part in developing golf.
“Our golfers dominate tournaments globally. Unfortunately, we don’t have a black African golfer at that level yet. But we are creating better citizens within the golfing industry.”
Western Province dethroned
Central Gauteng caused a major upset when it dethroned multiple winners, Western province, to win the A division.
Gauteng ended with rounds of 158, 170 and 170 for a combined 508 points while Province settled for the second spot with Eastern Province rounding up the podium.
“Our team played exceptionally well. We performed well under the circumstances of the weather with the occasional showers and the heat. But we did very well as a team. We performed well on all three days,” said Captain Jayden Hoskins.
