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At this time of the year the Nomads games come thick and fast, as does my responsibility of writing this article and getting it out in time to go to print. Even though the time between this and my previous article is shorter than usual, the activities have certainly not diminished. Subsequent to my last insert, we travelled to the Lowveld for the annual Quadrangular. It is hard to believe that it was my sixth visit to this event. It has become tradition to travel up on Friday and meet all the players in Nelspruit for welcome drinks, before the competition gets underway. It has also become tradition to stay at the Karula Hotel in White River. It is always a more enjoyable experience when the entire team are staying together. To all the Gauteng Nomads and their spouses who made the trip, I am sure that everybody enjoyed it once again. Unfortunately the result on Saturday at Nelspruit did not go our way, with us finishing fourth, just outside the medals. The Sunday morning we all participated in their monthly game, which comfortably doubled their average playing field. For those who are not aware, the 2017 Nationals will be hosted in the Lowveld, the course however is yet to be decided. Thanks to Mossie for arranging the weekend and to Brian Springorum and my fellow Captain, Neville Blum for all their effort.
Shortly after our return, it was off to Ruimsig for our monthly game. Unfortunately we had a terrible playing field of 98 Nomads, our lowest turnout year to date. That is 22 players less than we had at the same course in same month last year. There is no doubt that with these numbers, we will have to consider an increase in playing fees and/or annual subscriptions. Thanks to my playing fourball, Kevin Strydom (Ruimsig Captain), James Luyt (on receiving his 15 year tie) and Rob Hoar (who travelled up from Port Alfred to receive his 45 year tie). Congratulations to Ken Jacques on his 300 game badge and to Pino Gerin who was there in person for his 100 game badge. I also had the privilege of presenting Roz Lewis-Williams with her 30 year service award to Nomads. Roz has not been well of late and has decided that she is no longer in a position to assist us at our registration table. We all wish her well and on behalf of Gauteng Nomads I would like to thank her for all her assistance over many years.
On Sunday evening 18 October I attended the prize-giving at the annual Gauteng Nomads Inter-Club competition, played at Eagle Canyon. The entire event is sponsored by Gauteng, with the assistance of Central Gauteng Golf Union. Thanks to Andy Truluck from CGGU and our own Eugene Marx, who continue to arrange and run these junior tournaments. On the day there were 14 teams of 8 players from most of the clubs in Gauteng, with Modderfontein having entered three sides. Congratulations to Ruimsig on winning the event and as a result, they will host it next year. The funding for these junior events is derived from our Furtherance of Golf revenue, which in turn we receive for Golforama duties. We urge all Gauteng Nomads to participate in Golforama and to assist Bev by giving up a day or two of your time for the upcoming SA Open and Joburg Open in January. It is great to see that the revenue is being used to promote junior golf in South Africa, which is after all, is one of the main objectives of Nomads.
See you at the next game and post-game function.
Graham Bishop
On 4 September 2015, Gauteng held their 48th annual Andrew Mentis Golf Day. My thanks go to Randpark Golf Club and all their staff, who assisted in making the day a huge success especially as they had to step in at short notice. A particular mention to the starters and Mellet from Randpark, who got the field away promptly, by the time I arrived at 07h00 the whisky, glasses and milk were all ready for our first tee-off time at a rather cold and windy 08h06.
Both my fundraising days were cold, the Rugby Day especially, so I would like to thank each and every Nomad and their guests who participated on the days and braved the weather. We had many Nomads who, as usual, donated generously with hole sponsorships, prizes and the purchase of raffle tickets for the Golf Day. The purpose of the day is to raise money for charity and for all players to have an enjoyable day of golf and entertainment. I think we achieved both of these objectives by raising a significant amount of money for PrimVilla Old Age Home.
The golf was well supported with 7 fourballs in the morning field and 32 in the afternoon. The eventual winners of the fourball alliance format were, Mike Fick, Robbie Frank, Vic Hall and Jason De Boer all from Easterns on a score of 102 points.
Thank you to all those who have generously donated your Glenbrynth Whisky and Castle Lite beers after prize-giving during the year. I have been accumulating all these donations, with the assistance of Randpark Club, who are storing them on our behalf. Year to date we have collected 24 cases of Castle Lite and 12 bottles of Glenbrynth (which was placed on the tables at prize giving).
It appeared that the SAB beer tent was undersupported as there was a lot of Castle Lite left over, this may have been because of the weather or the guys did not know where the tent was, we played the Bushwillow course and the beer tent was on the Firethorn course.
The end result of these donations will be a reduced drinks bill and a more moneys for our beneficiary.
Barry Bruton
This is already my sixth Inside Right insert and I am officially half way through my year as Captain. The committee continues to meet on the Monday evening after every game to analyse the current affairs of the club and to also plan our upcoming events. I would like thank each of the committee for their work and input so far, it is much appreciated and the Gauteng club is in a sound position, both financially and in respect of membership. In particular, I would like to thank Andrew Mostert, who has been arranging all our away tours, with only two remaining this year. Also to Mike Payne, who stepped in after Sean was elected as JVC. Mike has been extremely busy with arranging the Swaziland Nationals in October and the Southern Cape Nationals entry form has just come out, so that will keep him occupied for the next couple of months. Also to Spero Marinaki, who volunteered to be our 55th Anniversary co-ordinator. Spero and I have been working closely together on this event and it promises to be a successful one.
On the subject of the 55th Anniversary – the anniversary takes place at our monthly game on 20 November and entries will be sent out shortly, which will differ from the traditional game entry form. Please remember that we have invited Nomads from around the country, as well as the International Clubs. We will also be hosting the Club Captain’s from all our local clubs at which we play our monthly games. This initiative was introduced last year and replaces the old traditional Captain’s Dinner. As a consequence of these potential attendees there will not be any guests invited to the day. I also urge each of you to enter as soon as you receive the entry form as we will have limited space available in the field.
We played our monthly game at Reading in September and thanks to – Todd Young (Captain), Mark Rondi (who received his 15 year tie) and Sid Rickhoff (our club secretary who continues to work hard in the background compiling the agenda, minutes and wading through all the correspondence circulated between the clubs) – for joining me on the day. We had a rather poor attendance with only 108 players and over 30 of those having paid to go. It sounds as though a rumor went around that Reading had seven temporary greens and as a result our numbers declined. The reality is that there was only one temporary green. I thought that under the circumstances and with Joburg Water having laid a pipe through the course it was in good condition. These are the courses where we receive our best playing rates and we use that revenue to offset the losses we incur at the more expensive courses. If we increase our playing numbers at these courses, it may be possible to maintain our current playing fees for next year. Please make every effort to enter for Germiston on 5 November.
At Reading we also introduced the new Gross Score Input System. Gauteng undertook to try the system first, with the assistance of Bruce Richards and if successful, to roll it out nationally. My thanks to both Bev and Wilma who captured all the scores and only found one score card error. As a result, the system will now be implemented nationally. Please remember that this new system only affects you if your CLUB handicap is higher than 18.
See you at the next game and post-game function.
Graham Bishop
The Gauteng Nomads and before them the Transvaal Nomads used to complete an annual trek to Durban around the 1st of July. There were two reasons for this; one was to play Natal for one of the oldest Trophies in Nomads, the Langham Edward, trophy. The other was to watch the Durban July at the Royal Durban Golf Course and have a small bet or two. The best of both worlds, unfortunately this is no longer possible as Royal Durban rents out their facilities to the serious punters and politicians and by all reports they do very well out of that weekend. It was due to this that the Langham Edwards Trophy was not up for contention last year, well done to Janus Horn for resurrecting a fine old Nomadic tradition. Congratulations to the Gauteng team, both the Drakensberg Cup and the Langham Edward Trophy are in our Cabinet to defend next year, when Natal and Southern Natal come up to Gauteng.
On the Golforama front the Nomads guys and girls worked at the Sun City Challenge, a Winter Sunshine Tour / European Tour Co – hosted event at the Lost City Course, Sun City. It is a lovely course but quite a walk I can tell you. The tournament was won by Keith Horne from Eye of Africa G.C. on -13.
The Andrew Mentis financial year end is approaching very quickly and I am pleased to advise that my charity was approved at the National Management Meeting held in Natal in July. The charity is Prim-villa, a home for the Elderly especially those with Alzheimers. Their request was for an addition to their Sensory Room along with various items for the residents to use. These items have been designed to calm people with dementia and stimulate the senses of those with these ailments. The building work is well under way and the Sensory items have been ordered, I am looking forward to a visit next week to check the progress at the home. If you are interested you are welcome to have a look at their website at: www.mha.co.za
Barry Bruton
I suspect that in April next year, when my final report is due and I have to look back and reflect on the highlights of my Captaincy, the month of August 2015 will certainly stand out. There will be two reasons for that, the trophies at both Drakensburg Cup and Langham Edward and my 40 points at Royal.
On 14 August fourteen of us gathered at Sica’s Guest House in Berea (owned and managed by Natal Vice-Captain, Janus Horn). He put on a great spread and we were treated to free drinks by the Natal Captain, John Elliott. Early Saturday morning tee off at Royal Durban against Southern Natal and Natal. What a pleasure it was to receive the Drakensburg Cup trophy on behalf of Gauteng. As history will show, it is not easy to beat those guys at their home track in the wind. Sunday morning and off to Cotswold Downs to compete for the oldest inter club competition in Nomads, the Langham Edward Trophy. The course was set up like the final round at the US Open and the greens were as slick as some of our Joburg winter greens. The conditions must have favoured Gauteng as we won the trophy, which hasn’t been done since 2006. I do not have the statistics but would has it a guess that the Durban double has not been done for years. My thanks and congratulations to those Gauteng Nomads that made the trip a memorable one.
We have so many great golf courses in Johannesburg and Royal Johannesburg & Kensington is no exception. We have in the past seemed to play the East course with monotonous regularity and a change to the West course seemed a good idea. As it turns out it was an inspired change and achieving a silver salver as Gauteng Captain will not be forgotten. In 2013 I needed a birdie up the 18th at CMR for 40 points and made the putt and once again at Royal needed another birdie up 18 for 40 and made the putt. My thanks to the Vice-Captain of Royal, Nigel Sand, our soon to be new National Imperial sponsor member, Jeremy Lumley and Heinz Walter, who received his 30 year tie that day, for joining me at the game. Even though Heinz and I were opposition that day, he is a 30 year Nomad and I could hear him willing in that putt on the last.
After the game and at the very poorly attended prize-giving (37 players paid to go in a field of 128) I had the privilege of inducting a long-time friend and colleague, Russell James. For the handful of members there, you will have noticed that we have adopted a new induction format. In future the inductee will be presented with his jacket and tie on the evening he is inducted. We have intentionally requested the inductee to not wear a jacket at prize-giving so the members can identify those persons being inducted that evening.
Consistent non-attendance at prize-giving is being recorded. If you have a valid reason for not being able to attend, be it medical or otherwise, you are to inform the Captain of the reason. I leave you with another extract from my Captain’s report –
“I believe that the term “prize-giving” is an inaccurate description of what takes place after any Nomads game ……. attendance at the post-game function should be compulsory and is required to remain informed about Nomadic activities, pay your respects to those for whom the bell has tolled, welcome newly inducted Nomads and give recognition to those Nomads who have achieved awards over many years of service and to acknowledge both National and local sponsors.”
See you at the next game and post-game function.
Graham Bishop