Page 10 - Nationals 2024

THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
The history of the National Tournament

We all know that, as it was known at the time, the “Follow the Sun” Nomads Golf Club was formed in 1960 by Mike
Florance and his committee. Transvaal was then the only club. It was however only after the next 2 clubs were formed
(Natal in 1963 and Western Province in 1965) that plans were put in place for a “National” tournament. The first National
tournament then took place in 1966 at Kyalami Country Club with Mike Florance as the coordinator. It took place over
3 days with some 200 players taking part and was a huge success – so much so that it was decided to host a National
Tournament on an annual basis.

Various formats were tried over the years. The number of contestants peaked in 1995 at no less than 504 players compet-
ing over 7 days on a single golf course with a field of 288 per day! This however ended up an unpopular decision because
of the time it took and the 3 days that each player had off days.
On several occasions when Nationals was fully subscribed, a “Fringe” or 2 tournament was arranged for those unlucky
nd
not to compete in Nationals. On 4 occasions we played 2-course tournaments. Randpark / Windsor, Margate / South-
broom, Nelspruit / White River and Mowbray / Rondebosch.

The Nationals Tournament was played every year since 1966 and had it’s 50 anniversary at Champagne Sports Resort.
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The tournament even took place during the Covid pandemic when it was again played at Champagne Sports Resort in
2021. The “independent” Champagne Sports Resort is one of only a few golf clubs that hosted Nationals twice.
This year sees the 59th National Tournament, as we approach the 60th to be held in Boland in 2025.

This year may be the last time we will play Natonals in the current 6 days/4
rounds format, as next year in the Boland we will play 3 rounds over 4 days.

The history and story behind the Bert Hunt Trophy

Winning the Bert Hunt trophy is most certainly a huge honor and something
every Captain strives for in his year. But what exactly is the story behind this
trophy?

The Bert Hunt Trophy as we play for today is presented for an inter- club com-
petition at Nationals. The cumulative scores of all completed rounds of each
player from a Nomads club are added and then averaged, and the trophy is presented to the club whose players achieved
the highest average score over the rounds played.

The original Bert Hunt trophy was donated in 1964 by Henry Hunt. It comprised of a magnificent golf ball 10 cm in di-
ameter, sculpted in silver, atop a large silver tee and mounted on a miniature chest. Inside the chest was a pot – something
older Nomads will remember as the pot that was under your bed in the old days. Let’s call it by it’s name – a “pee” pot.
Henry Hunt was killed in an airplane crash shortly after donating the trophy and Bert Hunt was his father. This trophy
was appropriated in 1966 for the overall winning province at that first ever Nationals. They called this competition in-
side the National Tournament the “pot hunters trophy”. This remained the trophy until mid 1970’s when the pot was
deemed inappropriate and was then replaced with the trophy as we play for today. This trophy was donated by Benson
and Hedges.

Rhodesia was the last winner of the original “pot” trophy, and kindly donated it back to South Africa later where it today
resides in the archives exhibition at Germiston CC.

Natal won the Bert Hunt Trophy the most times since all 12 clubs were formed i.e. 1997 when Free State was formed. All
clubs have won this trophy at least once, with the last Club to get it right this year’s host, Northerns.

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