Golf in South Africa has a lot to give
Golf in South Africa is a doing what golf the world over ought to be doing: doing well.
At present, of the top 50 golfers in the world, five of them are South African. Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel, at the 24th and 23rd places respectively, have been the pride and joy of the lads here in South Africa for a grand stretch
of time.
Ernie Els became amongst the oldest players to clinch a major victory for himself. Other players both home and abroad, take heart in his achievements.
Especially if they are Luke Donald, pushing past 40 and still shy of a majors win. Ernie Els had been about fifty when he had won his.
Charl Schwartzel put up a brilliant display at the Thailand Golf Championship in the past few seasons, winning this year’s in a blaze of glory.
Louis Oosthuizen is currently world number five. His game play heralds high-power performance in every tournament he sets his mind to.
It would be no surprise at all if he were to drive his way to top perch in the coming years. He has the talent and, what is more, the hopes of the home crowd. He will go far.
Branden Grace and George Coetzee are the newer crop of South African players. Their play shows that the junior tournament programs dotted throughout the country seem to be working, and working rather well at that.
The first player of the European Tour to win four Tour events in the same year is Branden Grace. The feat was accomplished just recently in 2012 by the Pretoria-born Grace, who could not believe his luck.
The Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation had helped nurture his skills early on. It showed all right.
Grace now stands at world no. 36 and hopes to work his way up. Coetzee stands a bit lower, at 49, and is looking to improve his standing. His top-10 season finishes will go a long way in helping make that dream a real reality.
Nathan Selwyn, Sunshine Tour’s commissioner said that South African golf was in excellent, top-notch conditions, adding that wherever South African golfers go, they make their presence felt.
He was certain that the glory days lay ahead of them, and expressed belief in the junior programs in place that prune young talent and drive them to compete at more challenging events early in their careers.
"It all comes down to the fact that we have the correct structures in place," he said. "Our golf is in an excellent state.
"We have a fantastic crop of players doing well worldwide, including Schwartzel, Oosthuizen and Grace, while Jbe’ Kruger won’t participate in this weekend’s event because he has a chance to win the Asian Tour order of merit. So it is very encouraging to
see our golfers perform so well".
Tags: