Golf @ Kingswood

It’s a brand-new year with an incredible number of opportunities to get back into the game of life. And to help you with this, the Kingswood golf course’s calendar is once again jam-packed with exciting events and competitions.

Girl power!

The estate’s 2021 golf year kicked off on a high note with the very popular Betterball Knockout competition, in which some lady members caused a stir by playing their way into the final. The all-woman team of home owners Elizma Joubert and Emce Els beat some of the club’s top, low-handicapped members before facing the formidable husband/wife team of fellow home owners Miemie and Coenraad Cronje in the decider on 8 February. The Cronje couple eventually emerged as the victors, with Elizma and Emce in second place.

This competition is for all members, regardless of their proficiency levels. The Betterball format is played by teams of two, both of whom play every hole, with the lowest score (the better ball) of each hole being entered as the team’s score. So it’s a great leveller, and it’s a wonderfully social event.

Growing the world’s next big champions

On 27 and 28 February, Kingswood hosted two one-day tournaments of the US Kids Golf Foundation’s Garden Route local tour. This American organisation came into being with the mission of providing children, ages five to 18, with the opportunity to develop and enhance their golf skills in age- and gender-appropriate competition, while having fun and building quality family interaction at the same time. US Kids Golf organises more than 1,800 tournaments around the world, with local tours in over 100 markets. The various tournaments (regional, local and international) are a magnet for the crème de la crème of the golfing world, and culminate in the Kids Golf World Championship – the most significant event for junior golfers on the planet.

Youngsters hitting the fairways

A local initiative that started last year and proved to be very popular is the Saturday club competition for juniors, taking place every second week. Tee-off takes place after the adult members have called it a day, and then the kids have the run of the course. Parents are banned from these occasions, so the kids really get into the swing of all things golf-related. According to Liesel Niehaus, general manager of Golf Operations, it’s a great opportunity for youngsters to get the know-how of golf and to practise their skills. ‘It’s a unique initiative, and the kids enjoy it immensely. It’s so cute to see them after a game inviting one another for a milkshake or cooldrink in the clubhouse, with the losing opponents paying on behalf of the winner,’ she laughed.

Targeting newbies

Kingswood Golf Course has been involved with Target36 Juniors for the past few years and will soon launch Target36 Ladies. This programme is a vehicle to grow golf in South Africa. It is an excellent way for beginners – especially ladies and kids – to get into the game without feeling intimidated, and it can be a great family outing.

It consists of different levels, and participants begin by learning how to pitch, chip and putt from 25m (level 1) from the green. As they improve their abilities, they gradually move on to longer distances from the green, set at 50m, 75m, 100m, 125m and 150m. The goal is to score 36 or less over nine holes from each of these distances. Upon successful completion of all the levels, players will be able to confidently play full rounds of golf as they will have gained experience, skills, and mental and physical strength.

New membership fees

As of 1 March, the new membership and green fees will be launched. All home owners will receive a 10% discount on their membership rates. In addition, we’ve launched a great new membership for scholars that offers all-inclusive, unlimited golfing at an annual membership fee of R2,000 for high school juniors, and R1,000 for primary school juniors.

ALL home owners will receive a 10% discount on their membership rates.

Visit the clubhouse or website at kingswood.co.za for more details on rates, bookings, and other info.