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The Garden Route is one of the top golfing destinations in South Africa – and possibly the world – and Kingswood is one of the reasons. With its spectacularly scenic, Links-style championship course, perfect climate and fabulous homes, it’s the perfect place for golfers (and non-golfers) to live.
And that’s how Ginny Schoombie ended up here.
Ginny decided to move from Gauteng to the Garden Route – largely because of the plethora of fantastic golf courses – so she did some extensive research and a lot of window shopping before settling on Kingswood. And she has been more than content with her decision ever since.
The only thing Ginny found a little disturbing was that so few of the resident women play golf, which she thought was a waste of the fabulous Sally Little Signature Golf Course. As she had been involved in the administration of ladies golf for many years back in Gauteng, she offered her services. So now, as Kingswood’s ladies golf captain, she is encouraging other women living on the estate to discover the joys of golf.
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This is the fi rst year that Kingswood has had a formal ladies’ committee, so women can look forward to improved facilities and events. Ginny and her two other committee members have spruced up the change rooms, had some trophies made for ladies’ tournaments, and organised some fun events for women golfers on and beyond the estate.
Of course, most of the competitions that had been planned for this year were cancelled, but she has a few exciting projects in the pipeline. The Ladies’ Christmas Competition on 19 November looks like a lot of fun. There will be a prize for the best-dressed Christmas-themed four-ball, so start thinking of your costume. Also – all players must bring a secret-Santa-type present to the value of R100, so each player will receive a gift. The money raised by this event will be donated to the charity ODIN (Oudtshoorn Dogs In Need).
The weekly ‘Thursday Ladies’ friendly competition welcomes all women affiliated to local golf clubs, and the ‘Ladies Chip & Chat’ on Tuesdays offers a great opportunity for players to hone their skills in a friendly and inspiring environment. These sessions focus on putting, chipping, pitching, course and mental management, approach play, driver shots, tee shots, irons and bunkers – and if you don’t know what all that means, you may be more comfortable joining in the ‘Bunnies Beginner Ladies Golf’. Run by Kingswood’s head coach and golf pro, Rob Wiederkehr, this programme offers lessons every Tuesday and Saturday morning. It’s a relaxed space where beginner women golfers can learn without all the hype and gear. But, while it’s fun and friendly, the skills imparted are very real.
We are so lucky to have someone as passionate and enthusiastic about the estate, and about golf, as Ginny is.
She has dedicated hours of her time and energy to the game of golf, and to the estate community, even taking part in the recent community outreach programme that assisted our neighbours in Blanco during the lockdown.
Of course, Kingswood is a great place for men to play golf as well, but Ginny is likely to ensure that the women of not only Kingswood, but also George and the Garden Route in general, continue to play, to improve and – most importantly of all – to have fun on the fairways.
