Over 190 golfers from 13 regions will take to the Benoni Country Club and Ebotse Links golf courses to tee off the 28th national Senior Women’s Championship today (May 22) after the opening ceremony and gala dinner on May 21.

Sporting their regional colours and led in song by the Benoni High pipe band during the ceremony, the ladies paraded from the green next to the lake to the putting area just in front of the clubhouse, where the flags of each participating region, including the national, BCC and national senior women’s golf flags, were raised.

After this and some formalities, the BCC CEO, Darren Millington, officially declared the tournament open.

The ladies will play over three days (May 22 to 24), with half teeing off at Ebotse Links and the other half at BCC, and they will then swap after the conclusion of their rounds.

The president of National Senior Women’s Golf, Charmaine Stone, urged the community to rally behind the ladies and added she hoped the tournament would inspire girls who want to pursue the sport.

“It’s important. These are senior ladies who have played golf for years. Hopefully, when the girls see the standard of golf these ladies play, it will encourage them to start playing.

“I urge the community to come down and watch. Ladies’ golf is on the rise, and it’s good to see. We’ve got the men supporting us, which helps a lot,” she said.

The absence of the defending champion, Sonja Bland from Western Province, means a new champ will be crowned, and the Ekurhuleni captain, Renee Matthee, is adamant the winner will come from her team.

Matthee welcomed all the teams to Ekurhuleni and said community support would be crucial for her team.

“We’ve all played our practice rounds. We look forward to enjoying the competition. Our fans can expect us to compete and we will be the best hosts to our visitors.

“I invite everybody to come and enjoy the whole day with us,” Matthee said.

Gauteng North captain Sonè Jordaan said they would be ready to compete after their practice sessions at both venues.

She raved about the conditions of both golf courses, calling them magnificent, and hopes to return to Pretoria with the trophy.

“As we age, opportunities to compete at a high level don’t often come our way, and this is what the seniors’ golf offers us.

“It’s about the discipline, honesty and camaraderie golf gives us. You can go anywhere in the world, and it doesn’t matter how old you are. Your handicap allows you to play with people of any level,” Jordaan said.

Stone thanked the Ekurhuleni men and women’s golf unions, the volunteers and the BCC ladies for their efforts in ensuring the tournament would be successful.

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