Kempton Park Golf Club honours its ‘golden oldie’
Goldie joined the club just two years after it was formed and witnessed its growth
MEMBERS of Kempton Park Golf Club were full of pride and joy when they honoured the club’s oldest and longest-serving member, Jimmy Goldie (82), on May 12.
Goldie has been with the club for 50 years.
Goldie sat down with Kempton Park’s favourite paper to share his journey, from joining the club in 1967 to buying the first stand in Aston Manor when most of Kempton Park was bushes and the road to the golf club was sand.
Now a resident of Edleen, Goldie was honoured at the club’s bar by a group of younger members who spoke highly of his conduct, friendship and guidance.
It was fascinating to see younger club members share jokes with Goldie and how they all applauded the club for accomplishing a membership with one person for five decades – something they described as “a rare accomplishment that could only be achieved by a few clubs in the entire world”.
Goldie joined the club just two years after it was formed and witnessed its growth, including the time it produced a player, Barry Franklin, who went on to win the German Open many years ago.
“I joined this club when I was still residing in Johannesburg and would drive on the sand road to get there. Back then the joining fee was R10, the annual membership fee was R25 and the club only had nine holes. I remember there was a time when a game was 20 cents and there was also a time when it cost only 75 cents to play a game of 18 holes, after the holes were increased from nine to 18,” said Goldie.
“During the club’s inception there was no bar – you had to bring your own drinks as the clubhouse included just the lounge and the change rooms. There was even a time when there was one club for golf and bowling, but over the years they both found their own independence.
“Part of the parking area outside this clubhouse used to be an exciting driving range. I supposed I witnessed the development of the whole club into this fine establishment it has become today. On that very same journey there was a sad time when a hall in the club burnt down somewhere in the seventies,” said a nostalgic Goldie.
Goldie said he was very proud to be a member of such a very friendly golf club and, like its general manager, Graig Bell, he encourages other Kemptonians to join.
