Golf development legacy in sight

The Tembisa Golf Club’s organising secretary, Mr Benjamin Monyanyedi, said they have been hard at work for the past two years, trying to secure funding for the children of Tembisa for their golfing development programme.

“It has taken resilience and determination for the club’s executive committee to remain steadfast in pursuing what has become the greatest visionary challenge the club has ever embarked on. This quest relates to the club’s quest to see golf developing into a sport that not only benefits white South Africans as it currently, does but becoming a truly national sport that will also contribute to black sporting millionaires,” he said.

Mr Monyanyedi added that it is a fact that many young, white South Africans have become millionaires through golf, many of them not even older than 35. While he sees nothing wrong with this, he mentioned Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, Darren Fichardt, George Coetze and Jbe Kruger to mention but a few of the many young white South African millionaires who have been given a chance by the different white golfing academies out there.

“Ironically, those academies continue to deliver more white talent, much to the pain and concern of a club like Tembisa. Hence the club having approached the powers that be for assistance. Others, unfortunately, want to argue and claim that golf is a rich mans sport. The reality is that golf transforms poverty into wealth as it has happened with many successful South African golfers, including Gary Player,” he added.

He said the greatest challenge is how they can manage as a club to persuade and convince the authorities to create an environment for township boys and girls to join the sport, and to follow through like the current white golfing academies do.

“Premier David Makhura,if you ever hear us, Tembisa wants your support. Our children pray that you intervene and ensure good is done for them. Nevertheless, R117 000 for the children of Tembisa has been pledged by the SA Open Golf Legacy Projects, a wish-list has been drafted and issued to the managers of the fund and to the Ekurhuleni sports director, Mr Attwell Sijadu. There are some teething problems currently, which need to be sorted out regarding the R117 000. The Tembisa Golf Club is, however, confident that all will be sorted out and the plight of the children will be placed first by the managers and all concerned,” said Monyanyedi.

Samuel Serongoane, Frans Molepo and Benjamin Monyanyedi form the executive committee task team entrusted with reporting back to all stakeholders, which includes, children, parents and Tembisa golfers.