Gophers ace charity golf league
The year ended on a high note for the Gophers Charity Golf League.
The members were able to hand over the funds they had raised during 2021 to the Step Foundation, JJ Coetzee and Home4Paws. The final league game, prize[1]giving and the handing out of donations took place on Sunday November 28 at Lydenburg Golf Club.
“JJ Coetzee is an adult with special needs and has difficulty walking. He immediately started using the four-wheel walker we gifted him. He was in Estralita Special School till he was 18, and his mother now takes care of him at home, full-time. We know that these items will help him with his mobility and to regain some independence. We also bought a shower seat, a raised toilet seat, and grab rails for his bathroom,” said Bruce James, the league’s chairperson. The Gophers thanked Atlas Panel Beaters, Andre du Plooy and the team of Longtom SUPERSPAR, Lydenburg Toyota, Diggers Grill at The Heads Shopping Centre, Golf on the Go and those individuals who donated privately.
“We want to especially thank Michelle Boshoff from the Steelburger/ Lydenburg News for the regular publication of Gophers’ news and events, allowing communication between our members and the community,” said James.
The golf clubs of Lydenburg, Sabie, Pilgrim’s Rest and Akabeko Boutique Hotel also reduced their green fees for the Gopher competitions. This made it possible for players to donate more to the charities identified by the committee.
The winners of the final league game were Arno Briel (first), Jakes Vally (second), Gert Cross (third), Pieter Briel (fourth) and Pierre Dumond (fifth). The nearest to the pin on holes six and 15 was Arno Briel, and Vally was the nearest to the pin on holes eight and 17. The overall winners, out of the 106 players who participated this year, are Kobus Janse van Rensburg and Susan Loots. Jacques Joubert, Pieter Loots and Janse van Rensburg received a special mention for not having missed one league game in 2021.
The charity beneficiaries with the Gophers: Bruce James (Gophers League chairperson), Cathy Schutte (Home4Paws), André van der Veen (Gophers committee member), Ans Coetzee, JJ Coetzee, Koos Coetzee, Danie Brummer (Gophers committee member) and Hester van Zijl (Step Foundation).
The Gophers League champions for 2021 are Kobus Janse van Rensburg and Susan Loots. Bruce James (Gophers League chairperson), André van der Veen (Gophers League committee member), Arno Briel (nearest to the pin, holes six and 15), Pieter Briel (fourth), Gert Cross (third), Jakes Vally (second and nearest to the pin, holes eight and 17), Pierre Dumond (fifth) and Danie Brummer (Gophers League committee member).
