Extreme weather tests golfers

Avid golfers from as far afield as Gauteng braved extremely challenging weather conditions on Friday, October 17 to partake in the Ballito Dolphins golf day at Umhlali Country Club. One could have been forgiven for confusing the Umhlali golf course for Muirfield or St Andrews as strong gusty winds and intermittent showers laced with brief spots of sunshine put golfers’ skills and endurance to the ultimate test. The greens were slow and each hole required a different approach as weather conditions constantly changed.

The format was four-ball alliance, two score to count and the four-ball of Gavin Steinhobel, Johhny Mutton, Greg Kruger and André Conradie adapted to the conditions the best to take first place on a very respectable 88 points. Runners-up on 85 points was the Grandstand team of Dean and Craig Fletcher, André Da Silva and Neil Erasmus who pipped third placed team Dirty Harry Fishing (Craig and Mark Harris, Warren Fourie and Ryan Hunt) by one point.

The Ballito Dolphins raised R30 000 on the day which will go towards the building of the new Ballito Sports Club which will also be the new home of the Dolphins.

“The club will officially be launched on November 4 and the event will be attended by Sharks CEO John Smit, ex springbok captain and KZNRU president Graham McKenzie,” said Dolphins club chairman Kevin Murphy. Murphy said the Shark Bite TV crew will be filming the event and he is confident the Ballito community will throw their full support behind the club.