San Lameer bares its fangs
The players were roughed up a bit at one of the more difficult strokeplay venues in the province.
SOME were disappointed that the final two rounds of the eLan KwaZulu-Natal Open Strokeplay were washed out last Sunday.
But many may have perhaps been relieved that they did not have to go out in the pelting rain and try to navigate their way around San Lameer Country Club’s rather tight layout.
It’s not like it doesn’t have enough water already!
In the end the 72 hole event was reduced to 36 holes, with Darin de Smidt (Krugersdorp GC) winning on -9, with rounds of 69 and 66.
Don’t let that superb score mislead you. He got a bit lucky with the weather on Saturday, having a morning round.
However, the general comments from the golfers were that the course was in great condition and they seemed to be enjoying the greens.
The golfers who suffered most were those teeing off later.
Sean Baker, who won Margate Country Club’s champs last weekend, was one of them. He carded 83 and 83, including a Jordan Spieth-like quadruple on the 4th hole on Friday, which is similar to Augusta National’s 12th hole.
Graham Fabricius of Port Shepstone Country Club, and winner of the recent KZN Country Districts strokeplay champs, was another.
He carded 76 in round one and then got stuck in the maelstrom!
Yet, with the rain falling and the wind whipping across the course, his putter turned into an underwater spear of sorts and he holed two monster putts for birdies on the 8th and 9th (his last two holes) to make the cut on the number.
“It was horrific. Made a 30 foot putt on the 9th through a puddle of water to finish,” he said.
Robert Mavundla was a late entry and started reasonably well but ended up shooting 80 and 84. Still, he’s a dedicated player who has shown major improvement over the past year or so.
It was also good to see Phiwa Mkhoma of Port Shepstone CC back playing tournament golf.
He found the going a little rough at times, including racking up a 10 along the way, but seemed in good humour, even when chunking a lob wedge into the water on the 18th.
His scores didn’t reflect his talent, and perhaps once he settles into working life, he may return to a significantly higher level of golf.
Gavin Sole of Southbroom Golf Club, a seven time winner of the San Lameer Open, was unable to tee it up due to work commitments.
So this year’s ‘Open’ won’t be forgotten in a hurry by the numerous top ranked golfers who made the trip to the usually sunny South Coast.
San Lameer’s golf director Meyer du Toit said the club was honoured to host the event.
He said he was relieved the tournament had gotten as far as 36 holes as the weather had looked ‘pretty bleak’ in the build-up.
There was a lighter note to brighten up a grey Sunday morning. Liam Cloete from Centurion Country Club couldn’t finish his round on the Saturday as it was bucketing down and the 9th green (his last hole) was under water.
But he was playing well enough to comfortably make the cut, so opted to come back the next day and finish the round.
However, it was still raining hard and there was no doubt the event was going to be shortened.
Long story short: the course staff ‘squeegeed’ the green to allow him to finish the hole, all while being watched by all the other golfers who had come to the course in the event play would go on!
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