GOLF-CHAT: Derek James – master teacher and player

Position: PGA Club Professional at Southbroom Golf Club. Awarded the top rank of Master Professional 2018. Former Tour pro (Sunshine Tour and Canadian Tour).

Age? 59 and sticking.

Birthday? September 28.

Second name? None.

Nickname? DJ. On Tour, known as Teapot.

ALSO READ: 5 Toughest tee shots at Southbroom – with Derek James

Who introduced you to golf? My Dad, Maurice.

Which clubs have you been a member at? Royal Durban GC, Huletts CC (now Mount Edgecombe CC), Metropolitan Cape Town, Glendower, Durban CC, Roodepoort and now Southbroom.

Which was the first golf course you ever played at? Royal Durban.

Career highlights? Winning the South African Strokeplay (amateur) at Humewood (1984).

Finishing second to Ernie Els in South African Open at Houghton (1992).

Winning the Infiniti Tournament Players Championship in Canada in 1994.

Seven wins on the Sunshine Tour, three on mini-tours in States.

Time spent with Brandon Stone at Southbroom – then he won the Dunhill and Scottish Open.

I also simply love helping club golfers to play better.

Golf course you would love to play? Shinnecock Hills, Long Island, New York.

Provincial colours as an amateur? Colours for Natal, Western Province (during military service) and Southern Transvaal, as known then. Played for South Africa at the Eisenhower Trophy in Switzerland in 1982.

Schools you attended? DHS.

If you could win any of the Majors, which one? The Open. No doubt.

ALSO READ: Master status for Southbroom pro Derek James

Funniest thing you have experienced on a golf course? Many. One that springs to mind – Simon Hobday moaning because a spectator coughed on his backswing. With that the ball went in the hole and then watching Simon trying to encourage this guy to now follow us and cough any time he liked.

Holes in one? 10 altogether. Southbroom 14th (twice), 4th and 8th. Royal Durban 12th (twice). 12th Zwartkop 12th (no longer exists after a remodel). Kempton Park 16th. Wild Coast 8th and I think it was Manchester GC in New Hampshire, USA.

Albatross? 4. Milnerton 14th (no longer exists), Mt Edgcombe 12th and Southbroom 9th and 17th.

Fourball, amateur and fourball? My brother Neil, Bob Dylan and Madonna. Pro – Tiger Woods, Gary Player and Nick Price.

Beef or chicken? Beef.

World Cup final: T20 cricket or rugby? Rugby.

Countries you have been to? Many with golf, USA, Canada, all over Europe, China, Zimbabwe Ivory Coast, Mauritius.

Player you’d choose to hole a 6 foot putt to save your life? One pro and one amateur? Gary Player and David Suddards.

Luckiest shot that mattered? Putt in SA Open at Houghton on the 17th. It was a 20m putt, really fast with a 12m break.

One shot or round or moment you’d like to be able to have over? Last round of Lexington PGA at Wanderers in 1992 – I only needed 71 to win against Ernie Els and shot 75.

Ever broken a club, what happened? Not a club deliberately but I did demolish an umbrella properly deliberately

Best players you have ever played with? Nick Price, Mark McNulty and Vijay Singh.

Ever had an N/R? Never.

One change you would you make in golf? I’d reduce maximum number of clubs allowed to nine.

What irritates you most in golf? Golfers who get cross with themselves when they are actually not very good.

Best and worst advice received? Best – never give up. Worst – unnecessary swing technique advice.

ALSO READ: GOLF-CHAT: Gavin Sole – captain of KZN golf

Historical figure (dead or alive) you would liked to have met? Mohammed Ali.

Advice to anyone taking up the game and, advice to someone wanting to turn pro? Keep it simple, make sure you enjoy the process, and what you are thinking is everything.

Anything else you’d like to add? Golf is the greatest game you will ever play. Play other sports but make sure you also play golf. One of the greatest things you can do for your kids is introduce them to golf.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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