GOLF-CHAT: Sean Baker – a road often travelled for ‘Mr Golf’
A golfer who resembled Tom Cruise (in both their younger days) has put in some serious miles on the roads and courses around the country, most recently between Margate, Kokstad and Oubaai.
Age? 51.
Occupation? All aspects of real estate.
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Who introduced you to golf? My father.
Clubs have you been a member at? Vaal Reefs, Orkney, Kimberley, Maritzburg Golf Club, Kokstad, Margate, Oubaai. I’m still a member of the last three mentioned.
Earliest memory of playing golf? Aged seven, playing with my father and grandfather at Margate before the layout changed.
Career highlights? Played for SA Unversities team in ’93. Playing for KZN country districts for many years. Those have been huge highlights for me.
Golf course you would love to play? Leopard Creek.
Schools attended? St Conrad’s College in Klerksdorp,
How do you think other people would describe your swing? Lazy!
Most famous person outside of golf you have met? Still to meet one that made an impression on me.
Best known golfer you’ve met or played with? Jaco van Zyl.
Holes in one? Victoria CC’s 13th when it was still Maritzburg GC; Selborne Park 11th.
Albatross? Like many others, just come close.
Fourball of choice? I have three: Corné van Deventer, Tom Lovett, Gavin Sole, Colin Iddon; 2 Andrew Ehrich, Dave Rush, Bruce Eaglestone, Marc Bormann; 3 Ivan Curlewis, Robin Shuttleworth and Angus McLachlan.
Favourite meal and drink? Rump tail on the braai and a good glass of red (or two).
Favourite thing to watch on TV? Ryder Cup. Only have to watch every two years.
Countries you have been to? Ireland, Holland (Netherlands), Austria, Italy and Swaziland.
Non-golfing historical figure you would liked to have met? Columbus or Churchill.
What song gets you onto the dance floor? Dance Monkey.
Player you’d choose to hole a 6 foot putt to save your life? Amateur – Ivan Curlewis; pro – Mark McNulty.
Luckiest shot you’ve had? 18th hole at Umdoni Park. Needed to make birdie on the last. Lost my drive in the bush right. Reloaded off the tee and holed a 5-iron for birdie!
One mulligan – a shot or round or moment you’d like to be able to take over? My second round of the Maritzburg Open at Golf Club one year. I’d shot 69 in the morning and was two ahead. I missed a very short birdie putt on my 19th hole of the day and shot 86 second round. I would like that round over. Or even just the putt.
Ever broken a club, what happened? Not intentionally. I wrapped a 4-iron around a tree trunk trying to do the impossible.
Any injuries you’ve had to overcome? In 2011 I broke my foot in a game of squash. I still battle a little with it today.
Funniest thing you have ever seen or experienced on golf course? Talking on Baxter Weiring’s (Varsity team mate) backswing in a league match. He’s deaf – the look on the face of the opposition, priceless!
One thing or rule you’d like to change in golf if you could? Like most other players it has to be the divot rule on fairways without placing.
Best and worst advice received? Best advice – stay away from committees, rather put that time into your business, worked for me. Worst advice – buy Bitcoin.
Tell us something about yourself not many people know? That’s difficult! I would give up golf for snow-skiing. That’s why I’m staying!
What’s next for you? In time to come I’ll have sold my interests in Kokstad and will move permanently to Oubaai. I’ll keep commuting till then.
Anything else you would like to add? I would like a club to re-establish the annual putting championship. It’s a great concept and really good event. Margate’s double green – the 9th and 18th – would be the perfect venue for that.
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