AGC swings into family day mode on public holiday

By Mrs Furyk

There will be a golf competition for those wanting to play, jumping castles and entertainment for families and their guests, and braai fires will be lit later in the afternoon, accompanied by live music.

Tee off preferences will go to club members, their guests, and specially invited guests, but after 8 December there will be no preferential booking, so phone the pro shop ASAP to get a good time.

KZNGA has released the 2016 league fixtures, and the Toti A team will remain in the Premier league, the B side has been promoted after winning its league this year, and the Toti Allerton team will play in the Allerton A league. The golf club has implemented a new ticket system – players will be asked to provide proof of green/cart fee payment while on the course. Also on the cards is better course security, which will be good news for members, local and visiting golfers.

The new driving range is proving popular, and the opening times have been extended to allow for more practising. The range opens each day at 6.30am and closes at 8pm each evening, with the exception of Sundays when it closes at 4.30pm. Go down and hone your skills. This is also the perfect forum for those wishing to try this amazing game.

Once again the club urges all members to pay their outstanding subs by the end of November, or there will be no option but to suspend handicap cards and implement other measures until monies are paid up. It is important to note that funds are required for the planned improvement of the cart paths, and the upgrade of tee boxes and greens. For info a list of projects in the pipeline will be posted on the notice board, to keep members up to speed with the work being undertaken by the new committee.

Due to a major sponsored day taking place this coming Friday, the nine hole sundowner will only be available from 3.30pm onwards, and carts will most likely not be available.

Last Wednesday 33 players took to the course to contest the midweek IPS competition, and visitor Steve Settle took the top honours with a fine 39 points, followed by Callum Haggie on 38 and Colin Scorer who won the count out of players on 38 points. Friday’s results were not available.

On Saturday the men played a fourball bonus bogey, and Peter Avellini and Chris van Oudsthoorn won the count out from Cecil Heydenrych and Willie Boucher on +9, while Errol Woods and Martin Rumbelow finished third on +8. Nearest the pin on the seventh was Bobby Milne, with Johan Vosser taking closest on the 15th.

The women played a fourball alliance, two scores multiplied, and the winning team of Charmain Stone, Colleen Smit, Estelle Binnekade and Gill Symons proved far too strong for the other teams, taking the competition with 122 points, followed by the team of Jacqui Porrill, Liz Donald, Ina de Boer and Sue Daniels on 105 points. Jacqui Porrill was nearest the pin on the seventh hole.

This coming Saturday the ACC pro shop hosts a sponsored day for the whole club. The women and men will all compete in the same comp, with the format a combined stableford and comp fees at R25 per player over and above regular green fees. The pro shop is providing prizes down to 10th place, and prize-giving will take place in the pub afterwards. A competition like this doesn’t happen very often, if ever at Toti, and the chance for the women and men to compete against each other is very exciting. No doubt come the end of Saturday, the girls will have given their male counterparts a good run for their money. Watch this space for the results. As usual AGC welcomes all visitors to the area to play a round of golf on its beautiful course. Contact the pro shop on 031-902-4144 to book a tee off time.