NATAL NOMADS Golf Club Monthly issue Natal Nomads Newsletter Windsor Park Golf Club Feb | Page 2

Captains Report Tom Barff, Captain 2019 [email protected] [email protected] Dear Nomads This was our second time playing at Athlone Golf Club since the course was added by Greg Graham to the rotation in 2019. I think Athlone ticks a number of boxes in terms of their offering to Natal Nomads. It has a good layout and offers a fair test of golf for all abilities / handicaps. It is also centrally located making it convenient for those who don’t wish to travel too far. The condition of the course considering the limited budget available was more than acceptable. Nomads is able to negotiate a good rate on green fees which offers us the opportunity to make a decent profit on the game. There is good service from staff and very reasonable prices at their bar. I had a thoroughly enjoyable day out, despite the heat! I had the pleasure of playing with the Club Captain, Mike Fetter against Gavin Bissict and Mike Hayes. We had a very good game and all played some decent golf, which resulted in us winning the best playing fourball on 133 points – well done gents! Congratulations to all the other winners, in particular Chad Walters on a superb 40 pointer! On the day we had 2 guests, Tony Bouffe with Des Rode and Dean Hamerick with John Veasey. We also had 2 waiting list members in Mike Hayes and Justin Ackerman, and we have John McClure back after a short break in Membership. There were also 2 visiting nomads – Ian West from Botswana and Ryan Ringo from Southern Natal. For the second month in a row I had the pleasure of awarding a special presentation to Alan “Pinky” Gooderson. Last month was his 450-game badge at Umhlali and this month was his 45-year tie. As I already commended Allan last month I didn’t repeat all his accomplishments once again, but I would like to congratulate and thank him not only for his 45 years’ service to Natal Nomads, but also for his support as a long-standing sponsor at our monthly games and our Andrew Mentis golf days. Allan was paired with John Winton and I noted that as they rode off down the first on their cart that they had a combined 98 years of Nomads membership between them!! An unbelievable statistic and wonderful achievement. We have 22 Nomads representing us at the Buffalo Nationals in East London next month, and while this is a disappointing turn out from previous years I hope we can play some decent golf to put us in the running for the Bert Hunt trophy – which is long overdue to return to Natal. Gary Player entry forms and Rules of Play were emailed to all members. I would encourage all of you to enter – if you have never played before get involved with another member as it is good fun and adds some additional excitement to the monthly games. I would also like to appeal to Natal Nomads to consider giving back to your Club, by offering to stand for certain vacancies on the committee. The first is the position of Golf Development and Junior Golf. Unfortunately, Alan Lukan has resigned from Nomads and this position is vacant. I would like to sincerely thank Alan for his time and service on the committee and we are very sorry to see him go. With all due respect to Alan, this portfolio is not a time-consuming position, as most of the leg work has already been done. It is a matter of representing Nomads at a few events during the year and liaising with our contacts at Junior Golf and Golf Development in terms of ongoing sponsorship and prizes. The second position is that of Junior Vice-Captain. The new position is effective from May 2020, when Chad Walters becomes Captain and Johan Bothma becomes Vice Captain. Part of being a nomad is about giving back to your club, so I would encourage any of you who have not served time on the committee to consider it. We have a dwindling membership base, so we really do need some young blood to come through. Lastly is the matter of sponsorship. Ross Alleson has been working hard at trying to get in new sponsors at local level, and has successfully been able to get some new financial commitments and also some increases to the existing commitments – so thank you to those sponsors. Unfortunately, we have also lost some long-standing sponsors, and I am therefore appealing to anyone who has the means to offer some form of sponsorship in terms of a product or service, or cash to please speak to myself or Ross.