NATAL NOMADS Golf Club Monthly issue Newsletter Umkomaas Golf Club Volume 2 Issue 10 20 | Page 2

Captains Report Tom Barff, Captain 2019 [email protected] [email protected] Dear Nomads Dear Nomads We had field of 76 players for our monthly game at Umkomaas. I had the pleasure of hosting the National Chairman of Nomads, Neels Bezuidenhout. Neels and I played against the Captain of Umkomaas Graham Coxell, and Ryan Keys from Southern Natal. The local boys taught us a lesson in coastal golf by taking our 50 sheets with some ease. That said we all played some good golf, in tough conditions, and managed to win the playing 4 ball, so well done team! Graham eluded to the fact that Umkomaas does not have a large budget or manpower, so it is always difficult keeping the course in tip top shape. They had some water issues recently, and had also recently done their spring treatment, hollow tining the greens. Nevertheless, the course condition was very fair and I would like to thank all involved at Umkomaas for making it a memorable day. We had our committee meeting with Neels the night before the game, and it was interesting to get perspective of how Nomads is fairing at a national level. Neel’s confirmed that the average age of Nomads are on the increase and the Nomads numbers are reducing – current count being 1191 active members nationally. He has requested clubs to come up with initiatives to recruit quality young Nomads and retain current Nomads. Although the demographics of each club differ, ideas and successes must be shared amongst the clubs. He also encouraged fellow Nomads not just to be part of Nomads for the social side, i.e. to play their games and have fun. Of course this is a key part to Nomads, but we also need to be attending prize giving, and offering our time in participating or supporting efforts to raise funds for charity and furtherance of golf events. I asked Neels to come up and receive a Memento from Natal Nomads and to say a few words. I was away with Neels at Botswana Nationals the weekend before, and he was very vocal about the fact that the Cheetahs are Currie Cup Champions. So I was wary of getting Neels a Sharks Supporters Jersey, instead with the World Cup kicking off in Japan with the Boks vs All Blacks I got him a RWC Springbok Supporters Jersey – size 3 XL which he says needs to be exchanged for a 4 XL – ek weet nie wat voer hulle die manne in die Vrystaat! While on the subject of Botswana Nationals, we had 5 representatives from Natal – myself, Greg Graham, Chris Meyiwa, Derek Airey and John Ross. We had a thoroughly enjoyable time and a big congratulations must go to Botswana Captain Guy Zondagh and his fellow Botswana Nomads on a great event – well done and thank you! We had 3 guests playing on the day - Wally Kent with Derek Airey, and Peter Toward and Keith Vergottini who are both Umkomaas members. There were also a number of visiting nomads - Delvyn Fraser, Simon Lee, Thulani Ntobela, Ryan Keys, Kevin Pistorius and Mike Cromhout from Southern Natal and Mike Perkin from Gauteng. There was only one special presentation which was my own 10 year tie, which Neel’s kindly presented to me. We have three 40 year ties to present at our next game at Royal Durban, which is quite an achievement. Umkomaas was the second “edition” of our Joker Draw – Thanks to John Elliott who was responsible for selling the tickets at registration, as we once again took in a decent amount of funds. The 2 names coming out in the lucky draw were not present at prize giving – which meant that only 50% of the Jackpot would have been paid out - Unfortunately (or