Table of contents for November 2022 in Compleat Golfer

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE This goes out to all those who are in the Millennial and Generation X category, I think. Basically, if you're born between 1965 and 1996. One supposes we could also throw in the Boomers among us, those born between 1946 and 1964. Generation Z and Generation Alpha, no disrespect, but you're unlikely to be keeping up. It's the Nedbank Golf Challenge again, an event once known as the Million Dollar Challenge. It's evolved to the status where some call it ‘Africa's Major’, and it does make for compelling viewing. The golf tournament, held at the demanding Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, is as South African as the Comrades Marathon, a Currie Cup final – if that's still a ‘thing’ – a New Year's Day cricket…

GARTH MILNE FITNESS Now, I'm not here to ruin your Christmas holidays, but I do get asked a lot about alcohol, especially with regard to golf and health. So let's delve into the scientific evidence on alcohol consumption. We're human, after all, and a big part of our reason for playing golf is the social aspect of the game. Besides, we have to ‘live a little’. However, if you are somewhat dependent on alcohol to start your backswing you should read this. The body can only process a limited amount of alcohol at a time, around 28g an hour, and women metabolise alcohol at a much slower rate than men do. Your ability to process alcohol also depends on an enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase, and how much of it is present…

COURSE OF THE MONTH Thirty years ago, San Lameer Country Club appeared on the map. The KZN south coast is blessed with several fine courses to play, but this is one that always seems to appear on the ‘to do’ list of golfers travelling in that direction. The estate is not just a top golf course but has super facilities for the entire family. Villas are set among the tropical surroundings, allowing families to combine several activities while on holiday There was a vision to create the first premier golf estate in South Africa, and this became a reality when the course, designed by Peter Matkovich and Dale Hayes, was opened in November 1992 Being the test of golf that it is, San Lameer has played host over the past…

Ignite Articulate What they say: ‘This is the most versatile performance shoe Puma Golf has ever made. Between the articulation geometry on the outsole, midsole and upper, to the cushioning of the Ignite foam, every detail of these spiked shoes has been meticulously designed to move with the golfer's feet during the swing.’ Random review: ‘For golfers who appreciate a little freedom of movement, there's a lot to love about the Puma Ignite Articulate. When the sizing is right, it's extremely comfortable right out of the box. There's plenty of traction, your feet have some opportunity to explore and stability is still pretty damned good, considering the nature of the design.’ – mygolfspy.com ProAdapt Alphacat What they say: ‘Pushing the boundaries of performance, style and comfort, this shoe combines a…

Codechaos 22 What they say: ‘With a design that amplifies everything a spikeless shoe can be, they set you up to shave strokes with style. From the stance stability of the wraparound outsole to the swing-boosting traction of Twist Grip and the energised feel of full-length Boost, they maximise everything you need on the course.’ Random review: ‘The Adidas Codechaos 22 golf shoe is super comfortable and offers excellent traction. A great fusion of stability and mobility. Eye-catching modern athletic look.’ – pluggedingolf.com…

Not too many moons ago Gary Player had stopped for a quick bite with his fourball at Milnerton Golf Club's halfway house. It was a quiet Friday summer's morning and a lonesome golfer had played through, not pausing after putting out on the 9th green and walking to the 10th tee. ‘Good morning. Mr Player, do you mind if I go ahead? she asked. ‘Please do,’ came the reply. ‘I want to see your swing.’ No pressure then. Cara Gorlei took time to steady herself before launching her drive down the left side of the fairway. ‘You hit a long ball,’ South Africa's greatest-ever golfer told her. ‘And I like your work ethic. Out here by yourself, that's dedication.’ A couple of hours later, after handshakes and a round of…

You have to feel for Luke Donald. As if having to steady the Ryder Cup ship following Henrik Stenson's defection to LIV Golf wasn't a tall-enough task, the affable Englishman now must assemble a European team capable of upsetting arguably the most formidable US side of all time. Should Donald somehow wrestle back the famous gold trophy from the USA in Rome next year, it might well go down as the biggest achievement of his career. No mean feat considering his CV already boasts 56 weeks as world No 1, becoming the first player to win the money lists on both the PGA and European Tours in the same year, and winning 17 times around the globe. Speaking at a recent event to mark one year until the clash at…

RYAN CAIRNS COLUMN As the years tick by, the history books will show that the 2022 Presidents Cup was won by the United States – again. This was the ninth successive staging of the team event in which the US triumphed over the Internationals. The Internationals have only won once in the 14 times the event has been played. However, despite the 17½-12½ scoreline – which is wider than the 2019 result which the US won 16-14 – I feel that history might reflect that change was in the air at the 2022 event at Quail Hollow Club. I will be the first to admit that the buildup to this year's Presidents Cup felt like trying to get excited for an early morning tee time, following an opening-round blowout. But…

PLAYING EDITOR 3 Matt Fitzpatrick Matt can be summed up in one phrase: he gets it done. That's why it was no surprise to me when he became US Open champion this year. The man is a driving machine, one that would impress even BMW. His control off the tee is simply staggering. This is while he's gained, on average, more than 12 yards in distance over the past couple of years. While his technique might be somewhat orthodox, he hits it pure. But that's merely one of his strengths. What sets him apart from everyone else is his putting. The man has the purest stroke on the planet. I've never seen a player make a ball roll end-over-end as he does. Every. Single. Time! And it seems so effortless. But…

REINARD KILIAN RULES They say that although golf is a game, it teaches you a lot about life. So here are a few examples where these two forces intersect. Unfortunately for Tour professionals, one of the most expensive lessons you can learn is punctuality. We are all familiar with the tee sheet or draw that most clubs run for social play and competitions. For tournaments, the committee will in most cases publish this draw as advance notification to players for where and when they are teeing off. A player has to be at the tee and ready to play at the time that has been published. What most people are not aware of is that this has to be at the exact time. In other words, if your tee time…

Belair What they say: ‘This eye-catching, award-winning spikeless golf shoe is made from soft, perforated Nappa leather to give it that distinctive look. The comfortable shoe is packed with cutting-edge technology for optimum performance. A waterproof internal bootie membrane keeps water out while also allowing moisture to escape. The Airplay VI outsole ensures heel-to-toe traction as you swing, with cushioning for added comfort.’ Elpaso What they say: ‘This stylish, comfortable golf shoe offers an understated yet unique look. The shoe, made from recycled materials, is available in various colours with contrasting piping on the soft, full leather upper. A breathable and soft Arneflex insole provides underfoot cushioning. The heel support offers that “locked-in” feeling and the spikeless outsole holds its own in dry and even damp conditions.’ Churchill What they…

EQUIPMENT In 2019, rules were changed that allowed golfers to repair spike marks on the green, a hitherto strictly banned procedure, and in doing so took away one of the ammie's most often-used excuses for a missed putt: ‘Aww, I would've made that if it hadn't hit that spike mark!’ In truth, though, that excuse had faded when metal spikes on golf shoes had given way to plastic ‘soft spikes’. They took a while to catch on though, but as soon as club management felt it was safe to do so, they were quick to ban those clanking metal spikes, which required rubberised carpeting in the clubhouse. It was another milestone on the road of progress for golf shoes We have come a long way since an 1857 edition of…

MEN OPEN 1 (3) Kyle de Beer (Port Elizabeth GC) 2 (1) Yurav Premlall (Glendower GC) 3 (2) Jonathan Broomhead (Durban CC) 4 (5) Aldrich Potgieter (Pinnacle Point GC) 5 (4) Christiaan Maas (Pretoria CC) 6 (6) Simon du Plooy (Krugersdorp GC) 7 (8) Daniel Bennett (Royal Durban GC) 8 (7) Jordan Wessels (Mooinooi GC) 9 (9) Werner Deyzel (Woodhill CC) 10 (13) Behn Heyns (Silver Lakes CC) 11 (11) Ivan Verster (Pinnacle Point GC) 12 (12) Jean Pierre van der Watt (Humewood GC) 13 (14) Fabnzio de Abreu (Woodhill CC) 14 (10) Handre Truter (Waterkloof GC) 15 (18) Joshua Koekemoer (Silver Lakes CC) 16 (16) Jordan Burnand (Ebotse GC) 17 (17) Reece McKain (Benoni CC) 18 (15) Altin van der Merwe (Humewood GC) 19 (-) Johan Christian Kriek (Pretoria CC) 20 (19) Jere Brits (Langebaan GC) MEN JUNIORS 1 (DNQ) Aidrich Potgieter (Pinnacle Point GC) 2 (1) Reagan Crosbie…

ASHLELGH BUHAI COLUMN It has been a couple of months since I won the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield and life has started to return to normal. Well, I suppose as normal as things can be because there's a constant reminder of how things changed from that week. Now that ‘normality’ has resumed for me, there are still plenty of things that will stay the same. For instance, I'm not going to change the way I am and I'm not going to start hooking into five-star hotels to stay in during tournament weeks. I'm not goingto change the way I am and I'm not geing to start booting into five-star hotels I have mentioned a few times in my past columns how my husband and I have been so fortunate…

1. Gary Player South Africa's greatest golfer and arguably our best sportsperson. Player racked up nine Majors and another nine Senior Majors in his glorious career. A remarkable ambassador for the game and the country. 2. Ernie Els Courtesy of his 2012 Open Championship victory at Muirfield, Els leapfrogged Bobby Locke to become the second-best South African golfer of all time. Interestingly, both have four Majors and 74 professional victories to their name, but Els pips ‘Old Muffin Face’ courtesy of a Senior Major and having reached world No 1. 3. Bobby Locke Who knows what Locke's career would have looked like if it hadn't been interrupted – first by World War II and then by a controversial banning from the PGA Tour. Locke was far and away the best…

CHRISTIAAN BEZUIDENHOUT When Dean Burmester decided to play the Korn Ferry Tour as a route to gaining his PGA Tour card, he made an important phone call. He needed to know as much about American golf, the conditions and courses he was going to be playing. In his mind, there was only one golfer to phone to get that information. ‘Christiaan Bezuidenhout,’ He said. ‘He guided me through exactly how to play those golf courses, and the plan worked. We played great and finished sixth on the list.’ Burmester's call is a perfect example of the great strides Bezuidenhout has made on the PGA Tour this past season, and the admiration and respect this has gained him among his fellow professionals. Pretty much everybody in the game at the moment.…

MAX HOMA Max Homa went unbeaten at The Presidents Cup, compiling a 4-0-0 record as a rookie and proving a point in no uncertain terms that he belonged to be wearing the red, white and blue of the United States in team competition. Whether he gets to dress in the same colours at next year's Ryder Cup is still up for debate, but the 31-year-old has done everything but kick down the door to that team locker room. Homa has been one of the success stories of 2022, having risen from an end-of-year ranking of 35 to a career highest of 16. And as much as he's gone about his business on the golf course, he has done so off it as well. In October he and his wife were…

GARY LEMKE COLUMN Kim put his index finger to his lips and made a point that the whole partisan crowd could see. He ensured Thomas saw too. The American stormed off to the 16th tee, shaking his head. ‘Honestly, at the time, I was pretty pissed off,’ Thomas said, as the American celebrations kicked in following their win over the Internationals at Quail Hollow, ‘No, it's one of those things, I think when you're in the moment – when you're on the other side of it – it's something that gets you motivated, gets you pumped up a little bit.’ Kim went on to beat Thomas 1-up and injected a few jitters into a noisy pro-USA crowd. Ultimately, Team USA stretched away to retain the trophy by five points, but…

Tour Alpha What they say: ‘Tour Alpha performance golf shoes feature the proprietary Optimised Performance Stabiliser system (OPS) that works to lock you in, allowing you to swing away with full force. This is the most advanced stability system we've ever created. Features a soft, supple Chromoskin leather by Pittards and exceptional support thanks to a TPU exterior heel counter and A-Frame support.’ High praise: Ranked No 1 in 2022's ‘Best Spiked Shoes’ by mygolfspy.com. ‘When it comes to overall performance, the FootJoy Tour Alpha puts on quite a show. This spiked shoe was consistent across multiple key metrics: stability (2nd), comfort (6th), elements (2nd), traction (1st).’ Random review: ‘These shoes provide the optimum blend of comfort and performance, specifically stability through excellent heel support and grip that allows you…

EQUIPMENT HOVR Drive 2 Wide What they say: ‘Breathable, supportive engineered microfibre upper and lightweight waterproof membrane keeps you cool and dry. The moulded heel is anatomically designed to improve support and fit. Moulded EVA footbed provides supportive step-in comfort. Strategically-placed 3D print toe guard for added durability and protection when you swing. Lightweight, durable TPU outsole.’ Random review: ‘One of the most complete spiked golf shoes of the year, the HOVR Drive 2 builds brilliantly on its predecessor. Great grip, plenty of support and a new, sleeker look, Under Armour has upped its game once again.’ – golfmonthly.com UA HOVR Drive SL What they say: ‘Breathable, supportive engineered microfibre upper and lightweight waterproof membrane keeps you cool and dry. The moulded heel is anatomically designed to improve support and…

GOLF RSA Hosts Gauteng North won their first Women's Inter-Provincial title since 2013 when they held off defending champions Western Province in the final round of matches at Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate. After a narrow 1.5-2.S loss to Central Gauteng in the opening round, the Daisies routed Southern Cape 5-1 in the second round to reignite their title hopes. Going into the final round, the mathematics was simple. ‘We needed to beat Western Province and we were counting on Southern Cape to dismiss Central Gauteng,’ said Gauteng North A team captain Bronwyn Doeg. ‘We knew it wouldn't be easy and we needed Southern Cape to play their part, but the team was very determined. Every member of the team knewr their role and goal for the day, and…

Central Gauteng ran away with the Nomads SA Under-13 Stroke Play Championship title, finishing 27 strokes clear of runners-up North West at Maccauvlei Golf Club. Although the final round was a bit of a struggle, Chad Stanton, Syan Ramchander, Morne Steyn, Schalk van Ettinger, Andrew Erasmus and Matthew Tresling had laid the foundation for their superb triumph with an excellent opening round of 375 (+15). An even better 373 (+13) left them with a commanding lead and they started the final round 31 strokes clear of Western Province. Spearheaded by Eagle Canyon's Stanton, the Lions closed with a final round of 19-over 379 to secure their first title since 2017. ‘It was a great performance from the entire team,’ said proud team manager Mike Faasen. ‘They are a very talented…

2021 revisited: Collin Morikawa became the first American to win the Race to Dubai title when a late surge took him to victory at the DP World Tour Championship as Rory Mcllroy faltered. Morikawa, who won the 2021 Open Championship, finished with a flawless round of 66 including six birdies to top the leaderboard at 17 under par and win by three shots at the Jumeirah Golf Estates course. The American also ended the season as the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) No 1. Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick carded 66 to move up 11 places on the final day and finish tied for second with Sweden's Alexander Bjork. ‘I feel so good. I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't watching what Matt Fitzpatrick was doing today,’…

ANDY CAPOSTAGNO COLUMN A CORNER DEDICATED TO GOLF'S TRLERS Wise blood. That's what they used to say about sports people whose parents had played to a high standard. In the first week of October, I thought about those words when, on the same day, Ryan Fox won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews and, across the Atlantic, Dean Burmester came fourth at the PGA Tour Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson. Ryan's father was the great Grant Fox, New Zealand's flyhalf at the inaugural Rugby World Cup of 1987. Towards the end of his career, Grant also played for Auckland at Ellis Park in 1993, when Francois Pienaar led Transvaal to the Super 10 trophy I first met Grant at Heathrow Airport in 1991. His…