Table of contents for Spring/Summer 2025-26 in Compleat Golfer

Outside of his homeland, Gary Player is received as something near to a deity - a revered global icon who dazzled the world with his sporting prowess and whose opinions carry both weight and influence. Yet between Cape Agulhas and the Limpopo River, it seems the 89-year-old golfing great just doesn’t quite get the same credit. It's a bit weird - and it’s not right. Player’s numbers speak for themselves: nine Major championships [tied fourth of all time) and 165 professional victories, including a further nine senior Majors. Slim chance that these records will ever be bettered by another South African. To put it into perspective, you can combine the careers of Rory Mcllroy, Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler and still come up short of Player's remarkable career achievements. Some…

ALDRICH POTGIETER When Gary Player asks for the number of a young South African golfer, it’s usually a sign. So when he requested Potgieter's contact details, we should all have taken note. Having become South Africa’s youngest PGA Tour winner at 20 - courtesy of his breakthrough at this year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic - the world now sees what Player saw. But it wasn't just Player who spotted Potgieter's potential. According to his family, his grandmother Dolly had a dream when he was three, in which she saw him winning a tournament. She urged the family to buy him his first set of clubs - and the victories soon followed. He began dominating his age group with prodigious length off the tee, a trademark that remains his biggest weapon. Potgieter…

On the early years, golf and horse riding were very much the activities of Bryanston Country Club. These days, however, the unique sounds of padel, pickleball and tennis are very recognisable most of the day but in particular in the evenings. From 6am to late in the evening the club is a hub of activity very few clubs can rival. At the centre of the court area is a small restaurant and bar which is hugely popular with members. Moving to the main clubhouse, a large bar area spills out on to a massive deck area for drinks and meals. The entire area is a hive of activity throughout the day with members having meetings and after-golf drinks. Numerous conference, team-building and breakaway party areas are also available in the…

Els for Autism South Africa (E4A) teed off 2025 in style, starting with the 11th edition of its event at Stellenbosch Golf Club in April. The series continued in May with a well-supported day at Bloemfontein Golf Club, where Trevor Kitching and his team welcomed 120 participants, followed by successful events at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate and Els Club Copperleaf. May ended on a high with the grand opening of E4A's new premises at 27 Ashford Road, Parkwood, Johannesburg. The new centre was unveiled on 30 May in the presence of long-time supporters, partners and sponsors. Guests were given a tour of purpose-designed spaces created to support autistic individuals in learning, development and daily life. The move marks a major step for the foundation as it prepares to…

It has always amazed me how this small country at the southern tip of the world has long been a powerhouse in golf. Generation after generation, South Africa has produced some of the game's greatest talents. Before my time, Bobby Locke was the first to put South Africa on the map, winning four Majors between 1949 and 1957. His putting stroke may have been unorthodox, but it was deadly. Then came Gary Player, the greatest South African golfer in history. I don't think our golf would be where it is today without him. He showed us that even though we come from a small country far away, success is possible if you work hard and love what you do. I was 14 when I played with him at the Nelson…

There must be something in our southern African soil. How else do you explain the conveyor belt of golfing greatness that's rolled out of this part of the world for decades? We’ve had our golden eras before, led by Gary Player, whose competitive fire lit the path for so many to follow. Ernie Els and Retief Goosen brought a combination of grace and grit that made them global icons. From Zimbabwe, Nick Price's pure ball striking and Mark McNulty's short-game artistry inspired a generation, while Denis Watson and Tony Johnstone added their own chapters to our rich golfing tapestry. Today, that proud legacy lives on in the modem champions flying the southern African flag on LIV Golf’s world stage. Chari Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester aren’t just…

The average handicap worldwide for regular golfers is 14.2. For seniors it moves out to 16-20 for men, 28-30 for women. At the humble golf club I call home, seniors are the largest cohort and I can attest to the fact that those average figures are pretty accurate. Most of our seniors have lost any distance they may once have had, but are long enough in the tooth to realise that new clubs will not solve anything. New knees, hips or shoulder reconstructions are a different matter, however. Staying up to date with modern equipment is the task of our small supply of younger members. It should be pointed out, however, that our younger members are rather like the ANC Youth League. Most of them will never see 40 again.…

On a milestone that redefines the global map of professional golf, LIV Golf will tee off on African soil for the first time from 20-22 March 2026. The fairways of Steyn City, just north of Johannesburg, will host a tournament unlike anything the continent has seen - a bold step as LIV expands to five continents, following high-profile events across North America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. This isn't just another venue on the calendar. It's history in motion a celebration of culture, innovation and national pride. Backed by a multi-year commitment, the Johannesburg event signals more than a one-off showcase. It's a vision for long-term impact, rooted in elite competition, immersive entertainment and a sustainable legacy across Africa. 'This is a proud national moment,’ said minister of sport Gayton McKenzie.…

THRISTON LAWRENCE Born and raised in Mbombela, Lawrence was at Laerskool Nelspruit while Springbok great Duane Vermeulen was leading Hoerskool Nelspruit's rugby team. Aged eight, he was in the crowd at Leopard Creek, watching his idol, Ernie Els. Lawrence turned pro in his matric year and immediately found success on the low-key MENA (Middle East North Africa) Tour, winning the Order of Merit in 2015 while still a teenager. He qualified for the Sunshine Tour in 2019 and won his first professional event almost immediately, coming from five shots off the pace on the final day to clinch the Vodacom Origins of Golf title at Stellenbosch Golf Club. Two years later, his life changed when he won the co-sanctioned Joburg Open, thereby earning his DP World Tour card. The 2022…

South Africa’s Barend Botha and Daryn Shepherd experienced the magic of Royal Portrush when they teed it up at the 2025 R&A 9 Hole Challenge Final - an unforgettable opportunity just days before The 153rd Open Championship. Botha, from Knysna Golf Club, and Shepherd, from Simbithi Country Club in KwaZulu-Natal, qualified for the final as winners of the GolfRSA Race to the R&A 9 Hole Challenge. The pair joined national champions from across the globe on the famous Dunluce Course, where they finished tied third in the team Stableford format with 34 points after a countback. Ireland’s Sharon Conway and Michael Wynne claimed the title on 37 points, marking a third successive Irish victory, while England's Harry Blood (14 years old) and Andrew McWhirter took second with 36 points. CALAMITY…