In a ground-breaking move for golf development in the country, the City of Tshwane will play host to the Tshwane Open Junior Tournament.

This tournament takes place at the Irene Country Club, and entrance is free so everyone will be able to come on over and watch our future champions in action.

Fast facts on the 2017 Tshwane Open Junior Tournament

Date: Sunday, 26 February 2017
Venue: Irene Country Club
Time: From 11.15am
Number of players: 95
Ages: Between 10 and 18
Format: Individual Stableford

Divisions:

A division:  +5 – 6 handicap
B division:  7 – 18 handicap
C division:  19 and above handicap
U13:   Compete in the A and B division and on the forward tees

Prize giving: From 6pm at the clubhouse

The overall winner of the day will get the chance to take part in the Audi Beat the Pro competition during the Tshwane Open, on Saturday, 4 March, at the Pretoria Country Club.

The three winners from the A Division, B Division and U13 will all get the chance to participate in the Tshwane Open Pro Am on Tuesday, 28 February.

Sponsor: Jaguar Centurion

The tournament is critical to the City of Tshwane, which sees it as a feeder system into the mainstream, professional golf sector.

Supporting junior players is an investment into building the sport across the city, and it’s a smart and sustainable way of doing so – capturing the youngsters who are already interested in golf. In fact, our 2015 Tshwane Open champion, George Coetzee, came out of the South African golf development process.

About junior golf in Tshwane

The junior golfers are looked after by Susan Deyzel of the GNGU (Gauteng North Golf Union). The union looks after, and promotes, amateur and junior golf in Tshwane.

Rohan de Beer has been appointed by the SADGB (South African Golf Development Board) to develop and promote golf in Tshwane and works closely with the GNGU.

Tshwane golf coach Nathan Maluleka is also part of the initiative working to promoting the game of golf in Tshwane.

The South African Golf Development Board
The SAGDB (South African Golf Development Board) operates in 10 regions across South Africa: Boland; Border; Free State; Gauteng Central; Gauteng North; KwaZulu-Natal; Limpopo; Mpumalanga; Southern Cape; and Western Province.

Formed in 1999, the SAGDB is a non-profit organisation with section 18A donations tax exemption status.

Through its PGA-approved Long-Term Athlete Development coaching programme, the board currently has the capacity to coach 2 500 children a week, and since its inception has coached more than 17 000 young golfers.

The programme has produced:

• 1 senior national player;
• 4 players in the senior national squad;
• 25 senior provincial and u23 players; and
• 108 junior provincial players.

In addition, more than 1 500 players have participated in junior golf tournaments and 34 of the programme’s most talented players have been invited to join prestigious and recognised High Performance Centres such as the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundations.

Six former SAGDB players have earned their tour cards on the Sunshine Tour.

The SAGCB enjoys the support and endorsement of the R&A (the guardians of golf, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews), Sunshine Tour, the Professional Golfers Association of South Africa, the Women’s PGA and the SA Junior Golf Association, and Remgro.