Parliament sports committee 4/09/2012

GENERaL OVERVIEW

Golf has a unique place amongst all sports. Its history, its handicapping system, its environment and its relatively moderate physical demands open it up to players of all ages, ability, gender, and background to spend quality time together. It is a wonderful means of enjoyment and provides a rare opportunity to spend time with other players. It is therefore no surprise that it is one of the most widely played and watched sports, and, as an industry, enjoys a healthy state of affairs today – both globally and in South Africa.

South Africa’s challenging history is characterized by differences and elitism. Our community remains very sensitive to any suggestion of exclusion or elitism. While golf is an easy game in which to participate, to the non-playing outsider, its rules, etiquette and equipment can sometimes seem quite intimidating.

This challenge of expanding and promoting the game to new communities is very much the ‘driving force’ of the SAGDB.

The SAGDB believes that golf is a powerful tool for social development, and growing the game will also help to build a nation to be proud of because it plays and lives by the unique ethics and values of the game.

As a body, we believe we are the right organization to drive these initiatives and achieve the stated goals. We can, however, only do this with the support of all stakeholders.

Vision Statement

The SAGDB aims to make golf accessible to all South Africans by providing and facilitating practice and playing opportunities for learners and talented players from all the underprivileged communities including previously disadvantaged communities. The SAGDB believes that golf is a powerful tool for social development, and growing the game will also help to build a nation to be proud of because it plays and lives by the unique ethics and values of the game.

Mission Statement

Through its national approved coaching programmes, the SAGDB will identify and develop talented players from underprivileged South African communities who will popularise and spread the unique spirit of the game.

Positioning

The SAGDB believes that moral, educational, and socio-economic upliftment is vital to South Africa's future. By making golf more accessible and more appealing, the SAGDB is recruiting South Africans to a sport that teaches an integral set of ethical rules and values, which can be applied in all spheres in life.

A.Statistics

NATIONAL STATS – JULY 2012
Rank / Region / No of coaches / Total players / Ave Player per coach / Player per H/coach / Total players / Ave Score / Ave Age / Ave H/C / Size of Elite Squad / Qualifying players
1 / Boland / 3 / 221 / 74 / 38 / 259 / 76.62 / 15.47 / 5.67 / 12 / 12
2 / Western Province / 7 / 326 / 47 / 28 / 354 / 77.03 / 15.22 / 6.50 / 12 / 11
3 / Kwazulu Natal / 7 / 268 / 38 / 14 / 282 / 79.43 / 16.74 / 8.75 / 12 / 9
4 / Central Gauteng / 5 / 198 / 40 / 16 / 214 / 83.58 / 14.28 / 10.11 / 12 / 9
5 / Free State / 3 / 135 / 45 / 19 / 154 / 83.67 / 16.80 / 9.09 / 11 / 5
6 / Southern Cape / 2 / 111 / 56 / 11 / 122 / 85.11 / 15.38 / 11.00 / 12 / 10
7 / Border / 3 / 146 / 49 / 18 / 164 / 85.31 / 15.02 / 85.31 / 12 / 9
8 / Gauteng North / 3 / 143 / 48 / 15 / 158 / 88.55 / 11.87 / 19.86 / 7 / 6
9 / Mpumalanga / 2 / 73 / 37 / 7 / 80 / 0.00 / 13.19 / 0.00 / 9 / 0
Total active players (on database) / 35 / 1621 / 48 / 166 / 1787 / 82.41 / 14.89 / 19.54 / 11.00 / 8.88

B.Success Stories

Musiwalo Nethunzwi has made the national side for the Africa Zone VI Golf Championships in Malawi(age 13 we introduce him to golf at clinic in Soweto, was in our program until age 18)

Sipho and Musi has been taken in by Gary Player Golf experience after they graduated from the SAGDB program at age 18

Two players Cedric Rooi, Jacquin Hess, represent the SA university team at world golf champs in Spain in 2010.

Our SAGDB team has beaten the National Scottish team in their single matches during the annual match in March at Randpark

Two Female players from Free State are currently in a golf program at the HPC in Pretoria which are sponsored by the National Sport Department.

More than 60% of the players of colour, who participated in the U/23 IPT 2012 in Nelspruit and the u/19 IPT 2011 in Mafikeng, were introduced to golf and nurtured through our Development program.

We also has become the feeder program of golf players to high Performance institutions around the country.

17 players from our program are currently part of the EEF.

2011 -2012

56 players received provincial colours, out of 120 possible players

C.SAGDB Order of Merit

Top players in respect of their age

National Order of Merit - July 2012

Keelan Africa / 16.15 / 2 / 70.21 / BOLAND
TOP UNDER 19 PLAYER
1 / Shane Ross / 17.88 / 3 / 72.21 / BOLAND
TOP UNDER 17 PLAYER
1 / Keelan Africa / 16.07 / 2 / 70.21 / BOLAND
TOP UNDER 15 PLAYER
1 / Dylan Jacobs / 14.90 / 2 / 73.36 / BOLAND
TOP UNDER 13 PLAYER
1 / Hilmi Mallick / 12.54 / 7 / 78.00 / WESTERN PROVINCE

D.Project MIT

SAGDB Programme MIT was implemented during 2010 and will guide and identify the overall structure of the SAGDB’s future coaching and operational strategy and programs. This programme incorporates the PGA of South Africa’s Long Term Player Development (LTPD) coaching programme.

Programme MIT is divided into three divisions namely operations, coaching, and selection.

Operations

  • SAGDB Programme MIT (Management & Identification of Talent) implemented as follows, with each SAGDB Programme/Chapter consisting of the following:
  • SAGDB Programme/Chapters must be within ± 25km radius from a golf club, which assists the SAGDB Programme/Chapter financially or offers its facilities to the SAGDB
  • Minimum players/learners per SAGDB Programme/Chapter, made up as follows:
  • Minimum of 40 players/learners excluding players over nineteen.
  • Level 1 Players/learners – Recommended18 players/learners
  • Level 2 Players/learners – Recommended18 players/learners
  • Level 3 Players/learners – Recommended4 players/learners
  • *Level 3 Players/learners – u/23 2 players/learners
  • Minimum Learners per session8 players/learners
  • * Past talented provincial players/learners over the age of 19 but under the age of 23 can join the squad for coaching and playing sessions, but this must be subject to funds being available and within approved budgets
  • Each SAGDB Programme/Chapter/coach must have at least two players/learners represented in the Academy.
  • Each region/Provincial Division will have an Academy with elite squad of minimum 12 players/learners, coached by either a PGA coach or an acceptably qualified SAGDB head coach. The recommended composition of the squad is as follows, but there is a strict minimum of two players/learners in each age group:
  • U/132 players/learners (recommended)
  • U/154 players/learners (recommended)
  • U/174 players/learners
  • U/192 players/learners
  • Ideal average age of the elite squad should be ±14.42 old
  • 2011 – 2012: two players/learners, irrespective of age group, selected on merit to the provincial Junior Golf teams in every region/Provincial Division
  • 2013 – 2014: four players/learners, irrespective of age group, selected on merit to the provincial Junior Golf teams in every region/Provincial Division
  • 2014 - 2016: a minimum of 6 players/learners or 50% of the Academy with an elite squad, irrespective of age group, selected on merit to the provincial Junior Golf teams in every region/Provincial Division
  • All regions must once a month present a monthly regional tournament, community development clinic/school clinic, or golf club clinic.

National Squad

  • In line with the requirements and allocations as set out by SA Junior Golf for the National Order of Merit Tournaments, the composition of national squad will be adjusted to meet these requirements.
  • The composition of the national squad will be as follows:
  • U/135 players/learners
  • U/155 players/learners
  • U/175 players/learners
  • U/195 players/learners
  • U/235 players/learners
  • Players selected will be coached by the Technical Director/national coach and their performances reviewed every six months

Coaching

Long term player development (LTPD

points of concern

  • Lack of support from local, provincial and national governments
  • Lotto– last two years no approved projects.
  • SRSA not including golf as a part of school sporting code
  • Need for tertiary scholarships not only for players, but those interested in golf-related careers
  • Lack of public facilities that severely hampers efforts

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