To say the conditions were testing at Kuils River GC would be an understatement. The wind blew at KDM in January but at Kuils River it REALLY blew. The fact that the average score for the day was 26.1 shows how tough it was. The A division average was 24.7!

The hospitality at Kuils River was superb. My partner, Clarence Abbott, has been the Club Captain for 5 years. He has made an immense contribution to his club and to golf in the WP. We wish him well in his ‘retirement’.

We had a field of 116 players. We welcomed 6 visiting Nomads from our Boland neighbours. It is always good fun to have them join us. Congratulations to the Division winners, Donavon Dawson (34 pts off 0), Andrew Roberts (37 pts off 14) and Malcom Bushell (35 pts off 15). Rob Larsen parred the two toughest pars on the course which helped him to his 15 points (off a handicap of -2).

We had three members receiving their 15-year ties. Colin Reeves and Brett Adams were inducted together at King David and Ronnie Basant was inducted as a Boland Nomad at Paarl in the same month.

At prize giving we said a final farewell to two WP stalwarts, Ed Jones and Brian Barends. It was a privilege to have Ed’s widow, Kaareen, and Brian’s wife, Cynthia (Mum), with us for the badge pinning ceremony. The emotion was palpable when Mum took the mike to say a few words. The message was clear, we stand on the shoulders of giants and we must all work hard to build on the foundation laid for us by men like Brian and Ed.

The Nationals team of 39 Nomads is primed and ready and we wish them well in their quest to bring Bert back from East London.

Thank you, as always, to our local sponsors. Thank you also to our national sponsors. We will be hosting the Captain’s Challenge at our next monthly game is at Durbanville on 19 March 2020.