Ernie Els will be recognised for his work promoting golf and South Africa when he is honoured through a series of tournaments in his name. The 2010 Vodacom Business Origins of Golf Tour is part of Southern Africa’s Sunshine Tour and one of the themes will be Ernie Els. The competition is a six-tournament series of pro-am tournaments, with entry being strictly invitation only.
Each year the Sunshine Tour honours icons of the game and has in the past paid tribute to the likes of Ben Hogan and Gary Player. Next year it is Els who will be a fitting star as he is a triple Major Champion, former world number one, and seven-time World Match Play champion.
Els said “It’s an incredible honour for me that my achievements in the game are going to be recognised in this way. I’ve spent most of my life flying the South African flag on fairways around the world, and I’ve always competed to the best of my ability as a proud South African sportsman. It’s very satisfying to know that this is going to be recognised in a series such as the Vodacom Business Origins of Golf Tour.”
The six tournaments will, where possible, be played on Ernie Els-designed golf courses or courses suggested by him, and will also help to raise funds for the Els for Autism initiative. Last year Vodacom Business Origins of Golf Tour raised £250,000 for various children’s charities through its Birdies for Kiddies campaign where the Vodacom Foundation donated £40 for every birdie made by a professional on the series.
The 2009 Vodacom Business Origins of Golf Tour already made a significant contribution to charity through its Birdies for Kiddies campaign, whereby the Vodacom Foundation donated R500 to various children’s charities for every birdie made by a professional on the series. In 2009, over R3-million was raised for this campaign.
It looks like Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie is trying every trick in the book to ensure victory for the Europeans in next year’s competition at Celtic Manor. The man cruelly dubbed Mrs Doubtfire is hoping fellow Scot Sir Alex Ferguson will teach him how to handle a dressing room full of superstars.
"I want to arrange a meeting with Sir Alex - I want to pick his brains,” said Montgomerie. "He is the best man-manager and gets the best out of players. Being Scottish, he still has drive and ambition.
"I would like to learn how to get the best out of the players. Not necessarily when it is going well, it is easy then. But when we might come in down after the first day, that is when it is most important."
Expect to see Montgomerie kicking shoes at Serigio Garcia, screaming at the match officials while furiously pointing at his watch and turning up late for the first round after being stopped by the police for driving up the hard shoulder and telling them he had no choice as he was literally shitting himself. I for one cannot wait.
I like to have a moan on this blog about the latest and greatest technological gadget but for one I have found one I don’t mind giving some praise to. Sebonack Golf Club in Long Island has become the first U.S. golf course to implement solar technology for golf carts. 39 of its 40 carts have been fitted with solar panels designed and engineered by Danish company SolarDrive.
It is estimated that the solar panels save $4 per day per cart in electricity costs and while this may not sound a great deal, extended over the life of the cart the savings start to rack up. It isn’t just the $160 per day savings that are important to the course owner Michael Pascucci, it is estimated it will reduce Sebonack’s consumption from the electric grid by 50 to 75 percent.
Pascucci explains: “Power costs are very expensive on Long Island, we’re saving minimum two-thirds on the amount of electricity [being used]. Why not take advantage of the free solar power we have on Earth? I don’t know why everybody isn’t doing this.”
The panels are retro-fitted onto the golf cart and once out in the sun can be fully charged within an hour and easily go 18 or more holes. A sensor underneath the roof provides instant feedback on the amount of solar energy the panels are receiving. If it’s a sunny day, the cart constantly charges even while being used. But even on a cloudy day, a fully charged cart will have enough energy to go one full round.
“You can’t miss with these carts,” continued Pascucci. “It’s a really positive thing for our members and their guests to see that they’re riding around on the sun’s power and reducing their carbon footprint. The bottom line is…it was the right thing to do.”
And finally...
Basketball legend Michael Jordan has landed himself in trouble with the PGA after being snapped puffing on a cigar at Harding Park Golf Course this week. The picture appeared in the San Francisco Examiner and city officials asked the PGA to remind the basketball star that there is no smoking allowed on public golf course, including Harding Park.
"I've already sent off an email to the PGA Tour director," city recreation and park general manager Phil Ginsburg told the Examiner. "It was sort of a gentle nudge reminding them that smoking is illegal and that we would appreciate their support."
Jordan could face a $100 fine if he is caught smoking on the course again. This will be a major concern for the man whose personal fortune was recently estimated at a staggering $800million.
Friday 9 October 2009
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