HEALTH & LIFEST YLE
KNOW YOUR PGA
PRO
1. When did you qualify as a PGA Professional? Before you were born, Pards! 1985 Texas, 1991 SA. 2. What made you choose this career? Being a PGA Professional is really working in the hospitality business in the domain you love the most. I am a teacher, a psychologist, a club fitter, a rules expert, a babysitter, a motivator, a stockiest, a player (with a great future behind me) every day! 3. Has it always been golf for you? Before I was four, I also played with “matchbox” cars, climbed trees and got bounced off trampolines. For the last 60 years, it’s been mostly golf. 4. Did you ever play or did you ever want to play on tour? I generally peaked on a Wednesday. No, from the beginning, it was more about teaching the great game of golf to others. 5. You have been in the industry for a long time, who has been your biggest mentor? I am blessed to have had several mentors/ influencers in golf and like. All my professionals were gifted in different ways – I learned from all of them. Off the course, its often people I have met through golf who have helped to mould me into who I am.
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Jeff Clause CEO/PGA Director of Golf St Francis Links
6. In 1991 you left the USA for a 3 year stint at Fancourt, how did this become 30 years ? What most people don’t remember, is that a month to the day, Fancourt went into provisional liquidation because their bank was Masterbond. Marina Martinique and Club Mykonos on the west coast failed, bringing down Masterbond and Fancourt with them. My 3-year plan became 7 at Fancourt as we kept the standards high, the course moved from No. 7 to No. 3 in that period. The liquidators became better golfers as well! 7. What are the biggest differences in the management of a Links Golf Course ? High standards remain high standards. However, St Francis Links is natural combined with nature – a great balance. We are maintaining the lie of the land and the natural terrain. Bunkers are a continuation of the dunes around us – scratched out. The result is a visual and a playable 4 hours and change. 8. Describe a typical workday for you at the club? My day has changed over the years. It still starts with golf, the day, the set-up, who’s playing and… It’s always a start with TK, my Head PGA Professional, it involves F&B and their interaction with the day and always includes time with Charl my SUP. Then I shift to Estate solutions for water, sewerage, Wi-Fi,
www.sagolftrader.co.za
May | June 2021
