2 minute read
Whatever happened to?... Nico van Rensburg
In this edition of South African golfing greats from the past we chat with Nico van Rensburg. Nico went back to where it all began, the highs, the lows and what he is up to today.
“I was born in Alberton, but moved to Volksrust when I was 4. My dad played 45 games of rugby for Northern Natal. When his rugby stopped, he started playing golf, and that was how I got involved in the game,” van Rensburg said.
Since stopping playing competitive golf I have joined my friend Ernie Els’ Ernie Els Group SA as his Commercial Manager
“I turned professional in 1987 and won my first of nine events at the 1989 Highveld Classic. I won three times on the Asian Tour, at the Singapore Merlion Masters, the Volvo Masters of Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur Open. I had six victories on the Sunshine Tour, with the 2000 Vodacom Gauteng Series at Silver Lakes being the most notable as I still have the biggest winning margin over three rounds - 11 strokes - which stands as a 24-year record.
“If I look back, a low was probably being an absent dad - being away for 36 weeks a year – I also regret not being able to play full-time on the PGA Tour.
“Since stopping playing competitive golf I have joined my friend Ernie Els’ Ernie Els Group SA as his Commercial Manager. Looking after his interests in Southern Africa and Asia.
“We have been raising funds for Els for Autism in South Africa for 9 years. We go around the country making people aware of what autism is and at the same time raising funds for his charities in South Africa.
I love the corporate world, I love public speaking, auctioneering and running events
“I have always had a passion for giving back. I am coaching numerous top South African golfers like Keegan Mclachlan, Christiaan Maas, Daniel Bennett, Casey Jarvis, Tyran Snyders, Stals Swart, Jordan Wessels, Bernhard Köster and Zinan Maimane to name but a few.
“I played golf for a living for 25 years but decided to not keep on travelling, as injuries really stopped my career. I must say, I love the corporate world, I love public speaking, auctioneering and running events”.
