Matters

Daylin Goliath (Left) assists four-year old Malachi Skylar Salie to align his shot.

DRIVING CHANGE ON THE CAPE FLATS

Refiloe Nomdada

hen someone speaks of golf in South Africa, it more often than not will include names such as Gary Player, Ernie Else, Louis Oosthuizen, Retief Goosen or Branden Grace.

With all credit due to these accomplished golfers, the above is a reality that was and to some extent remains so due to the systemic oppression of the Apartheid system that prohibited people of colour to equally participate in sport.

While there is a handful of black emerging golfers present on the Sunshine Tour, it’s just that – a handful. And the probability of seeing more golfers of colour emerge on the Sunshine and European Tours is directly linked to the volume of black golfers that’s included at development level. In other words, we need more black youth to be exposed to golf at an early age.

The barriers to exposing black youth to golf at an early age are plenty. The cost of equipment, golf membership fees, coaching and even the cost to watch golf on TV are all very high for an average kid or parent on the Cape Flats. This is further compounded by social challenges such as absent parents, truancy, gangsterism, substance abuse and the misleading lure of crime as a lucrative lifestyle.

But for a group of avid golfers and active citizens from Mitchells Plain, these challenges have become the source of motivation to invite as many black youth on the Cape Flats to the beautiful game of golf.

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