eBusiness Weekly
Mugove Chigada
Scott Vincent show at Joburg Open, which saw him finish among the top 40, was the best performance by a Zimbabwean at Randpark Golf Club. The tournament, which started on December 7 and sanctioned by Sunshine Tour, European Tour and Asian Tour, was one of the most difficult this year for local golfers.
But the Zimbabwean still got counted with an 8 under par after all rounds.
In the end it was India’s Shubankar Sharma who won by three strokes. Not even the storm that affected one of the days could affect his rhythm.
“I was really calm,” Sharma was quoted by Sunshine Tour after the win.
“Obviously, I couldn’t sleep last night (before last day). I woke up like three times. It was raining so hard, it kept hitting the window and I kept waking up. But I’m so happy that it’s finished now and I won. And, now, I will go back home and celebrate with my family.”
While Sharma did himself a good service by winning and qualifying for the Carnousite in July next year, as Joburg Open is part of the Open Championship qualifying series, Vincent could go into the next challenge with great confidence.
Elsewhere, an analysis by Ryan Herrington from Golfdigest this week on modernisation of golf rules made interesting reading.
One of the points brought forward is the potential that adjustment of rules will have in ensuring that more people get to understand the game.
“It’s not exaggeration to say that the new rules come at a critical time for the sport. As a means to entice more people to take up the game, as well as keep others from giving it up, a little less legalese and a little more logic only makes sense,” Herrington wrote.
“Yet where their impact could have an even greater influence is at the elite, competitive level, where the rigidness of the current code has left the game looking foolishly wedded to outdated applications of equity and fairness in the eyes of the general public, which sees golf solely through the lens of the pro tours.”
Herrington highlights that because of the urgent need to avoid big disappointments, 2019, when the process must completed, has suddenly become too far and the “USGA and R&A took unusual steps to speed up its remedies”.
“Implicit in the term “modernised” is the sense that the new Rules will be clearer and more understandable. And no doubt that is the case. The current 34 rules are expected to be consolidated into a smaller, easier-to-understand book with 24.”
Meanwhile, Royal Harare Golf club continues to support the junior golfers.
From Monday, December 11 to 15, they had the Kids Christmas Golf Clinic. The plan according to the organisers was to split the participants into groups based on age and ability.
It is good the kids are spending part of the festive season on the course.
And speaking of golf lessons, how much would you pay for a private lesson with Tiger Woods?
Well, such a private lesson was reportedly auctioned for $210 000 at the Hurricane Harvey Relief Pro-Am recently.
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