The organizers of the World Schools Golf Challenge invite school teams everywhere to come to Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, South Africa for the third World Schools Golf Challenge in April, 2011.
Hundreds of high school golfers from schools in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England have already experienced the fun and competition of a World Schools Golf Challenge and we hope you will consider becoming part of the World Schools Golf Challenge fraternity.
This is the most accessible International Schools golf event in the world. There are no qualifying criteria, no tournaments to win to get there and no limit to the number of teams from any one school.
Boys teams, girls teams and mixed teams - everyone is welcome. The World Schools Golf Challenge will definitely help you develop golf in your school.
Yours in golf
Roger Carroll
Tournament Director
World Schools Golf Challenge
Cape Town, South Africa
Visit the www.schoolsgolf.com for all the tournament details.
In this first newsletter you will read about the host clubs, accommodation details, why South Africa . . . and more.
The Challenge is an all-inclusive secondary schools and college tournament for players from plus handicaps to 20 handicaps. The objects of the Challenge are to be inclusive rather than exclusive giving young golfers between the ages of 13 and 18 to meet the challenge of playing on Championship Courses under strict Tournament rules.
Increasingly golf is becoming recognised as a leading sport in secondary schools and colleges. The disciplines of behavior, ethics and performance are characteristics of golf and schools recognise that participation in golf is a viable and valuable addition to the traditional team sports previously considered essential to youth development.
The World Schools Golf Challenge gives pupils the chance to develop their game, to meet and mix with young people from other parts of the world and to enjoy the educational opportunities and cultural discovery offered by the host region.
The tournament is a 4 round stroke play event with team and individual gross and net competitions. The teams of four players can be boys, girls or mixed. The 3 best scores per round count for the teams event. All players of all abilities within the Challenge rules can enjoy full participation as a part of a team and in individual competition.
This is the third World Schools Golf Challenge following successful tournaments in Christchurch (New Zealand) and Adelaide (Australia).
The two previous World Schools Golf Challenges saw excellent support from South African schools with teams from Westville Boys High School, Kearsney College, Hilton College [all from KwaZulu-Natal], Hoer Volkskoel Heidleberg (Gauteng) and Hoerskool Eldoraigne (Centurion, Gauteng).
It was made clear, during a meeting held with the participating schools in Adelaide, that the Australian and New Zealand schools were extremely keen for their student golfers to experience not only golf in the Republic but also the rich diversity of this vibrant nation.
The decision to hold our event in South Africa was therefore made for us. The organizers then took advice from various sources in South Africa and settled on the historic and world famous area of Stellenbosch as the venue. Stellenbosch is recognised as one of the leading educational centres in South Africa with outstanding schools and a University.
Stellenbosch is a strong sporting region with a great history in rugby and a number of outstanding golf courses, clubs and academies. The four clubs who have enthusiastically accepted the role of host clubs are recognised as some of the leading courses in the Republic.
Ernie Els has a strong presence in the region...."Stellenbosch is synonymous with good wine and it's no surprise that this famous university town is where Ernie Els has chosen to open his restaurant, The Big Easy, named after the man himself. Nestled among the quirky architecture on South Africa's second oldest road, the oak tree-lined Dorp Street, once the ‘wagon road to the Cape', La Gratitude is a beautiful, 16th century Cape Dutch building. Built by Dr. Meendt Borcherds it is possibly the best known building on Dorp Street due partly to its perfectly proportioned facade with its classical gable giving the building perfect proportions and elegance." From Ernie Els website ... could be worth a visit.
Four outstanding golf clubs have agreed to be hosts for the 2011 World Schools Golf Challenge. They are De Zalze Golf Club, Erinvale Golf Club, Devonvale Golf Club and Stellenbosch Golf Club.
De Zalze Golf Club hosted the World Amateur Team Championships (Eisenhower Trophy & Espirito Santos Trophy) in 2006 and in the same year co-hosted the South Africa Amateur Championship with Stellenbosch Golf Club-its near neighbours only a few minutes away. De Zalze offers a fine mix of parkland holes, its main defences being the water features on several of the holes. The oak-lined Blaauwklippen River winds its way through the golf estate and comes into play at various intervals. Renowned golf course architect, Peter Matkovich, designed the De Zalze Golf Course, making most of the stunning setting while placing a premium on accuracy. (www.dezalzegolf.com)
Erinvale Golf Club was designed by the legendary Gary Player and hosted the World Cup in 1996 and South African Airways Open in 2003 and 2004. Throughout the course there are majestic mountain backdrops, panoramic views of the surrounding hillsides planted with vine and sparkling views of the ocean from the higher vantage points. The experience and scenery will be cherished by the participants, in the World Schools Golf Challenge, as they play on this superb layout in the Winelands. (www.erinvalegolfclub.co.za)
Devonvale Golf Club Just 5 minutes outside the historic town of Stellenbosch, you will find Devonvale, a world class championship golf course, working wine farm and residential. A true jewel nestled amongst the Bottelary Valley hills - right in the heart of the Cape Winelands. (www.devonvale.co.za)
Stellenbosch Golf Club is the 4th oldest club in South Africa and comes with a proud history including hosting the South African Open and South African Masters.
To create a tournament "village" atmosphere we are encouraging all visiting teams to stay at Protea Stellenbosch hotel. This outstanding hotel has a good range of rooms at reasonable rates which include breakfast. The Protea overlooks the De Zalze course and is situated a very short drive from Stellenbosch town.
Accommodation may be booked through our partners in the management of the 3rd World Schools Golf Challenge, Brother Sports based in Cape Town. Brothers Sport are experienced sports booking agents having managed the Cape Town Under 18 Hockey Tournament held annually and involving schools from South Africa, Australia, England and the USA.
Contact Renette at Brothers Sport (Renette@brotherssport.co.za) or go to their dedicated World Schools Golf Challenge web (www.brotherssport.co.za) to check out all the details for accommodation, optional tours and transport requirements. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with Renette with any queries on accommodation and transport bookings.
International teams visiting South Africa will find it is exceptionally good value.
Check out the exchange rate of your currency with the South African Rand.
The cost of living in South Africa is extremely reasonable with meals, entertainment, attractions and drinks all bring extremely reasonably priced.
Full details on the cost of entry per team, the players and supporters packages are available on the website here at www.schoolsgolf.com
An online entry form is available to be downloaded or to be completed online and returned at your convenience.
Entry is limited to 80 teams and as we had 64 at Adelaide and the reputation of the Challenge is growing and interest is spreading it may pay to get your entry in as soon as possible. Entries will be definitely limited to 80 teams and it will be a case of 1st teams entered being the teams that will take part.
For more details or any queries please do not hesitate to be in touch with Tournament Director:
Roger Carroll
World Schools Golf Challenge
Level 1, 250 Mahurangi East Rd
PO Box 78, Snells Beach 0942, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 9 425 5294
Facsimile: +64 9 425 6956
Email: roger@schoolsgolf.com
Website: www.schoolsgolf.com