Daniel Bennett recently faced the prospect of shattering multiple South African records and tying the world record for the lowest 72-hole total ever recorded at the 2023 Nomads SA Boys U19 Stroke Play Championship.
Bennett braced himself and went on to win the tournament. What followed next was a year that has made him one of the most talked about young aspiring golfers in the country.
For the 17-year-old, the memory remains vivid.
“I can still remember how hard my heart was beating with two holes left to play during the tournament I could barely breathe.
“This year has been a dream come true for me. The memories I have from that tournament will never go away.’’
Held at the Pecanwood Golf and Country Estate in April, this milestone forms part of a massive year that has seen him beat the best amateurs in the country, win several tournaments on the amateur circuit, break 36-year-old records, and still manage to have time to write matric exams.
“Juggling school and golf has been very tough,” he said. “Thankfully, my coach and I both live close to the golf course, so when I take a break from studying, I can get in a short practice session.
“I owe a big part of my achievements this year to my parents and my coaching team, they always keep me grounded and moving in the right direction.”
The popularity of golfing reality shows like Full Swing, and the constant presence of golfers on ‘most paid athletes’ lists has helped reignite a passion for the sport among young South Africans.
Over the year, Bennett has emerged as one of the country’s brightest talents and at his age he is already helping train the next generation of stars through golf clinics hosted by Vuma, South Africa’s largest fibre network operator.
“The Vuma Golf Clinics have been great,” he said. “I really enjoy helping the community and this gives me the opportunity to help other junior golfers hone their skills.
“The Vuma team does an outstanding job at looking for talented young people who don’t have the opportunity I’ve been given.”
Lianne Williams, marketing director at Vuma said, “We are always looking for interesting ways to help and empower young people to unlock and discover their hidden talents. Through the golf clinics, we have been able to do just that and, in the process, give young people from diverse backgrounds to live out their Ernie Els-sized dreams.”
If 2023 is anything to go by, the sky is the limit for Daniel Bennett, and it may not be long before the country is once again cheering for a South African Master’s champion.
