Compleat Golfer is into its second year as an official media partner to Els for Autism. GARY LEMKE spoke to a recent golf day winner about his experience.
Willem Loots couldn’t believe how immaculate the Pretoria Country Club course was when he drove through the gates to tee up at an Els for Autism golf day. It was the week after the Tshwane Open, and despite heavy rains over the region at the time, things were set up perfectly.
‘The greens were in especially great condition,’ Loots told Compleat Golfer, after he and his partner, Graeme Pienaar, had won the day to book a ticket to the final at Fancourt in November. Victory there would see the pair earn a ticket to play at the 2018 SA Open Pro-Am, where they could meet the legend himself, Ernie Els.
‘I’ve never met Ernie and obviously that would be a huge honour. My uncle [Wouter] has met him, though, and I think he might have played a round or two with him during their army days when Ernie was at Swartkops Air Force Base.’
Loots, a seven-handicapper, is a member at Centurion Country Club and a former pupil at Pretoria’s Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies), so Pretoria’s blue blood runs through his veins. Of the golf day itself, he heaped praise on his playing partner. ‘I think Graeme was playing off a 24-handicap, but he hit the ball nicely. I was actually a bit of a passenger at times and I was one-over on my handicap for the day.’
But perhaps Loots is being a bit too modest. He birdied the 1st hole, a 386m par four, the 10th, a 420m par four, and the 13th, a 409m par four.
‘Ja, there were those birdies – and the good thing is they were the stroke one, two and three on the card, so that gave us 12 points.’
Loots thoroughly enjoyed his day on the course with his ‘lekker fourball’. He added: ‘As I’ve said, the course [which featured as the April Compleat Golfer Course of the Month] was in immaculate condition, and I haven’t played on greens like those for a very long time. There was a great atmosphere on the day.’
But how did Loots become involved with an Els for Autism golf day?
‘Well, it’s the first time I’ve played in one. I’m friends with [pro] Hendrik Buhrmann and I saw something about the charity on Facebook. Hendrik put me in touch with Nico van Rensburg, who I called, and he managed to squeeze me into the field.
‘It’s a great cause. I’m in the business of liquor sponsorship, so I thought I could get involved by donating drinks like Red Square and Carlsberg, and helping to sponsor prizes, etc for the golf day.
‘I wanted to find a way of giving something back because these Els for Autism golf days help so many kids. They’re just a great experience and are so much fun.’
We were chatting on the eve of The Masters and Loots is a big follower of the tournament. He is also a fan of Rory McIlroy, who Els managed to get to play at the 2017 SA Open. It is hoped the Northern Irishman will also be at the 2018 showpiece, where he will look to improve on his runner-up spot behind Graeme Storm earlier this year.
Then it was time to go. Loots’ tee-off – this time at a corporate day at Centurion Country Club – was edging closer. As they say, another dull day in Africa where a bad day on the golf course beats a good day in the office!
– The first article appeared in the May issue of Compleat Golfer
