The latest in our series of introducing you to the people behind the golf clubs in South Africa. This month we stop off at Southbroom Golf Club.
Derek, you and Sheena have been at Southbroom for ages. Provide a brief summary of your life in golf before you settled on the KZN South Coast.
Sheena and I have been at Southbroom for exactly 25 years. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here and we have worked very hard to make it a good business. Before Southbroom I played on Tour for 14 years. I had a little bit of success, a decent career. I won the TPC in Canada, won seven Sunshine Tour titles and I finished second behind Ernie Els at the 1992 SA Open. I also had a good amateur career and represented South Africa on five occasions. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.
How did you know it was time to pack in the Tour life?
I thoroughly enjoyed playing on Tour, but after my daughter was born in February 1996, within a month I realised I no longer wanted to be doing it. Parenting is a big responsibility and I realised I needed more stability and more guarantees. Within a year of becoming a father I stopped playing and was at Southbroom. I completed my PGA qualification in 1999, when I was already in my late-thirties. It was a great thing to do and I’m very glad I did it, as the PGA is a wonderful organisation.
You’re known as the short-game expert. What is the simplest piece of advice you can give our readers on how to improve this part of their game?
The short game has always been my speciality. It started when I was a kid; my brother – who would go on to become SA Amateur champion – was so good around the greens and we used to have competitions against each other all the time. I also learned a lot playing with David Suddards and watching the likes of Tony Johnstone and Gary Player. What’s great about the short game is you can teach someone and have an immediate impact. I’ve never seen anyone teach a person to hit it 50 metres further or suddenly hit the ball dead straight, but with the short game you can immediately fix mistakes and see results. My best tip is really simple. If you’re a right-handed golfer, make sure your weight moves on to your left side when chipping. It should start on your left and when you’re finished it should be even more on your left. The bad chippers I see stay on their back foot and lean back, almost as if they are trying to lift the ball.
What is the best time of year to pay Southbroom a visit?
The beautiful thing about Southbroom is you get great weather for 12 months of the year. In summer you can play before five in the morning and until about 7:30 in the evening. The nice thing about winter here is that it is still warm, with less wind. San Lameer and Wild Coast are close by, so this part of the world is such a good place for golf tours, especially in the winter months.
Is part of Southbroom’s charm the fact it is one of KZN’s off-the-beaten-track gems?
Yes, it is a little bit out of the way, so that is one of the charms. It’s amazing how many people I have met who have never even heard of Southbroom. But those who have played it love that it is a hidden gem. Of course, I’m trying to change the hidden part! So many people are blown away by this magic little golf course in the village. I’ve had plenty of people come to me after playing, saying they have shot their best score ever. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, it’s just more playable and a bit shorter than most courses.
What are some of the perks and challenges of working at Southbroom?
We are so lucky to be working here. The weather is fantastic all year round and we are right at the beach. I love running and there are loads of trails and mountain bike routes in the area. It’s also a very relaxed place to work; there is no stress. In terms of challenges, the hardest thing for me has been coaching youngsters while they are at school, but when they finish their schooling they often leave Southbroom to go to university and we don’t see them again. I wish I could find a way to keep them here so that they remain part of the club.
As club manager, how often do you get to play?
I’m involved in everything at the club and then I do a lot of coaching too, so I really don’t get the time to play. I think I played twice in January. I love playing with my members and would like to play at least once a week, but it’s not always possible.
How do you make sure visitors have a memorable experience at Southbroom?
It’s not just about the visitor. The whole trick is to make visitors and members feel special. For Sheena and I, it is simple – just be kind. We are welcoming and we take an interest in their golf on the day. We don’t set the course up tough with back tees and hidden flags, because we want them to enjoy themselves. And we want to chat to them afterwards to find out how their round went.
What is the club’s membership like?
Our membership has grown slightly since lockdown, which is great. It’s not easy to get more members down here – we rely quite a lot on people retiring and moving down to the coast. These days a lot of people are able to work from home, so we are hoping to get a few more younger members who have moved to the coast.
Running a club is very much a team effort. What would you say are your and Sheena’s strengths and weaknesses?
It absolutely is a team effort. It’s not just Sheena and myself, though. We are a great group of loyal, competent staff members. We are a very welcoming club where you will feel at home and Sheena really goes the extra mile. We have made the club the heart of Southbroom; if you need to know anything about the town, just come to the club and ask us.
By Brendan Barratt
– This Q&A first appeared in the March 2022 issue of Compleat Golfer magazine. Subscribe here!
