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GOLF
TEACHING PRO®
I
opened my eyes, startled. A better word would be petrified. It was
2:00 a.m. on a crisp winter evening in South Africa’s Addo National
Park. It’s an experience that is best described as bone-chilling.
 Not
five meters from my tent the resident King of the African Bush
roared again. I reached for my torch, flicked it on and looked
around my tented abode, thinking of an exit strategy. The big male
lion rubbed himself against my tent for the next thirty minutes
before wandering into the dark night.
The next day, after a delicious farm-style breakfast, I headed to
Bushman Sands for 18 holes on their Gary Player-designed golf track.
That evening, I took a boat cruise on a nearby dam, and then headed
back to my tented lodge for a fireside dinner. This, ladies and
gentleman, is my work!
A
warm greeting from sunny South Africa! It is my pleasure to be
contributing to Golf Teaching Pro magazine, and I look forward to
sharing the best our country has to offer with you on a regular
basis. South Africa is blessed with natural beauty and is famous for
Cape Town, the Kruger National Park, and, of course, Nelson Mandela!
Added to this, we have great weather (year round), sunny skies, warm
oceans and friendly people. World-class hotels, incredible safari
lodges and game reserves are to be found throughout the country. As
a tour operator serving the international market, I have seen that
our golf courses are less well-known than our other, more famous
attractions. It is my aim to highlight the country’s top golf
destinations and best-kept secrets to you over the months to come.
As I write this article, Sun City (the country’s main golf
destination) is preparing to host the Nedbank Golf Challenge –
previously referred to as The Million Dollar Challenge. It is being
marketed as ‘Africa’s Major’ and the field includes Hunter Mahan,
Henrik Stenson, Nick Watney, and Tim Clark. At the same time, the
country is gripped with FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup fever.
 Golfing
tours can be tailor-made to suite different traveler’s pockets as
well as tastes, and South Africa is a good destination for the US
market, as one dollar tends to buy you 7-8 rands (South African
currency). Itineraries can include a Big 5 Safari mixed with a trip
to Cape Town, the Winelands, a cultural tour, and a great golf
track. The tented Lodge I mentioned above is Gorah Elephant Camp, my
favourite Safari destination – you can have a look at the website at
http://www.hunterhotels.com/gorahelephantcamp/ and Bushman Sands
can be viewed at
http://www.riverhotels.co.za/bushmans/. The boat cruise and golf
track can be viewed in the gallery link.
Please feel free to e-mail me on
ron.mackenzie@neoafrica.com.
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Copyright © 2011 United States Golf Teachers Federation, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of this article in any kind is strictly prohibited.
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