Welcome to the Fifth Edition of the Ascot Golf Newsletter.

This edition covers the following topics:

1) I’m back and then off again
2) Heard on the golf courses around the country
3) Barry writes a regular column
4) Highlighted Course
5) Familiarization trip
6) Cricket Tour to South Africa
7) March Madness still available
8) Vouchers for the coming season
9) Airlines starting to increase flights

1. I’m back and then off again    

I am back from a great trip down under to the Land of Oz. It really is a great country although the distance to travel anywhere concerned me. Perhaps I am just used to being able to get in my car and be across Cape Town in 30 minutes. It’s great to be back in the work mode now after getting over the jet lag and especially as the coming season is looking good for South Africa again.

I am only back in the office for a couple of weeks as I leave tomorrow down the Garden Route as I have been invited to play the new golf courses like Simola and Bushman Sands as well as get a look at the new developments at Oubaai and in George. There are also a lot of new accommodation establishments I will be looking at and negotiating with and so when I return will have some new product to offer all of you.

2. Heard on the golf courses around the country    

The Robert Mugabe price for economic investment prize must without doubt go to the Plettenberg Bay Municipality. In the third newsletter I spoke about how they had decided to sell off one of the few remaining undeveloped golf courses on the Cape’s Garden Route – Plettenberg Bay CC. Well after being taken too court by the members (which the municipality has to pay for) they have continued with their plan by advertising in the local newspapers for developers to buy the land.
before anything happens, which is of course great for all of us as one of the most attractive courses in the area will continue for at least the next season.

As mentioned above I am off to see Oubaai, Simola and Bushman Sands (as well as the regulars like the Links – still my favorite course – and Pezula) in the next week. Oubaai has given an official opening date of 1 December but by all reports it will not be ready at this time. Simola has 12 holes open for selected guests and I will be talking to them about getting tour groups through for nine holes as it is a fantastic setting which challenges Pezula. Bushman Sands is the one I am really excited about as it is a Gary Player design and is situated in a game reserve. As you all know we push the self-drive route down the garden Route and end with the game experience in the Eastern Cape and when this golf course is complete I can think of nothing better than our international guests finishing their African holiday with a game of golf at Bushman Sands surrounded by warthog, antelope, zebra and giraffe.

3. Barry’s regular column    

HAS ANYBODY NEWS ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE DOCTOR?
Ascot believes that the DOCTOR may be somewhere in Africa , so Barry has gone to search the jungles of Chobe in Botswana, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Lusaka and the remote South Luangwa Game Reserve in Zambia, for traces and information of this illusive character.

Barry has taken his clubs with him to play on golf courses that very few overseas tourists have ever heard of, let alone played on, in and around these interesting and vibrant African experiences, properties and towns

Read about Barry’s expedition in search of THE DOCTOR and golf in the rough and rugged African jungle in next months Ascot newsletter

4. Highlighted golf course.    

This is a new feature which we are introducing where we have asked local members of popular clubs to give us a write up on their course. This is straight from their mouths and this month it is Ann and Allan Booth of Clovelly Golf Course situated in Cape Town.

When one thinks of Clovelly Golf Club, one thinks of peace, quiet and natural beauty. Situated between the Kalk Bay mountain range and the Silvermine River, the course offers not only a great golfing challenge but also a variety of flora and fauna. An additional bonus is the fact that there is no traffic noise!

Dave Odendal’s well stocked Pro-shop will meet the needs of the most discerning golfer but here you may also purchase fish food for the enormous gold, silver and black Koi found in the ponds on the 11th and 15th holes. Be sure to buy your golf balls at Dave’s as the penalty for purchasing then from anyone on the course is expulsion from the Club.

Guided by erstwhile ‘Manager of the Year’ Jeremy Lindquist and a dynamic committee, the course is constantly undergoing a metamorphosis with the many improvements. Although short for the John Dalys of the world, its well manicured greens and tight fairways are testing even for low handicappers.

One can’t speak about Clovelly Country Club without mentioning Raymond Ackerman, head of the Pick and Pay supermarket group and President of the Club. This quiet gentleman is regarded by most as the backbone of Clovelly.

Drive carts and caddies, some of whom are scratch golfers, should be booked early to ensure availability. Peter the starter will give you friendly advice and probably remember you forever. The “Half –Way House” run by Mike and Lillian and serviced by efficient staff, provides a variety of quality hot and cold meals and snacks.
A rule of thumb on the greens, especially the 7th, 9th and 18th is that the ball always comes from the mountain.
On the pond adjacent to the 14th fairway, keep a lookout for the Red-knobbed Coot that nest there, or you may be lucky and see an African spoonbill sifting mud for crustaceans.

The 15th green is almost completely surrounded by water and banks of magnificent indigenous flora. The Cape Platana, a rare elongated water bound frog is to be found here. You will only appreciate all of this if your ball has not disappeared into the murky depths of this unforgiving hazard.

The 16th offers a grove of Poplars which lines the river and plays host to magnificent Paradise Flycatchers whose delicate nests are camouflaged with spider web silk and lichen. Beware of overshooting this par 3 green or you will be in the reeds and out of bounds.

All along the way, while you’re pondering your next birdie, don’t miss the myriad signs of the wild - porcupine quills, crab shells and owl pellets, not to mention the various animal droppings.
If you’re throwing your head back in despair at a missed eagle, you may be compensated by the sight of a real one soaring overhead or the resident Jackal Buzzard on the lookout for its next meal.

At the end of your game, relax with a drink on the terrace of the grand old Club House and enjoy the sea view across the valley or in the evening, a spectacular sunset. Yes, it is a golf course and a very special one at that. It is always a pleasure to play there.

Ann and I look forward to meeting you and your clients when you come and enjoy our great course.

Warmest regards

Allan Booth

5. Familiarization Trip    

Due to some unforeseen work commitments we have had two people cancel their participation in this years FAM trip. This means we have space is anyone is still interested in joining us from 4-12 September. There is a participation fee of R2000 but this is refunded against your next booking.

6. English Cricket in SA    

The English Cricket team invades our shores this summer to play a series of tests and one day games. This has meant that accommodation is very hard to come by. We saw this happening and have booked accommodation in almost every city where the team will be playing so as to ensure that we can offer your clients a bed even if it is not the exact hotel they wanted. To ensure that your clients do get a bed please encourage them to book early.

For those interested we are able to secure tickets for all the games so if you have clients that would like to book a golf package but take in a days cricket, then please let us know and we will quote accordingly.

7. March Madness    

WOW, March madness is what the pros have been looking for. Fancourt has definitely come to the party with us here and we have had an amazing response to the promotion. I have had to request a further allocation at Fancourt as the rooms we held where all sold out. I now have extra rooms so if you have a pro that can get together a group of 7 golfers, please give them the March Madness Special. If you have pros that cannot make March, let me know and I will see if I can extend the package to their desired dates. Unfortunately we cannot bring it forward into Feb or Jan.

8. Vouchers for the coming season    

As you all know we run a fantastic tour operating computer program called Travel Innovations in our office. The system is constantly being developed according to our needs and we are constantly looking at ways which we can improve by implementing the system.

One of the things we have looked at for the coming season is the vouchering. We currently hand the clients their vouchers at their arrival point where they are all explained. This has worked but we have discovered that a lot of these clients would rather have the vouchers before they arrive, for peace of mind.

Through the system we can now e-mail all the vouchers over to you on confirmation. You would then be able to put the vouchers (A4 sheets) on your own letterheads and give them to your clients prior to them departing. The vouchers would clearly state that the booking is made by Ascot Tours so that the hotels etc don’t get confused.

What I would like is an indication from you if you think this would suite your company or if you are happy to continue the way things are. We would go with the majority to ensure uniformity.

9. Airlines starting to increase flights    

Access to South Africa has always been a problem and it looks like it will be better for the coming season as Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines have both announced they will be flying directly into Cape Town. They have also increased their frequencies thus providing more seats. No is BA and SAA do the same, we will be in for a bumper season.

That’s all for this month and I look forward to the replies about the voucher system as well as any other comments you mighthave.

Yours in Golf

Scott Edkins and the Ascot Golf Team.