The GN Junior Girls Open tournament took place at Zwartkop Country Club on Sunday, 22 January 2012.  The winner was Carrie Park (142), runner-up Samantha Barber (146) with Magda Kruger (147) in 3rd place.  Best net winner was Jhanelle Strydom (135), runner-up nett Natasha Carlsson and 3rd nett winner Kelly Erasmus.  The winner of the B division was Cara Ford.  Well done to all the girls!

From left: Dot van Ryneveld (GN vice-president), Carrie Park, Karin Olivant (Vice-President Women’s Golf SA)

GN SENIOR STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - WATERKLOOF GC, 14 -15 January
The GN Senior Open and Closed tournament was held at Waterkloof Golf Club, 14-15 January 2012. The winner of the Open tournament was Gavin van Aswegen (146), with runner-up Philip Viljoen (149), in 3rd place Laurence Franklin (150).  The winner of the Closed division was Philip Viljoen, runner-up Phillip Bierman (150).  The Super Senior winner was Tim Hewan (150). The best net winner in the Open was Mohapi Molaka (144), and best net in the Closed, Leon Scheepers (146). Freek Kruger scored his first hole-in-one.
Congratulations to all these players!

Photos
Results
Results 2

As the Festive Season is upon us, I find myself reflecting on the past year and on every golfer who has helped to shape our Union in a most significant way.  I wish to express my sincere appreciation for your confidence in and loyalty to the Executive of Gauteng North Golf Union during 2011.  I am deeply thankful for this as it is the goodwill of those we serve that forms the foundation of our success as a Union.  One of the real joys of the Festive Season is the opportunity to say “Thank you”!
I extend to you my best wishes for a happy and healthy festive season.  May God be with you this Christmas and may the New Year be filled with peace and prosperity.

Brandon Stone clinches the Freddy Tait Trophy
We are proud to report that Brandon Stone managed to claim the prestigious Freddy Tait Trophy as the leading amateur golfer in the SA Open Golf Championship that was played at Serengeti on 26 – 27 November. He managed to pip Jarred Harvey for the title with a very good 3 under par total, thereby placing the cherry on the cake of a very successful year in which he won 5 tournaments, including the SA Amateur Stroke Play and Match Play titles, and finishing off as the number 1 ranked amateur in the country.
Brandon is unfortunately leaving Gauteng North by accepting a scholarship to go and study in the USA. We wish him well in all his future endeavours, and we are convinced that he will continue being as successful in his career as he had been as a golfing son of Gauteng North. We would also like to thank his parents, Kevin and Desire, for nurturing this fine talent and affording us the pleasure of calling him one of our own.
 

Gauteng North Awards Dinner
The GNGU had its annual Awards Dinner on the 16th of November at The Els Club Copperleaf. The purpose of this prestigious event is to give final recognition to all winners of tournaments hosted by the GNGU during the year, as well as to our respective Premier Interprovincial sides. The evening was a great success, and it was made special by the fact that we could honour two special groups of players; the first being our Ladies Interprovincial side (photo on right) who managed to clinch that title for a consecutive 5th year, indeed a remarkable feat; and secondly the fact that we can boast with the fact that this Union has 5 players who had acquired their National Colours this year, being,  Hendre Celliers, Coenie Bester, Brandon Stone, Henriette Frylinck, and  Kim Williams. (photo on left, from left to right)

Delegates Meeting Amandelbult
As is customary, the GNGU Executive meets with the delegates from its member clubs on a monthly basis, and these meetings are hosted by clubs on a rotational basis. It is however impractical for the delegates to meet at our two most remote clubs, being Thabazimbi and Amandelbult. It was therefore decided a number of years ago that we would visit those 2 clubs, by having them alternating in hosting the last Delegates Meeting of the year. This meeting would always be scheduled for a Saturday, and the Union will supply a bus to transport the Delegates to and fro. The club’s hospitality is then enjoyed by it organising a game of golf with the Delegates and their members, after which the final Meeting of the year takes place. The Delegates then hop on the bus and return back to Pretoria.
This year’s meeting was hosted by Amandelbult GC on the 19th of November, and as expected it was a superb outing. The course is in exceptional condition and a pleasure to play; indeed a worthwhile excursion for anyone finding him/herself in that vicinity. Thank you Amandelbult and all the Delegates who saw their way open to join us on this special trip. We are looking forward  to the beautiful Thabazimbi GC next year.