Natal | The history of non-european golf region by region: Natal

Report ex SA Golf January 1962

The 1961 Championship got off to a bad start when, on the very eve of the meeting, through an unfortunate misunderstanding, the Club was ordered by the Government not to stage it. The application to do so had been turned down. There was all-round satisfaction when, later, largely owing to the mediation of Mr. Harry Lewis, M.P., Mr. J. L. Rice and Mr. Louis Nelson, president Natal (Indian) Golf Association, Mr. J. E. Toop, Umbogintwini Club chair­man, received a phone call at midnight which told him of the reversal of the ban.

It was a big task notifying distant competitors of the change. But 'twas done, and it meant that many competitors had to drive through the night in order to answer to the starter's call - and to play 36 holes in vile weather, too. You cannot but help admire such enthusiasm, whatever you might think of what led up to the necessity for such terrible hastle.

Right from the start of the interest taken in Non-European golf the members of the golf section of the Umbogintwini Club have been most sympathetic towards the movement, being firm believers in the old adage that "fair play is bonny play". They were the first to offer their course for the South African Non-European Champion­ship last year when it was known that the Association were looking for a Natal course. The privilege of being hosts finally resting with Kloof C.C. and Royal Durban. And after all the necessary formalities had been observed it was Umbogintwini that offered the Natal Non-Europeans the use of their course for their Natal Open, the offer being gratefully accepted.

Sewsunker Sewgolum (Papwa) won the championship in the proverbial "cake-walk" with 73 73 71 73 - 290, his nearest rival being P.L. Paul, 77 76 79 71 - 303. Par is 72, the two leaders being the only two to beat it with 71 apiece in the third and fourth rounds respectively. Papwa took the lead in the first round and held it with great ease. Other leading scores were J L Semenya 80 77 73 76 – 306, Caesar Skakane 76 80 74 79 – 309 and R T Singh 78 78 78 75 – 309. Leading amateur was Daddy Nair 83 79 78 81 – 321. The team event for the Juggernauth Trophy was won by R P Singh and P L Paul with 309 

The announcement was made that the Natal Non-European Championship scheduled for December 1962 would be held at Kloof Country Club, provided always that the necessary permission had been obtained. There was no non-white course that was anywhere near championship standard and the use of a ‘white’ course was important to the success of the event.

(Later: The scores of this championship are not on record. It is probably safe to assume that Papwa was the winner.)

The Springfield Golf Course, built by the Durban Municipality, had recently been opened and the first hole-in-one was scored by Kassie Pilay. “Competitions are abundantly supported.”

An exhibition match was arranged at Greyton Country Club with Papwa Sewgolum playing the better ball of Teddy Irwin, a former SA Amateur Champion, and D Roydon-Turner. At the end of the day Papwa was presented with a cheque by the captain of the club but for how much is not stated.

Mention has been made of the inauguration in September 1962 of the Mainstay Floating Trophy. Thanks to the Umkomaas Golf Club and the co-operation of the Ministry of Bantu Development, 61 Bantu competed for the Trophy for the second time, played as before as a 36-hole stroke play competition. The tournament was sponsored and organised by Henry Taylor & Ries Ltd. They put up all the prizes and trophies, laid on transport to the course and provided meals and refreshments during the day. Winner of the best gross was P Mhlongo (77 79 – 156) and the best net G Maduna (140 off 12 handicap).

The Maritzburg CC hosted the 1965 Natal Non_European Open and Amateur Championships and the result was a resounding 10-stroke win for Papwa Sewgolum to regain the title which he lost in 1964. The leading scores were:

Professionals:

Papwa Sewgolum 72 71 73 75 - 291

David Motati 76 76 74 75 - 301

Lawrence Buthelezi 75 74 79 78 - 306

R Rajdaw 79 72 76 80 - 307

Amateurs:

Reggie Naidoo 76 76 81 79 - 312

R Anooplal 80 76 80 78 - 314

D V Naidoo 88 77 83 78 - 326

R Inderjith 79 81 80 82 - 327

In the team of four inter-club event the winners were R Tiney (70), A Collin (85), P L Paul (77) and L Nelson (82) with a total of 314. The pairs was won by Papwa (143) and D L Solanki (156) for a total of 299. Papwa was awarded the K D Barnes Floating Trophy and a sponsored cash prize of R60 while D Motati received the Louis Nelson Trophy and an undisclosed cash prize. R Anooplal, the winner of the 1964 amateur title and second in 1965, was voted the most promising golfer. It was noted that Papwa would not be taking part in the SA Non-European Open at Bloemfontein early in the New Year because he would be playing on the South African circuit. This is exactly what he did.

The 1968 Natal Non-European Open and Amateur Championships were played over the Christmas holidays at the Pietermaritzburg Country Club. Papwa Sewgolum, winner in 1967, was in brilliant form and romped home to retain his title by eight shots. Runner-up was R Rajdaw. Records tumbled when first Papwa set a course record with a 70 and then Rajdaw lowered this to 69. Reggie Naidoo, holder of the Natal Amateur title, came third. Leading scores were:

Professionals:

S Papwa Sewgolum 70 71 73 74 - 288

R Rajdaw 69 80 72 75 - 296

Reggie Naidoo (Am) 78 77 72 76 - 303

L P Polagadu 74 80 70 80 - 304

P Mhlongo 80 74 72 79 - 305

D Motati 79 78 71 78 - 306

Amateurs:

Reggie Naidoo 78 77 72 76 - 303

D V Naidoo 77 83 73 75 - 308

R Anooplal 317

V S Naidoo 326

In the Natal team event D Solanki (159) and Papwa (144) beat Reggie Naidoo (155) and M V Naidoo (150) by two strokes.

Note! There is some uncertainty as to whether or not these results are for the December 1966 championships. The clue is that the Open and Amateur titles in 1965 were won by Sewgolum and R Naidoo. In the report in the Natal Witness on the above events, these two are both described as being holders of the titles. That being so, we can only assume that these results are for 1966.

The Natal Non-European Open and Amateur Championships were again played at the Maritzburg Country Club in December 1968 and the Open title was retained by Papwa Sewgolum with scores of 71 76 69 70 – 286. He played brilliant golf over the last two rounds to win by 13 shots from J Ranjith. Papwa received the KD Barnes Trophy plus prize money of R70 and Ranjith the Louis Nelson Trophy and R50 in prize money. Jack Kiston won the Amateur title. Leading scores were:

Professionals:

S Papwa Sewgolum 71 76 69 70 - 286

J Ranjith 74 72 74 79 - 299

M V Naidoo 76 75 75 76 - 302

V Tshabalala 80 75 69 78 - 302

D Motati 72 75 78 78 - 303

A Collin 70 77 79 78 - 304

Amateurs:

J Kiston 80 78 84 82 - 324

Prem Singh 84 76 88 80 - 328

P H Baijnath 78 85 81 85 - 329

A Collin (147) and J Ranjith (146) won the pairs event whie the team of four was won by D L Solanki (80), Papwa (71), A Collin (70) and L Buthelezi (80).

New Course at Umlazi

The new Umlazi Golf Club held its inaugural tournament recently. This toumament which was sponsored by the South African Breweries and Henry Tayler & Ries Ltd. jointly, and the Carling Mainstay Tournament, attracted an entry of 75 Bantu, from many parts of Natal. The winner of the best gross trophy was P. Mhlongo, with a score of 80 for the eighteen holes. The best net winner was O. Ngweba with a score of 68. Ngweba played off 13. This new golf course is the very first championship course for Bantu in South Africa; and all credit to the Govemment Bantu Affairs Department for not only have they provided a magnificent setting for the course at Umlazi, near Durban, but they employed Mr. Robert Grimsdell to design it.

A golf course without a “l9th hole" is not much cop, and a very fine clubhouse, which stands on a commanding hill with splendid views of the course and the Indian Ocean, has been built.

ABOVE: Former soccer Springbok Mr. R. Gibson, present captain of the Huletrts Country Club, was the guest of the Bantu Affairs Commissioner, Mn A. Noble, at the recent opening of the golf course for Bantu at Umlazi. Mr. Gibson is seen here with best gross winner P. Mhlongo.

BELOW: The newly opened course for Bantu at Umlazi was the venue for a very sucessful tournament recently. The winner (best gross) was P. Mhlongo (left while the prize for the best net went to O. Hlengwa. The prizes were presented by Mrs. Strydom, wife of Township Manager Mr. A. Strydom.