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NEWSLETTER #6 June 2017

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NEWSLETTER #6 June 2017 Tel: 013 492 0106 Fax: 086 710 8009 Email: [email protected] NEWSLETTER #6 June 2017 Dearest Member, Winter is now here in full swing, but we already pass the winter solstice. In order to survive winter, take enough vitamin C, keep warm and play golf. 1. IMPORTANT DATES We also wish to remind members of the following important dates: July 22nd Sanlam Cancer July 15th Tusk Challenge July 29th Monthly Medal August 5th Foursomes August 12th Tusk Challenge August 26th Monthly Medal September 25th Founder’s Day 2. CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to Morris & Nadine Meintjes with the birth of their second child. John Nicolaas was born on June 22th and everything is well with mother and child. Directors: Postnet Suite 1234 45 Silwer Avenue The Golf Club E van Wyk TRP(SA) Private Bag X7279 Bankenveld Bankenveld (Pty) Ltd M van Wyk CA(SA) W itbank 103 5 eMalahleni (Witbank) Reg. No: 2007/006934/07 3. DIE OOG - GOLF WEEKEND We plan a golf trip for 12 golfers and their families to Limpopo during weekend of August 25th to 27th. Currently there are 9 spots open for golfers, because our host and his guests form part of the three 4-balls. We will play as follow: Friday 25th: Coro Creek Saturday, 26th: Potgietersrust Golf Club Sunday, 27th: Euphoria We have reserved accommodation at Die Oog. All meals are self- catering, but on Friday & Saturday we will have a camp fire and bring-&- braai. Lunch on Sunday afternoon will at Euphoria Golf Club. The tariffs for the weekend (sleep Friday & Saturday nights) are as follows: Safari Camp (No TV) 4 -bed Safari Unit 1 Bedroom with en- R1030 5 -bed Safari Unit suite bathroom R1112.50 2 Bedrooms with en- 6 -bed Safari Unit R1200 suite bathroom Camping Standard Camping with R880 electricity 6 persons Luxury Camping with private (max 2 vehicles) ablution & under cover braai R990 Players must book with Lindiwe at the Pro-Shop on a first-payment-first- serve basis. Please give full details of the players and their family members when the accommodation is booked. We need to finalise the booking and confirm the accommodation by the end of July. 4. BIRDS OF A FEATHER .... Our feature local bird of the month, the mountain wheatear or mountain chat (Myrmecocichla monticola) (afrikaans: bergwagter) is a small insectivorous passerine bird that is endemic to southwestern Africa This non-migratory wheatear is resident in mountainous and rocky habitats in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and southernmost Angola. Mountain wheatear is 18–20cm long, and like other wheatears, it has a distinctive tail pattern, with a white rump and outer tail feathers. Its legs and pointed bill are black. The male is very variable in plumage, although the tail pattern and a white shoulder patch are always present. A white and black bird. The body plumage varies from pale grey to almost black, and it may or may not have a white crown to the head. The female is entirely dark brown apart from the white rump and outer tail. The mountain wheatear's song is a clear melodic whistle interspersed with harsh chatters. It is monogamous and nests on the ground amongst rocks, laying 2-4 white eggs. It eats insects and berries. Along with other chats, this species was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but based on studies published in 2004 and 2010, the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae is now preferred. The mountain wheatear was formerly placed in the genus Oenanthe. Molecular phylogenetic studies published in 2010 and 2012 found that the species was not closely related to the other members of Oenanthe and instead was genetically similar to the chats in the genus. 5. GARDENING ON THE COURSE It is the time of the year that residents and gardeners prepare for spring. Very often plantable cutlings and excess plants are thrown away. We call on all Bankenveld residents and club members to donate whatever excess perennials they have to the club to be plant on the course. Please contact Christo at the Pro-Shop to collect it. Plants in bloom, donated by Chris van Rensburg in 2016. 6. EDWIN’S TIP OF THE MONTH: THE LOB SHOT I need to get the ball up in the air, so again I need a descending blow into the ball. That will ensure a good strike as well as backspin. I keep my weight on the left foot, but I allow the top part of my body to lean back to help add some loft to the club-face. This shot is played with a huge amount of loft on the club, which means the ball will pop up into the air and not move forward very far. Because of that, I need a much longer backswing than for a chip shot. It is important to make this longer backswing and then commit to the through- swing with a smooth acceleration, as any deceleration could lead to a thinned or fat shot. The follow through needs to be at least as long as the backswing, if not longer, to ensure that there is no quitting on the shot. Again, as I hit the shot I allow my body to turn through and face the target so my arms can swing through unhindered. 7. LEAGUE NEWS The Highveld Golf Association’s Auma Handicap Leagues are now its final phases. Bankenveld Ou Toppies won their semi-final match against Graceland at Kriel. They will play in the final against Standerton at Graceland on July 8th. Bankenveld Coffin Dodgers will play their next match against Ermelo away on July 1st. 8. GREEN FEES DURING WINTER Please take note during winter, from June 1st to August 31st, there is a 25% discount on playing (green) fees. 9. NEW MEMBERS We wish to welcome Jan Swanepoel as a new member to the Club and wish him an enjoyable golfing experience and social interaction here. 10. COURSE MATTERS Christo and his team are busy to convert a third sand bunker into grass bunkers, namely at hole #3. This bunker is very seldom in play, yet it still requires maintenance. To further improve the playability of the course, we have decided to lift and level the floors of some of the very deep bunkers. The greenside bunker at hole #2, will be done as an experiment. Once it is finished, we would like your comments and proposals. 11. CLUB COMPETITION RESULTS The results of the Young & Old that took place on June 16th are as follows: Betterball 1st Place Ryan Stenzel 45 Gerhard Stenzel 2nd Place Werner de Beer 43 Adriaan de Beer 3rd Place Werner Gous 42 Christoff Muller The Monthly Medal held on Saturday, June 24th. The results were as follows: Gross Winner Dejoné Stemmett 86c/o Nett Winner Carl Manser 73 Winner Thandeka Hlatshwayo 78 Division A Runner Up Damian Stenzel 83 Winner Jose da Santa Dinis 82 Division B Runner Up Gerhard Stenzel 83 Third Place Johan Stemmett 86 Winner Duncan Cullen 30 Division C Runner Up Allan Farhan 28 Third Bokkie Nel 23 Hole 5 & 14 Jose da Santa Dinis Nearest to pin Hole 8 & 17 Duncan Cullen The lucky draw took place during the prize-giving. Cameron Mackenzie was our lucky draw winner, but he was unfortunately not present. The lucky draw for July will take place at prize-giving on July 29th, and the amount to be won will be R 1 000-00. Regards, Eben van Wyk 083 275 4753 E-mail: [email protected] P.O. Box 51074, Bankenveld, 1035 .
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