The Oldest Club in the Country Is Showing Off a New Look That Pays Tribute to the Pioneers of South African Golf. by Brendan Barratt
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GOLF MEMORABILIA A ROYAL TRIBUTE The oldest club in the country is showing off a new look that pays tribute to the pioneers of South African golf. By Brendan Barratt In 2016, US website Golf Advisor provided a ‘global’ list of 15 must-visit spots for golf memorabilia lovers. While the intent was honourable, it was far from a comprehensive register and, somewhat predictably, despite the sport’s European origins a few hundred years before the game made its way across the Atlantic, this collection of venues is disappointingly US-centric. Conspicuous by its absence among this list of museums, clubs, shops and even a pub – The Dunvegan in St Andrews – is arguably the greatest collection of golfing memorabilia of all, located at the British Golf Museum in St Andrews, Scotland. Another historically significant – and rather valuable – golfing collection omitted from the list can be found at the oldest golf club in England, London’s Royal Blackheath. The club recently sold the most famous painting from its collection for the equivalent of R13-million in order to purchase the land on which the course is situated. Closer to home, Royal Cape Golf Club, in Cape Town, has launched its newly curated and refurbished collection of historical golfing memorabilia. The project, driven by former club captains Peter Sauerman and David Leslie, showcases the history of the country’s oldest golf club and its important role in the origins of the sport in South Africa. David Leslie and Peter Sauerman IMAGES: SUPPLIED/SEEAN/DOLLERY/HSM IMAGES SUPPLIED/SEEAN/DOLLERY/HSM IMAGES: 80 compleatgolfer.com compleatgolfer.com 81 GOLF MEMORABILIA ‘Golf is where it is because of what happened in the past. The contributions made by our founding fathers in 1885 need to be recognised and understood’ – Peter Sauerman ‘What we have done here is cement the history of the club,’ said Leslie. ‘We felt that not only is it worth showing, but also that history in the modern world can get lost so easily. Having done this preserves it for future generations.’ The display takes you into the Royal Cape clubhouse. From the members bar through the long gallery, the big room, spike bar and halfway house, visitors are able to soak up the history of the club, with paintings and portraits of the Royal Cape founding fathers, photographs of trophy- winning teams and pictures donated to the club for its centenary celebrations adorning every available wall. Amid all this, in the entrance lobby to the bar and all along the gallery, are Sauerman, considered South Africa’s amateur and professional championships foremost golfing historian, revelled in the hosted by Royal Cape, dating back to 1903, opportunity to bring his passion to the club as well as recognition of club members who where he has been a member since 1963. have won these events at other courses. ‘It’s massively rewarding to have this The list of champions at Royal Cape is on display at my home club,’ he said, ‘but impressive: from George Fotheringham, I must say that I’ve also had enormous Jock Brews and Clarence Olander, who won fun collecting all this memorabilia. both the Open and the Amateur at Royal ‘Golf today is where it is because of what Cape in 1936, through to Gary Player, Harold happened in the past. The contributions Henning, Sally Little and Ernie Els. made by our founding fathers in 1885 The display also provides a throwback need to be recognised and understood. to the days of exhibition golf – it was at The way to do that is to put it on display Royal Cape in 1947 where Bobby Locke for everyone to see.’ played the final 36 holes of his 72-hole The pictorial display leads you down exhibition against Sam Snead, eventually the entrance passage towards the putting winning 1 up in the Cape Town leg of the green and highlights the history of the club series. In another high-profile match at through four phases, from its beginning Royal Cape, Gary Player shot 69 to defeat in 1885 at Waterloo Green in the Wynberg Jack Nicklaus by six shots in 1966. military camp, through its second home The more recent winners of the Vodacom on the Rondebosch Common and on to Players and Cape Town Open include Mark its current location in Ottery in 1906. The McNulty, Trevor Immelman, Jaco Ahlers, club was given a Royal Charter in 1910. Jacques Kruyswijk and Brandon Stone, On the other side of the passage is and all the tournament winners feature IMAGES: SUPPLIED IMAGES: a fascinating display of all the national in the men’s locker room. compleatgolfer.com 83 GOLF MEMORABILIA ‘Royal Cape has a long, storied history and I am delighted we are able to put it all on display for visitors to see’ – David Leslie displays of old golf clubs, most of which occasion that sparked his passion for Cape will add to its collection as are hickory-shafted and date back many golfing history and memorabilia. more memorabilia is unearthed. years. Of particular interest is the evolution ‘I became captain of Royal Cape in 1977 ‘We are thrilled with the outcome,’ from hickory to steel-shafted clubs, which and this was the time when things started said Leslie, ‘but we are treating it as occurred around 1929. building up towards the Royal Centenary an ongoing project. It certainly won’t During World War II, the club played of 1985,’ he said. ‘I started fiddling around be a static collection. host to the Royal Navy and plaques from with what was at the club, including the ‘We have a collection here that is the naval vessels calling in at Simonstown, archives and the photographs, and I started unique in a South African context. presented as a show of thanks, make a to realise what this meant for Royal Cape In some ways it has helped create a prominent display along the wall above and potentially for the country, being the unique selling proposition for Royal the bar counter. oldest club in South Africa. Cape. We have a long, storied history Other display cabinets house large ‘I realised that the club needed some and I am delighted we are able to put and varied collections, including many golfing memorabilia – old clubs and it all on display for visitors to see.’ gifts presented to the club by other Royal anything else that would make a good When General Sir Henry Torrens, clubs around the world, particularly for display. Around that time I discovered, the commanding officer of the British the club’s centenary in 1985. Previously to my wife’s horror, these overseas forces at the Cape, attempted to scratch some of the cabinets housed the club’s auctions, where I would bid for items his golfing itch by forming the Cape priceless collection of silver trophies but and occasionally get them. Golf Club in 1885, he could hardly have many of these have, sadly, been stolen. ‘I also scoured the countryside for any imagined how the game would have The trophies have been replaced, but old golfing memorabilia – spoons, trophies, evolved over the next century and a half. are no longer on display. scorecards, anything like that. I still do it, Now, thanks to the efforts of Sauerman, Sauerman, unsurprisingly, played a because I’m a compulsive collector.’ Leslie and Royal Cape Golf Club, future major role in the centenary celebrations and With Sauerman still at his bargaining generations need not try to imagine it was the buildup towards this significant best, there is every chance that Royal it either. IMAGES: SUPPLIED IMAGES: 84 compleatgolfer.com.