The Chief’s Charity Golf day started with perfect Summer skies and perfect green fairways at Zwartkop Golf Course and Services Golf Course. With the event taking place at 2 golf courses, this meant it could be a logistical nightmare. However, with the 1Mark app, it eased the flow at registration as it offers everything you need for a golf day, from invites, to registration and of course the main offering, online scoring.

The registration desk being handled by the very capable team of Lethu of SANDF and her crew, the entrants also had great fun taking selfies with Tijana whilst ensuring they could download the app. www.1markscoring.co.za

With 112 players to play on each course, the atmosphere was electric as it always is, when what you are playing for represents a meaningful initiative such as the Chief’s Education Trust. This Trust has been growing in momentum since 2013 and can only soar as the beneficiaries are the children of men and women who have died in serving our country, South Africa.

This is serving at the highest level and as citizens we must do the right thing…. engage, contribute and reach out to these innocent victims, who many of have become orphans.  I have first-hand experienced General Shoke’s passion and pleasure in what he initiated 4 years ago. When we briefly interviewed him on the putting greens before teeing off, he reiterated that education is a right and we need to ensure these kids are at school. The presence of corporate South Africa across the greens in branding and flags gently blowing in the breeze further substantiated the Chief’s insight.

Tee off time as I have previously experienced at a SANDF Golf Day is taken literally with a shot gun start as the cannon is triggered and a noise screeching into the sky, with glasses quivering on the table, smoke hissing amidst the trees, signifying the GAME has begun!

The Chief tees off and the rest of the field busily go about their 18 holes in anticipation of prize giving and what they will contend for.

At Halfway House we managed to interview a few players to understand their take on supporting the Education Trust. The sentiment expressed was of gratitude and absolute agreement that we need to do more in educating our youth as they are indeed our future leaders. The fact that they were guests to the General at this event was an honour as a few of them have been loyal supports since inception of the Trust.

The Prize-giving reflected these sentiments as R1.4 million was raised in auction and pledges.

NEAREST TO THE PIN SERVICES GC

Hole No 6:  Smash Sipamla

Hole No 8: Nico Xolo

Hole No11: Moe Shaik

Jole No 15: Makhula Ledwaba

NEAREST TO THE PIN ZWARTKOP GC

Hole No 3: Nofoane

Hole No 7: Rudi Ludick

Hole No15: Hugh Peterssen

Hole No17: Sobantu Sibandze

The Chief concluded the event by thanking all the sponsors and participants ‘…. this is a symbolic testimony of UBUNTU” General Shoke.