The Erinvale Gentlemans

Golfing Society

2017

As usual, our tour this year proved to be a tremendous success. This success was all to do with the organisational attributes of Henk and Ine Van de Tak. Thank you both for doing such a tremendous job !!!! 38 of us stayed at the Premier Hotel which proved to be a gem.

Taking part in the golf were 20 males and 13 females. Our first competition was at Knysna Golf Club. A Better Ball Stableford was played in wonderful weather.
In Third Place came Pam and Brian Stuart with 41 points.
Second place was Barbara and John Brian with 43 points.
The Winners were Hardi Bosler and Colin Stockdale with 44 points.

The second day Competition took place at Simola Golf course. The weather was hot , but the course being very brown and dry made it very difficult, the bunkers coming into play more often than anyone would have liked.
The Ladies played a Betterball Stableford.
Third place was Carol Foggo and Jan Hill with 39 points.
Second place was Valerie Thirkettle and Ria Houben with 41 points.
The Winners were Barbara Brian and Ria Houben came in with 44 points. Ria was the Swinger in the competition.

The Men played Individual Stableford.
Third place was Adrian Salmon with 34 points.
Second place was Martin Wickens with 35 Points.
The Winner was Brian Stuart on 36 points.

The Third day saw us at Pezula on a cold and windy day. The Competition was an Alliance Waltz.
Third place was Kai von Garnier, Carole Campbell Young, John Brian and Gisela Burg with 72 points.
Second on count out came Barbara Brian, Keith Downes, Colin Stockdale and Brian Stuart on 77 points.
The winners were Brian Stuart, Ria Houben, Paul Hill and Linda Salmon with 77 points. Brian Stuart was the Swinger.

Graham decided to return back to the earlier method of choosing our Tour Champion, this being the best player over the 3 days.
The Leading Lady over the 3 days was Barbara Brian.

OUR TOUR CHAMPION FOR 2017, WAS :- BRIAN STUART    WELL DONE BRIAN !!!

This report cannot end without mentioning the Restaurents that we were truly honoured to eat at !!! They were all fantastic and did us poor geriatrics proud !!!

WHERE DO WE GO 2018 ??????

2016

The 2016 tour to Walker Bay was again well organised by Henk and Ine van der Tak in their own superb manner. Forty four people went on tour with thirty eight playing golf.

We started at Arabella on the Monday morning, playing an Alliance. Fortunately the wind was not too strong and all enjoyed the course. The winners were Bert Ibertson, Kai von Garnier, Hugh Arthur and Maureen Mason (ghost).

Most of us were staying at the Misty Waves Hotel. We had dinner there on the Monday evening preceded by antipastiera.

On Tuesday morning, with overcast and slightly cold weather, we played eighteen holes at Hermanus Golf Club. The men competed for the Tour Champion trophy and the ladies played a better ball stableford. Hardi Bösler on 44 points won the Trophy and Maureen Mason and Sally Perry won the Ladies competition. Dinner was at the Lemon Butta restaurant. At the dinner, Henk presented Alan and Adrian with "shirts" to wear the following evening (both had worn the white Walker Bay shirts before the tour).

Wednesday was a better day and we played a mixed Texas Scramble, which was enjoyed by all. The winners were Liz Blaiklock, Cherry McKenzie, John Brian and Martin Wickens. We had dinner at the La Pentola restaurant. Henk and Ine presented the tour prizes to the "lucky" winners. Adrian and Alan created much mirth with their shirts and "accessories".

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2015

The 2015 tour to the Outeniqua district was again brilliantly organised by Henk van der Tak. 39 golfers played with Rudi Schats taking care of the non-golfing ladies. Once again, Kevin and Linda Engelsman joined the Tour.

Thirty nine participants attended the EGGS tour to Knysna & George for 4 nights. Thirty two golfers took part on the tour which included golf played at the George Golf Club, Simola GC in Knysna and the Oubaai Golf Club outside George.

Rudi Schats chaperoned the six non playing ladies with visits to sights around George & Knysna.

The George Golf Club was the first course to be played and as usual was in excellent condition.> The layout being one of the best in South Africa. American Scramble was the format with 13 ladies joining 19 EGGS golfers.

A very pleasant dinner was> held at La Campannina Restaurant later that evening.

The next day was an early start from the Protea King George Hotel with a bus trip to the Simola Golf Club outside Knysna. The Jack Nicklaus layout was quite a challenge for all golfers with numerous bunkers on every hole.

The EGGS Tour Individual Stableford Championship was held and won by Sean Mason with an excellent score of 38 Stableford points.
After a return trip to George a dinner was held at the Rose Restaurant with the local pianist contributing to a most enjoyable evening.

We awoke to rain on Thursday the 26th and the morning drive to Oubaai showed just why George is CAW (cold & wet) or as the locals say cuddly & warm. Due to the rain no competition was held. Once there was sign of the weather clearing most members were able to play the course while others were content to play bridge and Jenga. As usual, despite the rain, Aura Schats was undeterred and played with the men in the cold and wet conditions.

That evening prize giving was held at the Old Town House restaurant which was an ideal venue as we had the small cosy restaurant all to ourselves. Much fun was had and one of the highlights was Bill Jack giving us a song and reading a poem dedicated to the EGGS tour. All the participants have to give a BIG THANKS to Ine & Henk van der Tak.

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2014

Again Henk van der Tak organised the 2014 South Peninsula Tour. A good time was had by all. Once again, Thanks Henk and Ine for your organisation. 31 golfers played with Rudi Schats taking care of the three non-playing ladies. We were particularly pleased to see Linda and Kevin Engelsman.

The tour was scheduled a little later this year and we dove to the Westlake Golf Club on the morning of March 31st. Having enjoyed good conditions at Westlake, we repaired to the Noordhoek Hotel for a welcoming drink and then onto the Red Herring Restaurant for dinner. We all agreed that the ambiance and the food were very good, but some peoples' palettes did not take to the Pimms served when we arrived!

Having slept well and eaten a good breakfast, the following morning we drove to Clovelly Golf Club for our second round. There was quite a wind and it was a bit chilly to say the least. Most of us enjoyed the round and we rearranged the tables in the bar to accommodate everyone. After returning to the hotel, we relaxed, then changed and went to the Foodbarn restaurant in the same complex as the hotel. Once again a good time was had by all. We appreciated the wine that Henk had provided! Then it was sleep time again, to be followed by a very early morning.

Wednesday morning dawned with a heavily overcast sky and some rain. Having had another very good breakfast and packed up the cars, we all proceeded to the Royal Cape Golf Club. It had been raining during the night and we were told that buggies would not be allowed on the course. Henk, with his usual organising ability, arranged for us to play at Royal Cape the following Wednesday. So after a cup of coffee, we drove back to Somerset West. That evening, we were supposed to have the Tour dinner at Chez Max. As it had been booked, we had dinner there and the prizes for the first two days were presented.

The following Wednesday, we all got to Royal Cape in time for our starting times, despite the Cape Town traffic. We all enjoyed the course, which was very different to the others we had played. Afterwards we had a light lunch and drinks, sitting outside the bar in the sunshine. Henk and Ine presented the final awards and after a couple more drinks, we headed back to Erinvale. Despite the weather interruptions, the tour was a great success and we look forward to the 2015 EGG's Tour.

Two of the Fourballs at WestlakeWhere did that go!


The Evening at the Red Herring


Cold at ClovellyDinner at the Food Barn


Bill doing his thingThe Head EGG thanking the Organisers, Henk & Ine


1st at ClovellyPrizegiving Dinner at Chez Max


2nd at Westlake1st at Westlake


2nd at ClovellyLucky Draw Winner Bottle of La Grande Josiane donated by Roy Pithey


Ladies 2nd at Royal CapeLadies 1st at Royal Cape


The Gathering at Royal CapeGentlemen 2nd at Royal Cape


Gentlemen 1st at Royal CapeThe Tour Champion, Sean Mason, receiving the Robert Ficken Trophy

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2013

Henk van der Tak organised the 2013 tour, which was enjoyed by all. Thanks Henk for a job extremely well done! 37 golfers played all three days, and Rudy Schats took three non-golfers to some very interesting places. Again, Linda and Kevin Engelsman joined us on tour.

On Sunday March 17th, we travelled from Erinvale to Plettenberg Bay with fourteen of us stopping for lunch at the Albertinia Hotel. Lunch was a seven course affair, enjoyed by all. On arriving in Plettenberg Bay, we booked into the Country Crescent Hotel, which was very comfortable and the owner and his staff made us very welcome. We had drinks and snacks by the pool before having dinner in the hotel restaurant.

On Monday, after a good breakfast, we played Plettenberg Bay golf course, followed by a few drinks. Dinner was at the Emily Moon Restaurant overlooking the Bitou river and watching the sunset. The menu was very good and the food poisoning that hit some of the people who had lunch there the day before did not reoccur.

Tuesday saw us playing the old Knysna course, which all enjoyed. Dinner was at the Nguni restaurant in the middle of Plettenberg Bay. There was some riotous behavior!!

The last day of the tour, Wednesday, took us to Goose Valley golf course for an individual stableford competition, which was to determine the Tour Champion. Scores were very mixed, but the winner was well above any competition, Roy Pithey with 40 points. That evening we had cocktails around the pool and were entertained by the wine maker from Bramon Wineries, who showed of the tree wines that Bramon produce. (The following day, six of us had lunch at the winery, which was very enjoyable.) Dinner and prize giving were held in the hotel restaurant, and a fairly hilarious time was had by all.

Sunset at the Emily MoonDinner at the Emily Moon

The Ibertson SwayHenk Showing His Horns

The Riotous Lot at NguniThe Well Behaved Lot at Nguni

Three Ladies at Goose ValleyAll of Us at the Crescent Country Hotel

The Head EGG congratulating Henk and IneWinners of the Knysna Alliance

The Tour Champion with the Robert Ficken TrophyThe Prize Giving Dinner

AnticipationThe Laying of the EGGJoy of a Job Well done!!
Kevin and LindaWhat a Swing!!
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2012

The 2012 tour was based in Knysna and well organised by Henk van der Tak. 39 people played golf, with five others led as usual by Rudy doing other things. It was great to see Linda and Kevin Engelsman again.

For those travelling from Somerset West, lunch on Sunday 25th March was organised at the Albertinia Hotel. All had a great time. We stayed at the luxurious Simola Hotel with each couple having a spacious three roomed apartment to themselves. The views over the lagoon and the mountains were superb. That evening we had sushi and some canapes in the Golf Club lounge.

The following day, Monday, we played the Simola course, with all its bunkers. The highlight belonged to Adrian Salmon who had a Hole in One on the 17th. Henk had organised several buses to take us all to the John Benn for a cruise and evening drinks on the Knysna lagoon. Afterwards we had dinner at the Cruise Café. Then back on the buses to the Simola Hotel.

On Tuesday, we drove to Pezula on the Knysna Heads. The weather was dry but overcast. The first hole nearly finished a lot of us! However we all came through although not all with flying colours. Dinner that night was at the Simola Hotel after drinks in the lounge.

Having had our third very good breakfast at the Hotel, we packed up and drove to Kingswood in George for our last game of golf. Again the weather was good to us, although fairly hot. After a refreshing drink, it was back to Erinvale for some of us, while others stayed another night or two on the Garden Route.

The Tour dinner was held on Monday, 2nd April, upstairs in the Clubhouse, and the prize winners were announced. Charles Scott won the Tour Trophy, with Heidi Haller being judged the Best Lady.

Adrian Salmon Smiling after his Hole In OneCharles Scott Winner of the Tour Trophy

Heidi Haller - Best Lady on TourThe Tour Group before embarking on the John Benn

EGGS Captain Kai at SimolaTour Organiser Henk at Simola

On board the John BennIn the Cruise Café

On the 1st tee at Pezula. Where did they get those hats?Charles Scott & Carol Foggo Winners Better Ball
Stableford at Simola

Carol Foggo & Cynthia Bösler Winners Ladies Better BallAdrian Salmon Winner of the Gentlemens' Individual
Stableford at PezulaStableford at Pezula

Charles, Kai, Ria (Ton was missing)Graham Burns - Longest Day!
Winners of the Alliance at Kingswood

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2011

The 2011 tour was based in Hermanus (hence the name "The Cape Whale Coast Tour"), and was organised by Henk van der Tak with some help from Head EGG, Charles Scott. 35 people played golf, with five others, including Bill McKenzie, who was sidelined with a bad back, with the tour party.

On Monday, 14th March, we drove through the Stellenbosch traffic to Pearl Valley. Having enjoyed the course, we then drove via the pass between Franschoek and Grabouw and on to Hermanus. We stayed at the Misty Waves Boutique Hotel with lovely views over the bay from the breakfast room. It was definately one of the better places that we have stayed in on tour. That night, we walked into Hermanus and had dinner at the Lemon Butta fish restaurant. The east coast soles were delicious.

On Tuesday, we played holes 10 to 27 at the Hermanus Golf Club. A good day was had by all on a well kept course. In the evening we went by mini-bus (four of them) to the La Vierge Winery (www.lavierge.co.za) and having tasted their wines, had a very good dinner prepared by their celebrity chef Shane Sauvage.

The following day, we left Misty Waves after breakfast and played at Arabella before returning home. The course was in excellent condition and fortunately the wind did not blow too hard. During our round, a huge fire started just to the west of the golf course. They closed the road into Kleinmont, causing Kai to look for a lift as Karen could not get through to Arabella to pick him up.

On the following Monday, the Tour Dinner was held upstairs at the Club House, and the prize winners announced. Martin Wickens won the Tour Trophy for the second time, with Paula Morgan being judged the Best Lady.

Click Here to see the full results of all the games played on tour.

Martin Wickens receiving the Tour TrophyPaula receiving the Tour Clock for Best Lady

John & Roy on the tee at Pearl ValleyWinners at Pearl Valley - Paula & Hugh

Winner at Hermanus - AllenWinners at Arabella - Kai, Robert, Shirley, Julian

Breakfast Room view at Misty WavesTheTour Group on the balcony at La Vierge

Dinner being enjoyed at the Lemon Butta

Dinner at La Vierge

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2010

The 2010 tour was based in George (in the Eden District) and was organised by Charles Scott. Fifty two people went on tour, forty one played golf, although Charles was suffering from a bad back and only played a few holes at Kingswood. We played at George, Kingswood and Pinnacle Point. All three courses had enough carts so no-one walked, just as well for the ageing EGGS!

On the way to George, we lunched at the Albertinia Hotel and stayed three nights at the Protea Hotel in George. On the second evening, we had an african supper at the Kingswood Golf club, complete with metal plates and spoons, very enjoyable and extremely different.

Clive Blaiklock won the Tour Trophy, played for at Kingswood. He scored an incredible 39 stableford points on a course he had not seen before. He was presented with an envelope (the Tour Trophy was missing) at a Tour Dinner held on the Friday after the tour.

Lunch at Albertinia

Drinks at the Protea Hotel Cherry, Liz and Marion won something

Charles presents the Tour Trophy to Champion Clive BlaiklockWell Done, Charles & Margaret

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2009

The 2009 tour was based near Citrusdal north of Cape Town on the N7 and was organised by Mike Kelly and Henk van der Tak. Thirty four people went on tour and we played at Porterville, Citursdal and de Hoek, in the grounds of the PPC cement factory near Picketberg. All three are nine hole courses.

We stayed at the Pickernierskloof Mountain Lodge and enjoyed the views north over the mountains.

The Tours Trophy was won jointly by Bert Ibertson and Jan Rossouw and the trophy was presented at the After Tour Dinner held on the Thursday night Chef's Voyage.

Before the start at Porterville

Getting the Pace of the Porterville Greens

The first tee at Citrusdal

Organiser Mike Kelly wondering who tees off next at Citrusdal

Head EGG, Dave McLeod presenting the Tour Trophy to Bert and Jan

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2008

The 2008 tour was based in the Breede River Valley and once again organised by Charles Scott. We stayed at the Avalon Springs Resort at Montagu. Fifty seven people went on tour, of whom forty one played golf. We played at Boschemeer, Robertson, and Worcester golf clubs. At Robertson, only nine holes were in use and the new clubhouse had still to be completed. We were nearly blown off the course at Worcester and several players did not complete the round.

The Tour Trophy was won by Dave McLeod and was presented at the After Tour Dinner held upstairs in the Clubhouse on the Wednesday evening.

Some EGGS relaxing after playing Robertson

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2007

The Overberg Tour took place in 2007 and was based in Caledon and was again organised by Charles Scott. We stayed at the Casino Hotel and played golf at Hermanus, Bredasdorp, and Arabella. Bredasdorp is a nine hole course and one of the best in South Africa. Forty nine people went on tour of whom 42 were golfers.

Robert Ficken had donated a beautiful marble egg to be used as the Tour Trophy. It was presented at the After Tour Dinner (the first to be held) at the Lourensford Restaurant. The winner was Martin Wickens, who also won a number of prizes, several as "that famous ghost"!

Martin holding the Tour Trophy with Robert Ficken in the background

Some of the diners at the After Tour Dinner

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2006

The Garden Route tour was based in Plettenberg Bay, where we stayed at the Castleton Apartments Complex. This was the second tour that Charles Scott organised. We played at Goose Valley, Simola and Plettenberg Bay. The views from Simola out over the Knysna Lagoon and the Heads were fabulous. Fifty nine people went on tour of whom forty eight played golf. Linda and Kevin Engelsman joined us for the tour and Gordon Watt introduced Brenda to us all.

After playing Simola, we went on board the John Benn Featherbed for supper and prizegiving. We cruised around the Knysna Lagoon for about two hours while we celebrated on the lower deck of the boat.

Some of us stayed in George after leaving Plettenberg Bay and played the Ernie Els course at Ou Baai. Unfortunately it rained and blew which made it unpleasant to say the least. A number of players did not finish the course.

Some of the Ladies and Gentlemen on the first tee at Simola

 

Knysna Heads viewed from Simola

Prizegiving on the John Benn Featherbed

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2005

The West Coast tour in 2005 took us to the Hoedjiesbaii Hotel in Saldanha. We played golf at Malmesbury, Vredenburg and the Langebaan Golf Estate. The tour was organised by Charles Scott and everything ran extremely well. We had dinner, one night, at the Boesmanland Plaaskombuis, which was great fun. It was very hot, particularly at Vredenburg. As a result, it was democratically decided to only play nine holes at Langebaan.

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2004

The George Tour saw us staying in George and playing Mossel Bay, George and Bramble Hill. The tour was organised by Bert Ibertson and Jimmy Smith.

The first evening we has a braai at the hotel, the second evening we went to a restaurant (normally closed for dinner) where we had the place to ourselves. The prizeging was held there and Martin Wickens spotted a model chicken which he bought and presented it the EGGS. It is still one of our mascots.

Bert Ibertson and Jimmy Smith presenting the prizes

The Chicken with some other mascots

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2003

The second EGGS tour was organised by Bert Ibertson and took us to Ceres. We stayed at the Belmont Hotel for two nights where we had a sit down evening meal on the first day and a braai on the following day.

We were supposed to play golf at Worcester but it rained very heavily. Eventually the rain let up and five intrepid EGGS managed to play eleven holes. The remainder found other things to do, visiting local places of interest, shopping or playing bridge. The next day we played at Ceres and the following day at Wellington on the way home.

At Ceres Golf Club, we found a quantity of Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc at nineteen rand a bottle. Several of us were late returning to the hotel for dinner.

Hardi Bösler "drove himself into the EGGS" from the first tee.

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2002

The first EGGS tour took us away for one night. It was organised by Nick Cameron and Roy Pithey. We stayed at the Grand Hotel in Robertson and had a braai on a spare piece of ground near the main road.

We played golf at the old Robertson Golf Club and at Swellendam Golf Club. Both were nine hole courses, but Robertson has since been upgradred to eighteen holes and is now a golf estate.

Some of the players at Swellendam

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