PGA OF SOUTH AFRICA AWARDS
Hans Jonck is PGA Club Pro of Year MyHomeClub innovator wins overall 2025 title among four finalists.
Kyle Phelan National winner / High-Performance Coach
Phelan, based for the past 10 years at his teaching academy at Cen- turion Country Club in Gauteng North, works with some of South Africa’s leading tour players – prominently Jacques Kruyswijk – and up-and-coming amateurs such as Charl Barnard, Roelof Craig and Bryan Newman.
“This has been a standout year for me and the players I’ve had the privilege to guide,” said Phelan. “I’m proud that six of my players represented South Africa internationally, and I had the opportunity of working with GolfRSA at numerous camps. “An important part of my coaching is embracing technology as a tool for growth. I’ve made a conscious effort to stay at the forefront of coaching inno- vation, using analysis tools, data tracking, and software to elevate both technical and tactical aspects of the game. This allows me to make smarter decisions and deliver more personalised coaching.” Centurion had three PGA award winners in Gauteng North – club manager Gavin Woodroffe and club professional Jannes Sik were the other two.
Hans Jonck National winner / Management Jonck is an entrepreneur and PGA professional who launched the home-grown golf club man- agement business, MyHomeClub, in 2020 dur- ing the height of the Covid pandemic. Jonck, with his understanding of the unique chal- lenges faced by the industry, has played a key role in strengthening the business side of golf clubs which have signed up with his company. “The pandemic exposed the financial vola- tility of golf clubs,” says managing director Jonck. “My core strengths lie in financial man- agement, strategic planning, and data analysis. Today we have a client base of 61 clubs, rang- ing from entry-level to high-end. Our team of seven – which includes three PGA profession- als – consult, advise, and execute work in the best interests of each club, adapting strategies to their unique environments. “Our business provides comprehensive solu- tions, from maintenance and software to hos- pitality, pro shop and financial management.” Jonck also influences the golf industry through the Golf Management Campus. He lectures on four subjects and two at the annual PGA Residentials. He has hosted numerous webinars on relevant topics to support club managers and presented at the annual Club Management Conference. “My efforts posi- tively impact the employment and job security of PGA members by providing support.”
Murray Smit International winner Smit, an AAA member of the PGA of SA, has won this International award, inaugurated in 2022, for a second consecutive year. His career exemplifies excellence in coaching, leadership, and the global promotion of golf. A gradu- ate of the Golf School of Excel- lence in Johannesburg, he began his professional journey in South
Africa before expanding his influence internationally. In April 2023, Smit was appointed National Coach of the Singapore Golf Associa- tion and today runs their high-performance programme. Hiroshi Tai this year became the first Singaporean to compete at the Masters and US Open after winning the 2024 NCAA Division 1 men’s indi- vidual title. Smit formerly served as head teaching professional at De Zalze in Stellenbosch, where he founded Murray Smit Golf. The four other International finalists were Patrick Foy (Mauri- tius), Christopher Marrs (Malaysia), Luke Reuter (Indonesia) and Travis van Dyk (Malaysia).
28 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
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