PGA Regional Award Winners CENTRAL GAUTENG Management Hans Jonck (MyHomeClub) Club professional Kyle Puttick (Kyalami CC) Game development coach Byron Nel (CC Johannesburg) High performance coach Gavin Groves (Royal Jhb) GAUTENG NORTH Management Gavin Woodroffe (Centurion) Club professional Jannes Sik (Centurion) Game development coach Johan Steyn High performance coach Kyle Phelan (Centurion) KWAZULU-NATAL Management Derick Reinke (Umhlali CC) Club professional Bradley Ross (Bosch Hoek GC) Game development coach Ashley Tarr (Golden Horse, Maritzburg)
Byron Nel National winner / Game Development Coach
Nel helps mould and develop new young golfers at Country Club Jo- hannesburg, where his Operation 36 programme has been a success, transforming beginners into compe- tent and confident golfers. Operation 36 works by scaling a golf course to a beginner’s skill level. Level One, for example, has a 225-metre course of nine holes, each of 25 metres, where the target score is 36. Once a begin- ner achieves that target, they move up a level. The length of holes increases with each subsequent level, ending with Level Six.
“I’m proud of the role I play in junior and community golf development,” says Nel. “Seeing young players fall in love with the sport and watching them grow not only as golfers but as people is what makes all the early mornings and long days’ worth it.”
Jannes Sik National winner / Club Professional
Sik was just 21 when Houghton Golf Club appointed him as their head professional, in recognition of his promise and passion for the club. He had completed his appren- ticeship there under the mentorship of Dave Christie.
High performance coach Emile Steinmann (MECC)
SOUTHERN & EASTERN CAPE Management Meyer Du Toit (Knysna GC) Club professional Christopher Dixon (Knysna GC) Game development coach Roelof Roeloffze (Target36) High performance coach Morten Bredahl (Scratchgolf) WESTERN CAPE Management Cassie Viljoen (Royal Cape) Club professional De Waal Botha (Metropolitan) Game development coach Sevey Links (Pearl Valley) High performance coach Erich Kliem (Stellenbosch)
Three years later, in 2007, when Houghton closed to allow Jack Nicklaus to renovate their golf course, Sik moved to Centurion Country Club as head professional. He is leaving the club later this year for a new chapter in his life and PGA career. “I was a young professional with big shoes to fill when I joined Centurion,” says Sik. “I had an even bigger desire to earn the trust and respect of the membership and my peers. Understandably, some members were hesitant about such a young person taking the reins. But I dedicated myself, putting in the hours, embracing every responsibility, and always striving for excel- lence. Through consistent effort and respect for the traditions of the game, I gradually earned not just their respect, but also their loyalty and friendship. “I have had the privilege of mentoring numerous PGA Associates, hosting memorable events, and representing the core values of the PGA of South Africa in every role I have undertaken. For me, being a PGA professional has never been just about managing a shop or giving lessons, it has been about creating a stronger community, nurturing a culture of respect and inclusiv- ity, and cultivating a lasting love for the game.”
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 29
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
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