NICE SHADES
Peter Millar CEO Scott Mahoney and actress
Kathryn Newton.
the crowds make me play better because I like to en- tertain. If I remember I’m an actor who plays golf, I play a lot better.” Mahoney says he has the normal worries of most amateurs who make it inside the ropes – that he’ll hit someone with a tee shot in the crowd – but he too is drawn to the professionals that he’s played with. “The European tour players are so much fun. They become part of the environment. They’re in the pubs at night, and it’s a very collegial atmosphere that people love being a part of.” More than that, Mahoney marvels at their talent. “You may have someone that’s 500th in the world that hits shots that you couldn’t even dream of and to see ‘em up close and listen to the sound off their clubs live is amazing.” At night The Dunhill becomes a large party, vibrant and fun, including a black-tie event with live bands and a charity fundraiser. All the players comingle, many of them ambling over to the Jigger Inn by The Old Course for an extra pint or two. Mahoney says re- peat performers, so to speak, get a tie with a band on it signifying each year they’ve participated. The event is one that exudes class. “There’s just these little things, the traditions that they’ve done there that make it so special,” he says. “Saturday night you got Huey Lewis with Tico Torres playing. You’ve got these incredible
The event is one that exudes class. “There’s just these little things, the traditions that they’ve done there that make it so special.”
evated. It feels like what it’s like to play at the Dunhill.” For all the brand exposure the event provides and showcases, golf always remains the star. For Newton, who grew up playing golf with her father in Florida and whose swing is as smooth and soft as the cash- mere cape she replaced, the nerves of playing in the event have dissipated since that first outing when “suddenly Rory’s on the driving range, telling me I have a good swing.” Over time, she says, the locals and pros have made her more comfortable by encouraging her game. She says the professionals really go out of their way in this regard. “There was something about them making me feel like I was meant to be there just as much as they are that really helped my game, and
80 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator