EAGLE’S CLAW AT EAGLE CANYON Play 10-13 in level par and win a medallion.
her tee shots inside the poles. And do that five times in a row, otherwise start again. This teaches them to concentrate on targets and calms down the mind.” When Amy and I talk about her 71 in the club champs, she proudly describes a drive which ran out 235 metres on the ninth, “my longest ever.” And I learn that she and Casey were tied playing the uphill par-5 18th in the last round. “I had an 8-iron for my third, put it six foot from the pin, and holed the putt,” she says with a shy smile. Buhrmann credits Amy’s parents, Neville and Wendy, for her successful development. “Only those parents who commit fully to the process of their children developing as golfers can make it work for kids. Golf is a com- plex individual sport which requires the same commitment from parents as taking their children to school five days a week. The parents must be there for them, yet at the same time leave the kids alone so they can become indepen- dent. When I coach the kids I also teach them to teach themselves so they are not reliant on others.” While we’re talking, Neville is at the practice chipping area with infant son Hunter. Another son, Chad, 13, is play- ing golf, and is equally talented as Amy. He won the boys SA Under-13 title at Maccauvlei in 2022. Chad is a good rugby player and Buhrmann stresses the need for youngsters to play a variety of sports to further their development as athletes while they grow up. “I recommend kids play as many as five different sports to build athleticism, and then when they get to 14 they should concentrate on golf if that’s their passion. “Growing up in Bloemfontein I played every sport other than golf as it wasn’t fashionable and not a school sport. Then, I injured an ankle and joined my friends on the course to see what it was like. I thought it was the easiest game I had ever tried. I loved it. Every day I would cycle eight kilo- metres from our home to Schoeman Park, practice, and cycle back. I was 17 when the bug bit, and my success as a golfer was helped by all the other sport I had played. By the age of 21 I was the No 1 amateur in South Africa.” – STUART MCLE AN
Augusta National has Amen Corner to describe holes 11-13 during the Masters, San Lameer has Crowned Eagle Valley (holes 14-17 at the South Coast estate), and Eagle Canyon in Gauteng the Eagle’s Claw (10-13). Four of the most challenging and spectacular holes at Eagle Canyon, No 68 in the Golf Digest Top 100, form the structure of the Claw. There’s two long 4s, 10 and 12, played from elevated tees with water lurking and high mounds to negotiate, a par 3 (No 11) with water left, again from a high tee, and finally the daunting par-4 13th. This intimidating hole features a narrow fairway running between two large dams.
If you can keep your tee shot dry you’re faced with an approach across the edge of a dam to a sloping green. Playing this quartet in 15 shots, level par, is an achievement, and Eagle Canyon presents a medallion to any golfer who does it. And it’s not just off the tips. The medallion can be won from any of the tee markers.
WATCH EAGLES CLAW VIDEO
View from No 10 of Eagle’s Claw holes.
TOP CLUB AWARD FOR ELEMENTS
Elements Private Reserve, a residential bushveld estate in the Waterberg region
was to illustrate that its stewardship of the land is linked to the World En- vironment Day (June 5) focus areas. The estate has a clear understanding of the issues around climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and waste,” said Alastair Collier. “They have set a standard which other clubs should want to emulate.” Previous Top Club winners have been Blair Atholl (2023), Sabi River Sun (2022, Leopard Creek (2021, 2012, 2010), St Francis Links (2020), Umhlali (2019, 2016), Kingswood (2018), Bryanston (2017), Paarl (2015), Pretoria CC (2014), Metropol- itan (2013), Kyalami (2011), Randpark (2009) and Benoni CC (2008).
with a Peter Matkovich course, ranked No 13 in the Golf Digest Top 100, has become the first Limpopo golf club to receive the 2024 John Collier Top Club Award. Special men- tion was made of Umhlali CC (KZN) and Olivewood (Eastern Cape). The John Collier Top Club, in its 17th year, is awarded for outstand- ing levels of details and standards in terms of good governance, social responsibility and environmental compliance among South African golf clubs. “What Elements did so effectively
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 23
JUNE 2024
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