DEREK JAMES
Neil and I were competitive. He was 18 months older and taught me a lot. Our goal was to represent South Africa and play international golf. Neil earned four Springbok caps in 1981- 82, won the SA Amateur in 1982, and played provincial golf until 1990. I rep- resented SA five times between 1982 and 1984. We were members of a four- man SA team at the Eisenhower Trophy in Switzerland in 1982. South Africa was banned from the World Amateur team championship after that, only return- ing in 1994. Australia had refused to send a team to Switzerland because of our presence, and we were told that South Africa would not be welcome at Hong Kong in 1984. The uncertainty of our international future in the 1980s hastened my decision to turn pro. ● ● ● I had no illusions. I knew pro golf would be tough, yet it was still a shock to the system when I realised that even journeymen pros could really play. Am- ateur golfers are pampered. Everything is done for them, including travel, ac- commodation, transport. You pitch up and play. Unless you are an elite golfer with a management team, nothing is done for you as a pro. That was a big ad- justment. Yet I loved every minute of it.
under (69-66-73-68). That was my best performance on tour, alongside my win in the 1994 Canadian Tournament Players’ Championship. I was in with a chance on the back nine on Sunday, but my race was run when Ernie birdied the par-5 14th and I did not. Ernie’s cheque was R72 000 and I won R51 000. The next week the Lexington PGA was at the Wanderers. I led going into the final round after opening 66-64-69, but fin- ished fifth, again three behind Ernie’s winning score of 271. Had I shot level par 70, I would have won. ● ● ● My one regret as a tour pro is that I never had a coach. I thought I could experiment and work things out my- self, but that was a mistake. Today, all pros have a swing coach and I would have benefitted myself, even if only when returning home from time to time. ● ● ● I used the same Acushnet Bullseye centre-shafted putter throughout my playing career, from junior days. It was made of a soft metal and had a wonderful soft feel, way ahead of its time. I still have it. I now collect Bulls- eye putters and have about 12. I don’t use them. I just love them.
I had 14 wonderful years and would do it again tomorrow. ● ● ● My nickname on tour was “Teapot.” Not just because I love my tea, but as Gavan Levenson once said, “He’s a tea connoisseur.” Nice, but not true. After a round, my friends on tour would have a beer and I would enjoy a pot of tea. Tea is refreshing even on a hot day. How- ever, you cannot simply throw a tea bag in a cup and add hot water. First, you need a tea pot, which must be warmed before adding a tea bag or two and boil- ing water, allowing it to brew for a few minutes. Finally, pour a cup and add a little milk, not too much. Never add sugar or honey as that’s all you will taste. You want to taste the tea. I drink any tea, but Five Roses is my favourite. It must be strong and hot. You cannot drink lukewarm tea. I would love to have had tea with Queen Elizabeth. ● ● ● Ernie Els was a special talent in my time. He turned pro after winning the SA Strokeplay in 1989 and contested four consecutive SA Amateur finals from 1986 to 1989. Incredibly, he lost three of them. He won his first SA Open at Houghton in 1992 with 15-under 273 (65-69-69-70) and I was three back on 12
The par-3 11th at Southbroom with its stone bridge.
Best set of Par 3s in South Africa I don’t think there is a course in SA with a better set of par 3s than Southbroom. They vary in their lengths, two play towards the south, two towards the ocean, and experience different winds. The first of these, No 4, is 111m from the back and one of our most picturesque holes with its ocean-facing site, especially now the cart path has been moved away from the green. The late Roel Germs said “We have to do something with the eighth.” Its green was susceptible to flooding, so we decided to make a feature out of the water. Roel contacted Tony Steppe, the club captain, a builder, and he had excavators on site the next day. We needed a water storage dam, and the fill was used to build new elevated tees. The green continued to flood, but with the help of members Blaine Peckham and Howard Kelly, both farmers who knew how to alter the water flow, the green has never flooded since, and No 8 (154m from the back) is a vast improvement aesthetically. No 11, 148m from an elevated back tee, features a wonderful stone bridge, built by an enthusiastic member Nigel Matthews. It adds to the character of the hole, usually played in a cross-wind. Many a visitor has come into the pro shop after their round and commented favourably on that bridge. The 183m 14th is a magnificent long par 3. I redesigned the two greenside bunkers, and it has worked out beautifully, enhancing what was there.
102 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
MARCH/APRIL 2025
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