GEORGE NEWS - Local municipalities were asked to contribute towards the cost of transporting the huge Gary Player collection of golfing memorabilia, to be incorporated in the Southern African Golf Hall of Fame at Herolds Bay at the Hyatt Regency Oubaai Hotel.

During a launch cocktail party held at the museum, CEO Barry Cohen shared his ideal to feature the Gary Player Collection of Golf memorabilia. He said "It will cost R100 000 to transport the Gary Player Collection to Herolds Bay and back again after two years".

Negotiations have been ongoing to get Player to officially open the museum in January when he is here to participate in the Volvo Golf Champions Tournament.

Cohen took guests, including the Deputy Mayor of George Lionel Esau, town councillors, officials and golf professionals like Val Holland and Ruth Haremza around the museum. Cllr Esau said that the museum is a valuable tourist attraction on the Garden Route.

Cohen, who is a mine of information on golf history, was in his element to share interesting facts about the trailblazers of South Africa golfing history.

Barry Richards, ex-cricketer, appeared at the side of former CEO of Fancourt Ingrid Diesel and was fascinated by the extensive golf library. Some of the intriguing objects include the first golf balls dating back to 1850 made of compressed feathers. Wooden golf clubs dating back to when golf was first started are exhibited in a glass cabinet.

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Cohen invited the public to donate or loan memorabilia to the museum. "I am also looking for financial sponsors for the 16 January 2012 induction gala banquet and celebrity charity golf tournament," said Cohen. Last year it included the "whose who" of Southern Africa golf. So far Retief Goosen, Sally Little, Dale Hayes, Phil Ritson, Hugh Baiocchi and Cobie le Grange have already confirmed their attendance.

Cohen has sunk his personal savings into the museum and he is hoping that he will get the backing needed to keep the museum going. The aforementioned fundraiser is one way to cover operational costs. As part of the Hall of Fame dinner, well-known golfers are inducted into the "Hall of Fame. Inductees include - Vincent Tshabalala and John Bland - leading veteran South African golfing great. Johann Rupert - Chairman of Richemont, Gen Bantu Holomisa - President of the United Democratic Movement attended last year’s dinner.


Barry Cohen - CEO of the Southern African Golf Hall of Fame Museum with Milissa Els - marketing and advertising co-ordinator of Hyatt Regency Oubaai and Sandra Kneubuhler - Director of Sales and Marketing of Hyatt Regency Oubaai at a launch cocktail.


Barry Richards - ex SA cricketer, former Fancourt CEO Ingrid Diesel and CEO of Southern African Golf Hall of fame Barry Cohen at a cocktail party held at Hyatt Regency Oubaai’s latest tourism attraction - the museum.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST