GEORGE NEWS - Southern Africa has an illustrious golfing history. Now the history of our golfing greats - past and present - can be relived at an ultra-modern, interactive museum.

The Southern African Golf Hall of Fame Museum, is set to become a star tourist attraction at the Hyatt Regency Oubaai Hotel, at Herolds Bay.

Last week the George Herald was given a glimpse of the displays including the outstanding, Peter Sauerman collection acquired on loan to the museum by Harry Brews. Various other memorabilia include the earliest golf balls, clubs and trophies including Freddie Tait trophy, and the Canada Cup won by Harold Henning and Gary Player in 1965, which was the precursor for the World Golf Cup.

South Africa’s golf history goes back to 1885, with the Sauerman memorabilia. It is the finest collection in the country, forming the nucleus of the museum. The development of golf and its incredible journey is chronicled in the displays, audio visuals and library.

The Museum fronts on Oubaai’s waterfront and retail centre. It will include a miniature Oubaai replica golf putting course where visitors can test their skills.

Cohen, the driving force behind the establishment of the first Golf Hall of fame for this continent, feels it is particularly fitting that the museum is situated in South Africa. "Kharafi Holdings the company that developed and own Oubaai Golf Resort gave an attractive rental agreement to The Sid Brews Golf Heritage Trust, a Section 21 Company. It was established to facilitate this epoch-making project. "It is our aim to leave a legacy. One way of doing this is to bring together all the elements in a modern, ground-breaking way of which the entire region can be proud."

Greatest players
"This country has produced some of the world’s greatest players like Sid Brews and Bobby Locke, who placed SA golf firmly on the map. Gary Player has been named South Africa’s Sportsman of the 20th Century. Other legends include golfing greats like Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Sally Field and more recently Lee-Anne Pace, Charl Schwartzel, and Louis Oosthuizen.
This is the first Golf hall of Fame Museum outside of the USA and Canada.

Legacy
The museum is sophisticated and modern. There are John Daly and Tiger Woods EA Sport games for the youngsters and a putting green where visitors can try out hickory putters from yesteryear.

Black golf players
The section devoted to the rich history of the South African Non-White Professional
Golf during pre-democracy leading up to unification, includes stories about Papwa Sewgolum, Ismail Chowglay, Vincent Tshabalala and Theo Manyama.

Inductees
Last year, professional golfer John Bland who lives at Fancourt, was also inducted.
In 2009, Gary Player, Sid Brews, Bobby Locke, Ernie Els, Nick Price, Retief Goosen, Mark McNulty, David Frost, David Leadbetter, Papwa Sewgolum and Sally Little were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Memorabilia
Memorabilia and collections have been offered to the Museum from various quarters, such as Gary Player, Ernie Els, Harold Henning, Reg Taylor, Sid Brews, Phil Ritson, Mark McNulty and many others.

There are plans to feature the President’s Cup and its impact of drawing together world golf from the Southern Hemisphere. The main drawcard will be the Golf Hall of Fame as well as the area set aside for Major winners.


The Canada Cup International Invitational Golf Competition Cup won by Harold Henning and Gary Player in 1965, takes pride of place in Oubaai’s new museum. It was the forerunner of the World Cup.


Golf lovers can enjoy exhibits which include this golf ball collection. Some balls date back to the early 1848’s - the Feathery, Gutties, and the Brambles (1900-1910). In the early 17th century the feathery ball superseded the first known ball, probably made of beech. The feather-filled balls held sway until the momentous advent of the gutta percha balls.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD REPORTER