Mike Naicker coming to VCC, an’ all
The hugely popular comedian Kevin Perkins, aka Mike Naicker, will be appearing live at the VCC on October 20. Although currently living in the United Kingdom, Perkins will be paying South Africa a short visit and we’ve managed to scoop him for a single performance.
There are just 15 tables of 10 seats available for the bargain price of just R1 500 per table, and includes a chicken bunny chow and desert. Bookings will be confirmed on payment only and on a first-come first-served basis. Don’t miss out! Contact Cheryl-lee now on 033 347 1942.
Vaudeville Vibes another Big Success.
Last month saw the second Vaudeville Vibes show being hosted at the club in as many years. Once again the show was a sold-out success for all three nights of its run, with over 420 people attending.
The show – which was even better than last year’s – reflected the months of practice and hard work put in by Wendy and her cast. Many hours of personal time and energy was given freely by these members to ensure a successful show, and resulted in performances where it was almost hard to believe that we were watching amateur actors and not professional thespians.
The committee and management wish to express their gratitude to all who made this show possible, and a special thank you goes to Wendy Griffiths for putting it all together.
While this event is a fundraiser for the club, what was really pleasing was the social interaction and camaraderie amongst our members (which was also evident in the impressive bar sales). Last year, the money this show raised funded the couches and coffee tables in the bar, and this year we have used the funds to give squash court 1 a much-needed refurbishment.
We are also pleased to announce that Wendy’s arm has been twisted to put on another show next year, and she is also helping the club host an English Pub evening later this year. More details will follow. Watch this space.
Judy Anderson Gavin Mason
Sally Anderson Jenny Mason
Ian Cameron Kirsten Macbeth
Wendy Carruthers Brightness Mkize
Chris Cordier Chad Newman
Joobie Craig Abigail Newman
Lynton Freese Lucy Newman
Rowena Freese Wayne Robertson
Duncan Grant Rosie Symons
Martin Griffiths Ashley Tarr
Rodney James Laurence Truter
Gretta Jerner Paulette Truter
Tish Kauffman Tom Usher
Ken Ladbrooke Clive Van Niekerk
Sheila Ladbrooke Kim Van Niekerk
Doc Louw Georgie Walker
Tom Maher Mieke Walsh
Dance Warehouse
Tammy Braithwaite Lara Bezuidenhout
Kayla-Dee Knowles Bronwyn Naude
VCC to host World Amateur Golfers Championship South Africa
As previously announced, this year's World Final will be hosted in sunny South Africa, from October 22 - 29, and VCC will be one of the hosts. Other golf courses hosting this event are Beachwood, Durban Country Club and Kloof. It is expected that around 360 golfers from 40 countries will be taking part.
Please note that this does mean that the golf course will be closed for the morning field, but a limited afternoon field will still be available to members. While we do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, we feel that the exposure and recognition this will bring to VCC justifies it.
Vist their face book page for more detail
Members who have visited the club recently will have noted that further progress has been made with the VCC entrance and carpark. Curb stones having been laid, eight new trees (Albizia adianthifolia - click here to read more) have been planted, and the old bowling green part of the carpark has had its final premix tar surface applied.
The paving team should be back on site in about two weeks to complete the last half of the carpark, and once that is complete we will need to wait for another six weeks before painting the parking bays.
Members have already given us very positive feedback on the current overall look of the entrance and carpark, and this week the entrance was further enhanced when several of our female members – led by Val, Femma and Vorn put their finishing touch on the garden at the entrance and near the guard house. This has really helped towards the new look at the entrance.
VCC’s Father and Sons Trophy took place on August 7.
This year, the format saw a change that some might think renders the contest name itself a bit of a misnomer, when all family members were allowed to take part. However, the main trophy to be won was the Father and Sons trophy and the change resulted in a satisfying field of 40 players on the day.
This year the trophy was won by Karl Dieter Stiener on 49 points, and in second place were Ross and Mark Boast on 48 points.
A big thank you goes out to all those who took part, and we hope the changes to the format will see a field of 80 players or more next year.
What do you think of the format changes to the Father and Son Trophy? Send us your views at
Why does the greenskeeper need to poke holes in the golf course?
As most of our golfing members are aware, the greenskeeping staff have just completed the yearly spring treatment. Many of us know this gets done, but don’t really understand why greenskeepers seemingly have to have to “mess up” a perfectly good golf course. Golf Monthly sheds some light on the matter.
The hollow tining of greens, tees and even fairways is an essential part of most golf course maintenance programmes. It’s a recognised and proven technique carried out every year at most golf clubs.
So what is hollow tining?
Hollow tining is the physical removal of cores of turf from a playing surface. The holes are generally 13-16mm in diameter and of varying depths, depending on the reason for the tine. The cores are ejected, swept up and removed. When completed, a smaller mass of soil will occupy the same area of green/tee/fairway.
Why is it done?
Course traffic causes the ground to become compacted and hardened. This means drainage is less efficient and the grass’s roots are prevented from absorbing oxygen. Hollow tining allows the compacted turf to expand, and for air and moisture to be more easily absorbed.
The coring also helps address the problem of “thatch”. Thatch is a layer of grass stems, roots, and debris that settles and accumulates over time. A thin layer is acceptable, but too much thatch will hold water like a sponge.
Tining also removes accumulated fibre in the grass’s root zone. It allows for the exchange of a poor soil for a better one through top dressing. That’s why the greens are normally covered in sandy top dressing immediately after they’re cored.
In addition, coring allows for overseeding, another effective way of improving the quality of the playing surface.
When is it done?
Hollow tining is generally done out-with the main playing season: often in early autumn. It’s important that the tining is completed before the weather turns wet and cold, so that there’s time for growth and for the holes to seal up. The best time to hollow tine is late August / early September, but this also coincides with the playing season at most clubs, so it’s a difficult balancing act for greenkeepers. Some clubs will look to hollow tine very early in the spring season.
Is it a treatment for diseased greens?
It’s generally accepted that drier surfaces will be less susceptible to diseases like fusarium. As hollow tining is a good way of improving drainage, it’s also a way of preventing the spread of disease.
Is it just for greens?
It’s a potential treatment for any turf suffering from compaction and the other conditions explained above. Many clubs hollow tine their tees and if they have the manpower some will even hollow tine the fairways.
Is solid tining the same thing?
Not quite. Solid tining doesn’t go as deep as hollow tining. It’s useful for aerating the upper level of the root zone, but it won’t relieve the problem of compaction. It can be carried out at any point through the year and is particularly good where there is sandy soil that doesn’t need much compaction relief.
What about slitting, scarifying and verticutting?
Slitting is another method of aerating the turf and counteracting thatch. Deep slitting is normally carried out through the winter, when the ground is softer and more receptive. It’s done with blades that penetrate from 125 to 300 mm. These will be attached to a machine pulled by a tractor and you’ll normally see this treatment on the fairways. Surface slitters penetrate just 40 mm. These are designed to keep the surface open during the summer months, aiding water percolation.
Scarifying is a way of physically removing thatch using heavy-duty vertically mounted blades. Verticutting controls thatch build up by vertical mowing. The blades sever horizontal roots preventing lateral growth. This can be done all through the growing season.
Read more at http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/features/the-game/what-is-hollow-tining-for-67993#I3UiE8Lc6ZiSk1Zv.99
Nike has been in the golf apparel business since 1984, and since signing Tiger Woods in 1996 its golf ball unit alone has brought the company $91 million in additional revenue and $60 million in extra profit. Woods’ endorsement of the company is reported to have brought in 4,5 million new customers for Nike.
But there’s that old saying that advises one not to put all one’s eggs on one basket, and Nike is beginning to experience why that adage is wise advice.
To find out why Nike has now decided to exit the golf equipment business entirely, go to http://uk.businessinsider.com/why-nike-is-getting-out-of-the-golf-equipment-business-2016-8
This is what has been happening in the world of tennis recently, brought to you by Karl von Fintel of KarlVFtennis, Victoria Country Club’s fully licensed and registered professional tennis coach.
In May, the KwaZulu-Natal Senior Inter Pro in Nelspruit yielded superb results for KZN players. In the Over 70’s, KZN secured a first and a fourth position, while in the 65-70 age group KZN came second. In the Men’s 70 age group Gules Salottolo and Chris Taylor also from KZN walked away with gold medals.
The KZN Seniors’ Tournament in August was held at Westridge Park tennis stadium in Durban from August 5-7.
RESULTS
Men’s Singles
|
Event winner |
Age |
|
Jason Pieters |
30 |
|
Paul Anderson |
35 |
|
Brendan Zackey |
40 |
|
Bruce Young (KZN) |
45 |
|
Simon Edmonds |
50 |
|
Lindsay North (KZN) |
55 |
|
Adam Myburgh |
60 |
|
Jean Huber (KZN) |
65 |
|
Billy Kehl |
70 |
|
Lyster Van Der Brugge (KZN) |
75 |
Women’s Singles
|
Event winner |
Age |
|
Tamara Day |
30 |
|
Ohmar Fernandes |
40 |
|
Lettica Venter (KZN) |
45 |
|
Rosanne Duke |
50 |
|
Elna Botha |
55 |
|
Karin Boshof (KZN) |
60 |
|
Lynne Hughes-Butlin (KZN) |
65 |
Men’s Doubles
|
Event winner |
Age |
|
Butlin / Janse van Rensburg (KZN) |
30 |
|
Zackey / Anderson |
35 |
|
Petersen / Young (KZN) |
40 |
|
Comins / Manning (KZN) |
45 |
|
Lowings / G Edmonds |
50 |
|
Hubert / Rosenberg (KZN) |
60 |
|
Kehl / Van Wyk |
70 |
Women’s Singles
|
Event winner |
Age |
|
Day / De Lange |
30 |
|
Pieterse / Venter (KZN) |
40 |
|
Lotz / Duke |
50 |
|
Boshoff / Van Der Schyff |
60 |
|
Hughes-Butlin / Birch (KZN) |
65 |
Mixed Doubles
|
Event winner |
Age |
|
Young / Vente (KZN) |
30 |
|
Jordaan / Smit |
40 |
|
Manning / Heron (KZN) |
45 |
|
Lowings / Duke |
50 |
|
Van Der Schyff / Myburgh |
55 |
For tennis information or coaching, please contact Karl von Fintel at 076 161 7578.
These tournaments will be held at Westridge Park Tennis Stadium in Durban over the next month.
September 25: Wimbledon Doubles
October 1-4: KZN Spring grand prix (Juniors)
October 1-4: KZN Open (Seniors)
A fantastic Wimbledon result earlier this year saw South Africa’s Raven Klaasen entering the top 10 ATP tennis doubles rankings. He has since gone on to play impressively at the Davis Cup Euro/Africa Group II second round, his classy performance helping to keep the tie alive for the South African side with a solid 6-1 6-1 6-3 doubles win over Laurynas Grigelis and Lukas Mugevicius in Kaunas. Lithuania eventually beatSouth Africa 3-2 in that competition.
Recently the talented Klaasen’s skills have played a key role in helping the San Diego Aviators to win their first Mylan World TeamTennis Championship in New York, USA, on August 30, and last week (September 1) Klaasen and his American partner Raeev Ram won through to Round 2 of the US Open, beating Eric Butorac and Scott Lisky 6-3 6-4
Hear an interview with Klaasen by Radio 2000’s Kass Naidoo, where SA’s tennis star talks about what it’s like to realise his season goal and break into the top 10.
http://www.supersport.com/tennis/sa-tennis/news/160716/Klaasen_Roelofse_keep_SA_hopes_alive
http://www.tennissa.co.za/news/south-africa-go-down-lithuania-davis-cup
http://www.tennissa.co.za/news/raven-klaasen-breaks-top-10
After yet another successful year, the Profile Property Midlands Winter League draws to a close next week.
A huge thank you goes out to VCC member Garth Ware for kindly sponsoring this year’s contest. The event attracted around 400 squash players from the KZN Midlands, who competed in the tournament from April through to mid September.
VCC’s teams did exceptionally well again this year, with many of our sides either leading or being in contention for a top spot in their respective league sides. Good luck to those playing next week (September 14th and 15th).
Current positions as of this week (September 9).
1st League:
VCC01 in 1st place
VCC02 in 5th place
2nd League:
VCC03 in 4th place
3rd League:
VCC04 in 1st place (and winners of 3rd league for 2016)
4th League:
VCC05 in 6th place
5th League:
VCC06 in 10th place
7th League:
VCC07 in 3rd place
Ladies A:
VCC08 in 4th place (final log position)
Ladies B:
VCC09 in 6th place
© Copyright 2018 - Victoria Country Club
design & hosting - virtcom.co.za
