Publications
Partners
Just a few words from Retief Goosen and life as Siyanda Mwandla knew it, has changed forever.
The SAGDB member was among 34 children who attended a golf development clinic during the recent South African Open Championship at Durban Country Club.
The clinic was hosted by Goosen, defending champion Richie Ramsay, former SA Open champion James Kingston, European Tour winner David Howell, Sunshine Tour winner Prinavin Nelson and professional Alpheus Kelapile, a former SAGDB graduate. Before the clinic, each player held up a number and the children drew numbers from a hat corresponding to a host.
“I believe it was the hand of God,” said Mwandla, who drew No .
“I got the Goose. I couldn’t believe it. I let the little kids go first and watched. He was so patient with them. Then it was my turn. He told me to hit the driver a few times. Then he took out his own driver and told me to hit some more balls.
“Then he just left me there walked away. The little kids got five-10 minutes and I wasn’t even there for three minutes. I was feeling pretty foolish just standing there, not knowing what to do.”
Meanwhile, Goosen had gone to the Taylormade Equipment Van to fetch another driver.
“The SAGDB brought some clubs and I could tell immediately that Siyanda had a great swing, but the driver was too short and causing him to fade,” said the two-time SA Open winner.
“Each time I host one of these SAGDB clinics, I am amazed at the talent among these kids, but it is not often we can do much more than adjust their swings. He is slightly taller than me, but when he was swinging my driver, his shots improved. I felt compelled to do something about it.”
Goosen returned with a brand new Taylormade T9 driver. “It was still wrapped in plastic,” Mwandla enthused.
“He told me to hit some balls and showed me how to adjust the head with this little tool. We hit balls, adjusted, hit balls and adjusted until the driver was just perfect for me. Every ball I hit was flying straight and long; perfect drives.
“Then he told me I could keep the driver. I couldn’t believe it. It’s worth thousands and he just gave it to me. I was shouting for Goose all the way to win on Sunday,” said the ‘former’ Ernie Els fan.
Goosen was even more impressed when told that the grade 10 learner from Shakaskraal Secondary only joined the SAGDB in 2008.
“He used to caddie at Mandini Golf Club and he only joined the SAGDB in 2008,” said Goosen. “Keep an eye out for him. The SAGDB has a great programme and he is going to develop into a great golfer.”
Under the coaching skills of Vusi Ngwenya and Duarte Nel, Mwandla has cut his handicap to three in just two years.
“Siyanda is one of the most natural talents we’ve ever had in the programme,” said Joseph Kunene, the SAGDB’s regional manager for KwaZulu-Natal. “We secured membership for him at Umhlali Country Club, which is near enough to Nkobonga, so that he can practice often.
“This gift and the time he spent with Retief has really motivated him. Siyanda can only watch professional golf tournaments at the club house at Umhlali and he told me he admires Ross Fisher and Lee Westwood. Fisher, for the way he hits the ball, long and straight and Westwood, for his consistency. Now I think he is Retief Goosen’s No 1 fan.”
Mwandla was selected to the KZN Golf Union President team, held a top five position in the SAGDB’s Order of Merit in 2010 and led the KZN Region Golf Development Stroke Average this year. He was selected to represent SAGDB in the Sport Trust event at Sun City during the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
“That’s in the past,” he says. “Now my goal is to make the KZN Under-18 team.”
Retief Goosen chats to Siyanda Mwandla (Carl Fourie)
