Share

SA's 'voice of golf' honoured

Johannesburg - Denis Hutchinson, the last man to win the South African Open Championship as an amateur, was honoured on his 80th birthday on Wednesday with honorary life membership of the Sunshine Tour.

‘Hutchie’, as he is affectionately known, won the South African Open in 1959 while still an amateur, and he went on to win the South African PGA Championship in 1970 and the Dunlop South African Masters three times. Outside of South Africa, he won the French Open in 1966.

At a golf day at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club to celebrate his birthday, Sunshine Tour executive director Selwyn Nathan announced the awarding of a category of membership usually reserved for South African golf’s major champions.

“The chairman and the members of the board of the Sunshine Tour agreed that ‘Hutchie’ has made such a significant contribution to the sport and to the well-being of the tour, that honorary life membership was an entirely appropriate way of recognising his contributions,” said Nathan.

His passion for the sport spills over into his inimitable television commentary at tournaments for local broadcaster SuperSport as well as his regular work for broadcasters on the European Tour, and he has come to be recognised as ‘the voice of golf’ in South Africa.

He is also honorary Life President of the PGA of South Africa, and he was honoured by the PGA of South Africa as one of its first five ‘Master Professionals’ in 2008 for having made significant contributions to the game, be it through successful playing careers, administration, teaching, retail or media.

His contribution to the Sunshine Tour reflects his lifelong passion for the game, and he joins major winner Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel as the third addition to the honorary membership ranks of the tour this year.
 
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE