Robbycharles Golf Blog

Tavistock Cup Round 2 Highlights

2012-03-21T11:55:00.001+02:00

Ernie back in contention at Transitions Championship

2012-03-19T07:25:00.000+02:00

Golf's Greatest Stadium

2012-03-15T22:35:00.000+02:00

Caddie versus Cart

2012-03-14T17:08:00.000+02:00

Regardless of the type of golf course, more and more managers are beginning to consider the possibility of doing away with caddies and opting solely for the cart service. The severe inconsistency amongst caddies in terms of course knowledge as well as how they serve players has resulted in many golfers opting for the motorised assistance with a more accurate "GPS". As wonderful as the golf cart is, it does nothing for unemployment or any of the other related issues in South Africa. So considering the our current employment landscape, what is the best way forward in this feud between Caddie and Car and more importantly who will prevail?

My experiences with various caddies across South Africa is about as vast in quality as the difference between facing Dale Steyn followed by the left arm orthodix of Jeffrey Peters from the U/13 C SACS XI. In the one instance I am dealing with an individual who knows the golf course better than Hugh Bladen knows his way around a bottle of Bells compared to some pretender who struggles to identify the difference between a Driver and a Sand Wedge. The madness of it all is that they command the same rate! My absolute best is when self proclaimed "Stevie Williams" to my left starts to instruct on club selection... This being the same individual that is getting the fourball ahead of us more hammered everytime he comes within 300 yards of them. As a related tip, there is a standard formula to establishing the true handicap of your caddie. Take whatever the numeral is he has provided you with as his "official handicap" and add 6 if he is sober and 8 if under the influence. Dutch courage is a universal reality.

On the opposite side of the coin one has the trusted golf car which, apart from the frustrating speed to which they are governed, is great value and more reliable than Loren Roberts' Texas wedge or Fred Frunk's Driver. Now one even has the use of an on-board GPS to tell you exactly how kak you really are. If nothing else it's informative and gives you accurate information. As opposed to the caddie, this staff member will always pitch up for work and in very much the same state as he left the previous day. Golf cars on the whole also speed up play which allows for more rounds through the course. The last caddie I had could just as well have crawled the last three holes. All of this points towards the fact that the latter option is more reliable, more consistent value to the golfer and also provides management with far fewer headaches!

The real issue at hand here is the livelihood of our fellow South Africans. Thousands of previously disadvantaged South Africans rely on their income as a caddie to feed their families and essentially get from one day to the next. Most of them know nothing else but caddying. If the trend of replacing caddies for cars was to continue, it would mean an even greater headache for our government to source alternative employment for these people. Does the onus lie on the clubs to continue supporting caddies even though it does not make business sense or does the responsibility lie on the caddies to up their game and start adding more value so that golfers actually want to hire them?

If I knew I was going to receive the same exceptional value-add from the caddie pool at my club week-in a week-out, there would be no question in supporting them over the golf car alternative. An effective caddie can save any golfer up to 5 shots a round if they manage their players properly. On the other hand they can also cost a golfer far more by arriving to the first tee smelling like a SAB depot or making no effort to communicate properly with the customer.

In my opinion the power lies with the caddie. Endeavour to make every golfing experience for members and visitors a uniquely memorable one and you will receive return business. Ensure continuous demand for the caddie service and management have no choice but to retain the service.

Let's see what happens...

Retief on Preparing for the Masters 2012

2012-03-14T09:06:00.002+02:00

Golf's Biggest Hitters of All Time

2012-03-14T09:02:00.000+02:00

Trevor Immelman's Masters Dinner Invitation

2012-03-13T09:34:00.000+02:00

Latest World Golf Rankings - 12 March 2012

2012-03-12T15:52:00.001+02:00

Men's world golf rankings | 12 March 2012

Rank	Player	Events	Avg Points
1	Rory McIlroy	51	9.78
2	Luke Donald	52	9.09
3	Lee Westwood	46	8.12
4	Martin Kaymer	51	5.88
5	Steve Stricker	41	5.76
6	Charl Schwartzel	52	5.32
7	Justin Rose	52	5.14
8	Webb Simpson	52	5.06
9	Jason Day	47	5.05
10	Hunter Mahan	52	4.96
11	Adam Scott	47	4.93
12	Dustin Johnson	52	4.89
13	Phil Mickelson	49	4.81
14	Bill Haas	52	4.62
15	Matt Kuchar	52	4.59
16	Bubba Watson	50	4.47
17	Graeme McDowell	52	4.45
18	Tiger Woods	40	4.33
19	Nick Watney	51	4.31
20	Keegan Bradley	52	4.20

VIDEO: FInal Round Highlights - Cadillac Championship

2012-03-12T08:16:00.000+02:00

VIDEO: Rory Mcilroy plays a point against Sharapova

2012-03-06T13:34:00.002+02:00

World Rankings - 5 March 2012

2012-03-05T08:28:00.000+02:00

VIDEO: How we got our New World Number 1

2012-03-05T07:17:00.003+02:00

LATEST WORLD GOLF RANKINGS - 28 FEB 2012

2012-02-28T12:47:00.001+02:00

Men's world golf rankings | 27 February 2012

Rank	Player	Events	Avg Points
1	Luke Donald	52	9.26
2	Rory McIlroy	50	7.81
3	Lee Westwood	45	7.80
4	Martin Kaymer	51	5.96
5	Steve Stricker	40	5.68
6	Webb Simpson	52	5.17
7	Jason Day	47	5.11
8	Adam Scott	46	5.10
9	Phil Mickelson	49	5.05
10	Dustin Johnson	51	5.03
11	Charl Schwartzel	52	4.86
12	Bill Haas	52	4.68
13	Graeme McDowell	52	4.42
14	Matt Kuchar	52	4.37
15	Nick Watney	51	4.26
16	Sergio Garcia	48	4.16
17	K.J. Choi	52	4.14
18	Brandt Snedeker	52	4.00
19	Keegan Bradley	52	3.96
20	Tiger Woods	40	3.77

Outside the Ropes: CCC Cricket Report

2012-02-24T10:37:00.000+02:00

Claremont Indoor Cricket Centre played host to another breathtaking encounter between the CCC and The Incredibles last night. With a packed house of 19 spectators including the umpire, tension levels were running high and so was one Tom Mills'appetite (for success). The pre game pitch report indicated that the wicket may bounce and turn short of a length. This information was however useless as none of the CCC bowlers managed to put it in the right areas.

Brad Heydenrych, earning his third cap as leader of the side made it clear that the boys had learnt from their previous mistakes and were here to "sell some copiers", soon realising he had brought the incorrect speech. After losing their third straight toss, the CCC were put in to bat with Srivener and Crocker opening their accounts for the evening. It became increasingly evident that the former was distracted by the presence of his current girlfriend on the sideline. The "hug" upon arrival left a number of side feeling nauseous and having to retire to the bathroom for temporary relief. Scrivener later apologised for the incident citing the effect of one too many Castle Lite's as the main contributor to his untoward actions. The opening pair got off to a pleasant start scoring freely until Crocker's blatant lack of fitness came to the fore. Scrivener's off drive looked like someone trying to de de-feather and ostrich in a phone booth, which combined with Crocker's attempt at following up made for pretty dismal viewing. Highlights which followed from the batsmen included captain Heydenrych's attempt to break his bat using the pitch, for which he was later fined 90% of his match fee (R17).

Former Michaelhouse boy Oliver Davies put together a valiant effort to steer the ship back on course with a useful 22, matched only by Vinnie Jones' bone crunching blows finding every possible corner of the field. One of the opposing team members politely asked Jones for an autograph after the game and instead received a blow to the head. We believe he is still recovering in Vincent Pallotti. Keeper batsman Tom Mills also contributed decently to the the side but was then found at Hudsons Burger joint after the game with a number of bookies and hasn't been seen since.

The final pair of Winkelman and Arnold stode to the crease needing a minor miracle to piece together a respectable total. Before facing his first ball Winkelman was found creasing the sheets, thinking he was in fact on a sailing boat and later shouted to the bowler to "Batten down the hatches". Arnold attempted to emulate Kallis' batting style but got bowled in the process. He's still believed to be waiting for a call from Gallo Images. While the carnage continued on the pitch, the remaining CCC players on the sidelines were spontaneously subjected to a breathalyser test by Cricket South Africa. Captain Heydenrych's results were most noticable, being 12 times over the legal limit. The offical administering the test later commented saying, it was not since David Boon in '91 that a score this high had been recorded.

As the CCC took the field, a surprising amount of energy and pointless encouragement emanated from the majority of fielders bar Vinne Jones who was attempting to spot any potential talent in the 19 strong crowd. The performance that followed in the field was later bettered by 8 ostriches with their heads firmly routed in the ground. SABC Topsport presenter Shakes Naidoo later indicated that the highlights package would in fact not include any bowling or fielding whatsoever. The score of 105 posted by the CCC was chased down quicker than a bank thief on debut. Heydenrych told Topsport that it was time to go back to the drawing board and see how the team would be able to learn from their mistakes and sell more copiers to people who don't actually know how kak Kyocera is.

Accenture Matchplay Championship

2012-02-23T09:12:00.000+02:00

Latest World Golf Rankings - 21 February 2012

2012-02-21T15:03:00.002+02:00

Men's world golf rankings | 20 February 2012

Rank	Player	Events	Avg Points
1	Luke Donald	52	9.26
2	Rory McIlroy	50	7.81
3	Lee Westwood	45	7.80
4	Martin Kaymer	51	5.96
5	Steve Stricker	40	5.68
6	Webb Simpson	52	5.17
7	Jason Day	47	5.11
8	Adam Scott	46	5.10
9	Phil Mickelson	49	5.05
10	Dustin Johnson	51	5.03
11	Charl Schwartzel	52	4.86
12	Bill Haas	52	4.68
13	Graeme McDowell	52	4.42
14	Matt Kuchar	52	4.37
15	Nick Watney	51	4.26
16	Sergio Garcia	48	4.16
17	K.J. Choi	52	4.14
18	Brandt Snedeker	52	4.00
19	Keegan Bradley	52	3.96
20	Tiger Woods	40	3.77

Memorable Moments from Accenture World Matchplay

2012-02-21T15:00:00.002+02:00

VIDEO: Northern Trust Open Round 1 Highlights

2012-02-17T13:46:00.001+02:00

WORLD GOLF RANKINGS - 14 FEBRUARY 2012

2012-02-14T16:01:00.002+02:00

Men's world golf rankings | 13 February 2012

Rank	Player	Events	Avg Points
1	Luke Donald	52	9.42
2	Lee Westwood	45	7.93
3	Rory McIlroy	50	7.93
4	Martin Kaymer	51	6.08
5	Steve Stricker	40	5.77
6	Webb Simpson	52	5.24
7	Jason Day	47	5.19
8	Adam Scott	46	5.09
9	Charl Schwartzel	52	4.93
10	Dustin Johnson	51	4.84
11	Phil Mickelson	49	4.52
12	Graeme McDowell	52	4.51
13	Matt Kuchar	52	4.40
14	Nick Watney	51	4.30
15	K.J. Choi	52	4.16
16	Brandt Snedeker	52	3.96
17	Sergio Garcia	48	3.91
18	Tiger Woods	40	3.83
19	Bubba Watson	49	3.68
20	Justin Rose	51	3.65

FINAL ROUND HIGHLIGHTS - PEBBLE BEACH NATIONAL PRO AM

2012-02-13T10:36:00.000+02:00

TIGER IN THE HUNT AT PEBBLE BEACH

2012-02-12T12:49:00.000+02:00

PEBBLE BEACH NATIONAL PRO-AM ROUND 1 HIGHLIGHTS

2012-02-10T09:20:00.002+02:00

OUTSIDE THE ROPES: NOT JUST GOLFERS MAKE BANK

2012-02-09T09:10:00.001+02:00

If you thought Golfers make bank, take a look at the revenue of these football clubs:

Top 20 Clubs by 2010-11 revenue (millions of euros)
===================================================
 1. Real Madrid               479.5
 2. Barcelona                 450.7
 3. Manchester United         367.0
 4. Bayern Munich             321.4
 5. Arsenal                   251.1
 6. Chelsea                   249.8
 7. AC Milan                  235.1
 8. Inter Milan               211.4
 9. Liverpool                 203.3
10. Schalke                   202.4
11. Tottenham                 181.0
12. Manchester City           169.6
13. Juventus                  153.9
14. Marseille                 150.4
15. Roma                      143.5
16. Borussia Dortmund         138.5
17. Lyon                      132.8
18. Hamburg                   128.8
19. Valencia                  116.8
20. Napoli                   114.9

GOLF AND WINE WEEKEND GETAWAY

2012-02-08T12:59:00.000+02:00

Our friends at Faircape Travel and Compleat Golfer have put together another fantastic getaway, this time to the Cape Winelands.

For all the information click on the image below!

TIGER RETURNS TO PEBBLE BEACH

2012-02-08T07:30:00.000+02:00

Take a look at some of the memorable moments of this tournament in years gone by:

LAUREUS SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS 2012

2012-02-07T08:31:00.001+02:00

Sportsman

Novak Djokovic
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic was acclaimed Laureus World Sportsman of the Year after his remarkable 2011 when he won three Grand Slam events – the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open – and took away the tennis world No 1 ranking from Rafael Nadal.

Sportswoman

Vivian Cheruiyot
The Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award went to Kenya’s extraordinary distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, who won both 5,000 and 10,000 metres gold medals at the World Championships in Daegu.

Team

FC Barcelona
Winners of the Champions League and the Spanish League in the 2010/11 season, under coach Pep Guardiola, FC Barcelona won the Laureus World Team of the Year Award.

Breakthrough

Rory McIlroy
Brilliant young star Rory McIlroy, 22, was named winner of the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award after winning the US Open, his first Major Championship.

Comeback

Darren Clarke
Darren Clarke received the Laureus Comeback Award after his Open Championship victory at Royal St.George’s at his 20th attempt and at the age of 42.

Disability

Oscar Pistorius
South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, dubbed the ‘Blade Runner’ because he uses carbon fibre blades, was presented with the Laureus Disability Award, after becoming the first amputee to win a track medal in the non-disabled World Championships, a silver in the 4 x 400 metres relay.

Action

Kelly Slater
American surfing giant Kelly Slater was named Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year. It was his fourth Laureus Award, equalling the record of Roger Federer, the only other four-time winner.

Lifetime Achievement

Bobby Charlton
England football legend Bobby Charlton was awarded the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his remarkable career.

Sport for Good

Raí
Former Brazilian international footballer Raí, now a campaigner for social justice, won the Laureus Sport for Good Award.

For more visit www.laureus.com

LATEST MEN'S WORLD RANKINGS - 6 FEB 2012

2012-02-06T09:01:00.002+02:00

Men's world golf rankings | 06 February 2012

Rank	Player	Events	Avg Points
1	Luke Donald	52	9.75
2	Rory McIlroy	50	7.98
3	Lee Westwood	45	7.58
4	Martin Kaymer	51	6.08
5	Steve Stricker	41	5.84
6	Webb Simpson	52	5.23
7	Adam Scott	47	5.16
8	Charl Schwartzel	52	5.07
9	Dustin Johnson	51	4.89
10	Jason Day	48	4.75
11	Graeme McDowell	52	4.69
12	Matt Kuchar	52	4.55
13	K.J. Choi	52	4.36
14	Nick Watney	52	4.36
15	Brandt Snedeker	52	4.04
16	Phil Mickelson	49	3.89
17	Tiger Woods	40	3.84
18	Sergio Garcia	48	3.83
19	Hunter Mahan	52	3.77
20	Justin Rose	52	3.73

DEATH BY BORING GOLF DAY

2012-02-03T15:21:00.000+02:00

Simply put, there are two types of golf days we tend to remember; those that stick in our memories for all the right reasons and those which rank up there with a surprise visit from the in-laws or a Saturday at the mall picking out bed linen. Key to every successful or disastrous golf day are a few aspects which organisers either understand and prioritise or overlook and then can't understand where things went wrong.

So without further ado and in no particular order....

1. Golf Shirts

The days of 97% of the attending guests being XXXL are well in the past I'm afraid. The notion of "one size fits all" just does not cut it anymore.
If you want people to wear your brand (presuming your logo is on the shirt) make sure it is part of a garment which does not double as a tent should they get lost on the way home.

He's not going to grow into it!

2. Master of Ceremonies

Considering the fact that the event does relate to the game of golf, it would show presence of mind to ensure the MC has some form of understanding of what the guests have been up to for the last 7 hours.
If you are going to have an auction, make sure this is not your MC's debut on this front. Gaffie du Toit's performances in a Bok jersey were more inspiring.

Life and Soul of the party

3. On-Course Promotions

There are blades of grass in the deep rough of Benoni Country Club that have shown more enthusiasm than some of the staff running promotions on a golf course.
It's also a good idea to ensure they understand the concept of keeping quiet while golfers hit their shots.
On this note, how some of the gents try to pull in their stomachs and hold their best finish on the tee shot (not being bothered to complete a swing in any of the holes prior) in front of the attractive promo girls is nothing short of phenomenal to watch.

Where am i?

4. Prizes

As an event for amateurs there are obviously "limitations" as to the value of prizes but nonetheless, some of these "prizes" on show must leave guests thinking whether the Kwik Spar en route was raided by organisers on their way to the event.
Budget constraints do a play a deciding role in what can be provided here but I've seen some amazing prizes been put forward on a shoestring. Think out the box people!

To be forgotten in the boot of Fred's car

5. Catering

As with any menu at a golf club restaurant, the simpler the better!
Some caters think that because there are a few captains of industry attending the food needs to resemble the fine dining quality of a Michelin 3 star restaurant.
People attending a golf day are often pretty hungry after their round and would like something wholesome. It's as simple as that.

Here's to your next one being a ripper!

THE UNKNOWN THAT IS JOHN DALY

2012-02-02T15:30:00.001+02:00

One has to admire how big John comes from nowhere and shoots a first round 67 at the Qatar Masters today. All considered, what still impresses me and in the same breath what I miss the most about John Daly can be found below:

Follow John's progress at the Qatar Masters here:

Qatar Masters Leaderboard

THE FANCOURT LINKS EXPERIENCE

2012-02-01T21:32:00.000+02:00

The words "Fancourt Links" are to South African Golf what Anthony Hopkins is to the world of movies; timelessly brilliant. We all categorise various occurrences in our life by how they make us feel, what impact they have on us. For any golfer, a day on the Links is one of those occurrences that doesn't just happen, it shapes our perception and defines for us what it means to be exceptional.

The experts in the field will tell you that a truly memorable golfing experience starts well before the first swing of the club. We quickly forget that experiences are shaped as much by those who make it happen as where it happens. The first impression when getting out of your vehicle is immediately enhanced by Fancourt's exceptional team who come to you to say hello instead of you going to them. This attitude to service is what immediately sets the Links experience apart from the majority of other golfing excursions in South Africa. It is almost as if they are welcoming you into their home. From here the element of personalisation is initiated to show Links guests that we are dealing with individuals. The word "sir"or "madam" does not seem adequate in this place, instead the most obvious characteristic that defines you from another, your name. "Good morning Mr Rob. I am glad to welcome you to the Links at Fancourt" says the meet and greet staff at the front steps to the clubhouse. The process of getting your bags from the vehicle to where they need to be has not yet been considered when one notices two well groomed staff entering the clubhouse with your effects. This presence of mind emanates not just from the meet and greet staff but the team as a whole.

If there is one aspect that will irritate any golfer, regardless of his ability, it is presentation of staff. The unfortunate reality is that many clubs in South Africa do not place a sufficient degree of emphasis on the simple but very important aspect of staff attire and grooming. Untidy staff send the public one very clear message, no discipline from management. Every staff member on show at the Links presents themselves with a level of self-worth that sends a message of "we care" to the guest. Whether we were in the pro shop or on the 3rd green being assisted by Tyler the trusty caddie, there was something about the staff that assertively stated "mediocrity not served here". This level of consistency is achieved through a clear message from management and adopted by the service team with no exceptions.

One of my favourite attributes of the Links is undoubtedly the attention to detail. I would bet my Scotty Cameron that the edges of the tee boxes are cut using a set square. Standing on that first tee truly makes one feel like you've arrived somewhere worth being and more importantly, worth remembering. The fact that guest's halfway orders are taken on the first tee allows one to play the 9 without any distraction and ensure a smooth transition at the stop. The white caddie overalls immediately reminds one of the grandeur synonymous with Augusta and the Masters. The manner in which the drinks cart attendant greets you on the course and the cold towel offered at halfway are just some of the little add-ons that collectively shift this experience to another level. The saying holds true that guests really do remember the little things and tend to base their impression of the experience by how much their expectations were exceeded rather than just met.

There are few things more satisfying than something ice cold after 5 hours in the hot sun. The Links waiters realise and understand the importance of satisfying their guests needs in this regard as quickly as possible. They also seem able to provide guests with an understanding of what is available on the menu without having one in front of them. The snacks placed on the table as a matter of course have the variety one would expect from South Africa's premier golfing experience. Without being required to look around or do a rendition of the flight-deck staff on Top Gun, there is a waiter present to refill your glass or take another order. These small actions are what make or break a golfing experience. The final touch which really tops it all off is the farewell provided on departure from the clubhouse. At which other course in South Africa do the staff put the same amount of emphasis on the farewell as they do the welcome?

It must obviously be understood that the Links is in a fortunate position when it comes to service as they do serve, on average, far fewer golfers than some of the more club oriented courses in the country. However, what this team does for their guests cannot be downplayed. Without being flashy or in your face, the Links service team ensure that every guest leaves Fancourt taking something incredibly special home with them. A feeling that for one day at least, "There was no more important person on a golf course than me."

LATEST WORLD GOLF RANKINGS - 30 JANUARY 2012

2012-01-30T22:52:00.001+02:00

Men's world golf rankings | 30 January 2012

Rank	Player	Events	Avg Points
1	Luke Donald	52	9.89
2	Lee Westwood	45	7.63
3	Rory McIlroy	50	7.41
4	Martin Kaymer	51	6.20
5	Steve Stricker	41	5.95
6	Webb Simpson	52	5.30
7	Adam Scott	47	5.24
8	Charl Schwartzel	52	5.14
9	Dustin Johnson	50	5.06
10	Jason Day	47	4.93
11	Matt Kuchar	52	4.64
12	Nick Watney	51	4.52
13	Graeme McDowell	52	4.45
14	K.J. Choi	52	4.43
15	Phil Mickelson	48	4.08
16	Justin Rose	52	3.77
17	Sergio Garcia	48	3.74
18	Hunter Mahan	52	3.68
19	Ian Poulter	50	3.66
20	Paul Casey	49	3.56

7 SHOT COMEBACK AT FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN 2012

2012-01-30T08:01:00.000+02:00