Ladies at The Wanderers Golf Club

Brief history

In the late 1930s the Chairman of The Wanderers Club, Victor Kent, requested Felix Oliver to construct a golf club off Corlett Drive in Illovo. He realized that the SA Railways were 'eyeing' The Wanderers Club land in Station Street for extensions to the main Johannesburg station. In 1939, an 18 hole golf course was opened. The ladies section was established simultaneously and the first lady captain was Mrs Kay Deane. The ladies section has thrived over the last 70 years and currently has about 70 members.

A number of Springbok golfers were Wanderers members: Julia Wipplinger (1964), Jenny Barclay (1969, 1972, 1973 and 1975), Cheran Gerber (1972-1974 and 1976), Lisle Nel (1974), Joanne Norton (1998) and, most recently, Tandi Cuningham (nee Von Reuben - 2008).

Some other well-known lady members are Vivienne Player, Thelma Donen, Joyce Williams, Dr Helen Suzman, Doreen Sanders, Peg Pentelow and Pat Pretorius.

Ladies committee

Vice-President: Sue Prior
Captain: Robyn Ireland
Vice-Captain: Sue Norval
Committee: Paula Forssman, Tessa Hinton, Jo Morley-Jepson, Pam Spencer, Linda Clarke
Secretary: May Walsh

Player Profile - Tandi Cunningham (nee von Ruben)

Tandi joined The Wanderers Golf Club in 2004 and immediately set out on her path to turn professional. She became the number one ladies seed in 2005 and was unbeaten in the Gauteng Scratch League for that year.

In 2006,  Tandi participated in all of the national tournaments and one of her highlights was winning the individual 72 hole team's championships in Port Elizabeth. She also attained her Junior Springbok colours and she was ranked 5th in the country.

In 2007 she won the Club Championships, by 30 shots, and set a new championship record of 7 under par. In addition, she won the Botswana Open Championship. Tandi went overseas to gain experience and climbed to number 3 in the local rankings, despite missing several tournaments whilst she was away.

Tandi turned professional in November 2008 and won the 2009 Ladies South African Open at Parkview. She shot a course record opening round of a bogey free 63, followed by a tournament record of 66 for the second round, which gave her a 15 under par score. She went on to win her first professional tournament in only her third start.

In June 2009, Tandi won the Felix Finnish Open at Aura Golf Club in Finland with solid scores of 68, 70 and 71.

Tandi has secured playing privileges on the Ladies European Tour for the 2010 season and had a tied 30th finish in Morocco in March in the Lalla Meryam Cup in Casablanca.

Upcoming tournaments for the year include: Germany, Slovakia, Netherlands, Switzerland and Portugal.   Please visit our news section for Round by Round news from Tandi.

The Wanderers Golf Club League Representation

We have four teams entered in the Gauteng Weekday Betterball League, two in the silver division and two in the bronze division. We have two business girls teams entered in the Sunday Betterball League. Congratulations to Colleen Lawson's team for winning their division in 2009. They were beaten by Killarney in the semi-finals. Killarney were the eventual winners of that league.

Thank you to LifeHealthCare for their very generous sponsorship of the new league uniforms this season.

League Captains for 2010
Jo Morley-Jepson - Wanderers 1, Silver Division 1
Gill van der Meulen - Wanderers 2, Silver Division 4
Pam Spencer - Wanderers 1, Bronze Division 1
Pam Hoffman - Wanderers 2, Bronze Division 3
Colleen Lawson - Wanderers 1, Sunday League Division 4
Sue Norval - Wanderers 2, Sunday League Division 1

For all league results please visit www.ladiesgolfgauteng.co.za

Business Girls

This Business Girls section caters for the ladies that work and are unable to play their golf during the week. The club has very kindly made four tee-off times available to the BG’s on a Saturday morning from 11:15. There are about 24 active BG members who enter two teams in the Sunday Betterball League. Most of the ladies participate in the major weekday events, such as Club Championships, Chairman’s prize, and the Spring and Christmas competitions. The Business Girls are a festive bunch and organise tours away to Salt Rock, Sun City and White River. If you are a working girl and would like to join the BG’s on a Saturday morning, please contact the BG’s captain Marinda Callaghan on 082 257 6466.

Ladies Section up and coming events

The Ladies Open competitions are held on the last Friday of the month. Members are encouraged to bring guests and we welcome members from other clubs to participate.Stay afterwards for prizegiving and a delicious lunch. Important dates to diarise:

MAY

14     Chariman's Prize 36 Holes

28     Ladies Open 4 Ball Alliance

30     Mixed 4 Ball Alliance

Charity Days

The Ladies Committee organise the Wanderers charity events on an annual basis. In these tough economic times it is important that we all try and give something to those less fortunate than ourselves. The 2009 charity days raised R66 000.00 which was distributed to various charities.

The Lady Captain decides on which charities the funds should go to. The Committee researched a number of charities and decided that instead of giving cash to the charities, we would find out what was on their wish list and purchase the items for them. It was a long process, but as Sur Prior quoted after having done some deliveries "wonderfully rewarding and eye opening. There are some desperate people out there." Below please find some of the items donated:

- Plastic scooters, tricycles, sleeping mats, tables and dolls to Thushanang Early Childhood Centre.

- Purchased and installed a zozo hut at SoapKidz.

- Delivered 100 sheets and 2 industrial irons to the Rosebank Homeless Association. They house homeless people and run a sewing project.

- Microwave, iron and clothes to Marang House for terminally ill children.

- 70 chairs, blankets and large food parcels to Bundle of Joy Nursery School in Thembisa.

- R20 000.00 to St Columbus outreach programme.

- R10 000.00 to Cerebral Palsey Association.

- Christmas Hampers for the grannies that look after children at Mme D Hani Childcare Centre.

Thank you for all of your kindness and generosity, we really did make a difference in some people's lives.

The 2010 Charity Days will be held on Friday, 23 July 2010 - the Ladies Open and Sunday, 25 July 2010 Mixed Open. Once again we will be calling on you for your help - sponsor a hole (R500.00), prizes, donations and to play in the event. Please contact May Walsh (011) 447-3311/6931.

General News

Representation on Ladies Golf Gauteng Committee:  Ann Bainbridge has served as president of this committee since 2007 and Les Rule, Club captain in 2007, was nominated as president to take over from Ann after the AGM in May 2009.  Gill van der Meulen was nominated as a committee member.

News from the main club:  Please note that all golf affiliate members can purchase a Wanderers Club smart card for R50 and receive a discount on food and beverage purchases at the Wanderers Main Clubhouse.