The 21st interclub hosted byCentral Gauteng on Sunday 9th August at The Wanderers Golf Club was won by Wanderers A by one point from Wanderers B.The players representing the winners were Shaun Stapleton,Yubin Jung,Bryn Flanagan and Neil Homann.The B team comprised Daniel Hammond,Darran Warner,Roger Stubbs and Jonathan Raphunga. This is the 6th time Wanderers has won this annual event.The field of 20 teams included the leading amateur golfers in Gauteng. Congratulations to Wanderers on an incredible season in scratch league in this our 70th anniversary year.

Chris Leicher
Club Captain.

It seems very strange indeed to be sitting down to write a report as Chairman of our wonderful Club. I’d like to thank those Members and Committee who have entrusted this position to me. I am indeed honoured!

At our Club’s 70th AGM in April we said farewell to Mike Dix. I’d like to pay tribute to his ten-year stint on Committee, culminating in three years of Chairmanship where his management style produced a wonderfully warm and relaxed atmosphere throughout our Club. Once again Mike “Thanks” on behalf of us all.

SUCCESS IN OUR 70th

1st Scratch League Team:

Wanderers are champions of Central Gauteng for the first time since 2000 and we could not have chosen a more appropriate year. 
On the last hole of the final game at Ruimsig on 14th June 2009 our No. 1 player Shaun (Mr Dependable) Stapleton drained a six foot left to right birdie putt to halve his game and the match to win the league. A superb team effort from all the players under the inspired leadership of Neil Homann.  Together you showed an amazing sense of character, comradeship, sportsmanship and talent at all times.  Managing the team has been one of my most rewarding experiences as club captain.  Now let's lift our game and take the treble: league finals and the Etonic Interclub beckons.

Highlights of 2009
On the course:
Yubin Jung's incredible form in February and March earned him 2nd place in SA Amateur, 1st in the Northern Open closing with 69 and 65, selection for Central Gauteng at InterProv, his South African colours, and a course record equaling 135 to win club championships by 9 shots.

The annual 36-hole Club Championships were held on Friday 6 March 2009. It was a magnificent late summers day and the course was in immaculate condition with some tricky pin placements.The committee agreed to the breakdown of divisions as follows: A Division 0-12, B Division 13-20 and the C Division 21-36.

The year started off extremely wet with many rounds being washed out and tough conditions on the course.  However, all the rain made for a beautiful course long into autumn and the early winter months.

A large increase in green fees for weekday members was averted at the beginning of 2009 after a concerted lobby from the ladies section.  The main committee took the decision to reduce green fees for all members playing on a weekday morning.  I would like to appeal to all of you to make the effort to play every Friday in our ladies competitions, as well as the more social stableford competitions on Tuesday mornings.

The focus during 2008 was to maintain a balance between revenue streams, cost to members and protection of members' rights.  I am pleased to say that we were successful in achieving our goals.  This is confirmed by the fact that Wanderers is still the venue of choice by members, visitors and corporates alike.

Although rounds of golf may be down by approximately 3000 per annum from 10 years ago this is in line with the decision taken by the committee a few years back; namely to reduce the number of rounds, endeavour to attract better quality corporate days and thus protect the golf course.  I believe that we have achieved these goals.

In these difficult economic times Wanderers compares very favourably with like clubs in and around Gauteng and we are still regarded as one of the premier clubs in South Africa.  We are ready for the challenges awaiting us and will strive to maintain the quality and standard expected.