Not only does the University of Pretoria have the best sporting facilities in the country, but it also boasts a number of specialised academic programmes that back up the superb facilities.

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Pretoria, Professor Cheryl de la Rey, described the opening of the TuksGolf Training Centre as a reflection of the University’s continuous commitment to sporting excellence.

Prof De la Rey said the University’s educational ethos guides the provision of sporting opportunities, as it is underpinned by the University’s core business of developing young talent. “This is not just the space for our golfing athletes to practice their skills, but it is about our commitment to development,” she said.

Having had a brief stint playing golf, Prof De la Rey said in her experience the sport contributes to the development of character. She said that, although it is pivotal for athletes to practice in order to gain proficient athletic skills, golf adds an element of character development and that this golfing facility will contribute to the development of young talent in a holistic sense.

Prof De la Rey also acknowledged those involved in the development of the golf facility. Among various golfing associations, she particularly acknowledged the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland that played a significant role in the development of the centre.

Representative of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Allison White, says the club has a responsibility towards developing the game of golf in various countries around the world. She congratulated the University on its excellent facility which should enhance “the winning ways of the University of Pretoria for many years to come”.

Chief Executive of the High Performance Centre (hpc) at the University of Pretoria, Toby Sutcliffe, said golf used to be a recreational sport at the University, but the situation changed when he was requested to start a high performance programme for golf in 2005.

He said arrangements for building golf facilities were subsequently made and in 2006, the University of Pretoria’s Golf Academy was awarded full accreditation from the PGA of South Africa and the South African Golf Association. In 2007, the University approved registration of a sport specific degree, BSc Sport Sciences, with the option that golf could be taken as an official course of specialisation through the Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences.

TuksGolf Academy has a full-time and a part-time programme, which cater for golfers from school level to a professional Champion Elite programme.

The TuksGolf Academy has produced nine South African number one golfers at school and university levels. Some of the club’s highlights include winning the Student Match Play in Ingolstadt, Germany, the SA Universities title, the SA High School Championships and the St John’s International Schools Festival.

“Currently 11 of the top 20 on SA’s senior men’s rankings are training with TuksGolf, whilst two of our women golfers are ranked in the top ten in the world senior amateur ranks. With golf now an Olympic sport, we believe that with TuksGolf Training Centre we have created a facility that will drive our future talent to perform on the highest stage in the world,” Toby Sutcliffe concluded. 
 

 Left: Ms Allison White from the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland
Middle: Johan Steyn, Head of Programme: TuksGolf, and Prof Cheryl de la Rey, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria.
 

 
 From left to right: Johan Steyn, Head of Programme: TuksGolf, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Dr Piet Botha: Vice Chairman of the University of Pretoria Council and Nobuhle Dlamini: TuksGolf Athlete who has recently claimed her seventh title this season during the Gauteng 54-Hole Championship Match Play.