Images Here: , with Donovan Lubbe and Riaan Benson of Team Matlosana–Westvaal.

Argus Winners to ride Mossel Bay cycle race

Cycling stars Tyler Day (who won the 2011 Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour for Team Bonitas in 2:32:10), and his brother, Dusty (who placed fourth in the event), have announced that they will ride Mossel Bay’s Great Brak Grabadoo, which takes place by tradition on New Year’s Eve every year.

They will be accompanied by Donovan Lubbe and Riaan Benson – Dusty’s team mates from Team Matlosana–Westvaal.

All four are currently on holiday in Knysna, and see the Grabadoo as an essential part of their training for the 2012 season.

“It’s incredibly exciting that a Mossel Bay-based cycling event like the Grabadoo has started to attract the professionals,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.

“But it’s not surprising – because the standard of entertainment on offer in Mossel Bay is growing exponentially with every year that passes.”

She said that a number of local resorts and individuals provide an almost unlimited array of sporting, cultural and other events over the summer holidays.

“Most of these programmes – like the Bravo Festival at the Garden Route Casino, the Summer Sun Festival at the Diaz Strand Hotel and Resort, and The Barnyard Theatre’s summer season – are well established and have become famous for attracting some of South Africa’s biggest talent.

Donovan Lubbe of Team Matlosana–Westvaal

“But new attractions – like the delightful Monroe Theatre, with its programme of vintage movies and live performances – are coming onto the scene all the time,” she said.

As far as sporting fixtures are concerned, Ms. Holm said that athletes and fans should diarise:

The Coreen Fourie Memorial Eco-Adventure – a 5 km walk or run along the St Blaize Trail on the 26th of December at 6:30 a.m.;

The Mossel Bay Harriers/ Garden Route Casino 4 km and 10 km Night Race at the Hartenbos Amphitheatre on the 27th of December at 6:00 p.m.;

The Four Cousins Summer of Touch – touch rugby competitions on Diaz Beach on the 28th and 30th of December from 8:00 a.m.:

The start of the second stage of the Trans Agulhas Challenge – which is billed as ‘The world’s toughest inflatable boat challenge’ – and which will take place at Santos Beach on the 28th of December at 1:00 p.m. (This race, which is expected to attract more than 60 boats, begins in Plettenberg Bay, 150 km west of Mossel Bay, and ends at The Strand, near Cape Town, five days later. The second stage takes in the stretch from Mossel Bay to Still Bay.);

Riaan Benson of Team Matlosana–Westvaal

The 5 and 10km Pepper Tree Trail Run, which starts at the Pepper Tree Restaurant in Great Brak River at 7:00 a.m. on the 30th of December;

The 9th annual Great Brak Grabadoo, which includes running, walking and cycling races, and which starts at the Pepper Tree Restaurant at 7:00 a.m. on the 31st of December; and

The Hartenbos Drawwers’ 10 km NSRI New Years Race, which starts at Diaz Beach on the 1st of January at 9:00 a.m.

For golfers, she said, Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort will be playing their Christmas Hamper Golf Day on the 24th of December, and their Bring-a-prize-Win-a-prize Day on the 26th.

“The idea of the Bring-a-prize-Win-a-prize Day is that all players bring their ‘unwanted’ Christmas presents and put them into a pool – from which the winners get to choose the prizes they want.

“Play will start at 7:00 a.m., and booking is essential – we expect the fields to be full on both days.

“But there’s so much to do between now and the middle of January, that the only way to really keep informed is via our on-line diary at www.visitmosselbay.co.za/calendar,” said Ms. Holm. “Or you could call in at our information office on the corner of Church and Market Streets, across the road from the Dias Museum Complex.”

More information:
Mossel Bay - www.visitmosselbay.co.za and www.facebook.com/visitmosselbay
Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort – www.pinnaclepointestate.co.za

Mossel Bay’s Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort is looking better than ever before, with the course in immaculate condition, and the fynbos in the rough flowering dramatically.

“The developer of the property is experiencing financial difficulties, but this hasn’t affected the management or running of the Resort, which is under the control of the Homeowners Association,” said the Association’s general manager, Carl van der Linde.

Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Resort, Mossel Bay: The clubhouse

85% of the erven on the estate have been sold and are now held in private ownership, with only about 42 undeveloped properties still available on the open market.

The construction of a number of homes has been completed, and the Association manages a successful rentals system for guests seeking the ultimate luxury of a few days’ stay in a beautifully appointed golf villa or golf lodge.

Mr. van der Linde said that the Association is proud that Pinnacle Point was named one of the ten best new courses in the world in 2007, and that it was doing everything it can to live up to – and improve upon – the expectations that that created.

“Pinnacle Point was also named the 7th most scenic golf course in the world,” he said. “All 18 holes have fantastic views over the Indian Ocean, and seven of them hug the ocean cliffs – inviting golfers to take short cuts directly over the sea.

“It’s a links-style, par 72 course that was designed by Peter Matkovich to fit into the existing environment – and it’s a design that makes best use of the cliff-top position and the natural flora of the area,” said Mr. van der Linde. “Now, with the good rains of the last winter combined with top quality turf grass management, the fynbos has come into its own, and the greens, tees, and fairways are looking better than ever before.”

He said that the Association has recently appointed Bertu Nel – a well-known figure in golf and hospitality circles in the Southern Cape – to manage the course and the clubhouse: “Bertu brings with him many years of experience and a natural flair for the business, and he’s already proved himself to be a valuable member of the team.”

Mr. van der Linde pointed out that visitors are most welcome, and that the golf course is open for all to enjoy.

“It’s an exciting and challenging championship course, but to make it accessible to everyone, we have four different sets of tees to choose from: Red for ladies, juniors and novices, Gold for low handicap ladies, seniors and high handicap men, Green for low and medium handicap men, and Blue for pros and low handicap players looking for an exceptional challenge.”

The club offers tuition, a pro shop, practice facilities (a full length driving range, target greens, pitching and putting greens and practice bunkers), clubs- and cart hire, a bar, a halfway house, an à la carte restaurant, and a functions facility.

“The Fairways Restaurant has magnificent views over the ocean, the course, and the fynbos, and it’s open to golfers as well as other guests – so you don’t necessarily need to play the game in order to enjoy Pinnacle Point,” said Mr. van der Linde.

“But if you do play, you really ought to do yourself the favour of enjoying a round or two at Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort the next time you’re visiting Mossel Bay or the Garden Route.

“It’s a ‘must play’ course!”

For bookings, contact golfbookings [at] pinnaclepointestate.co.za or 044 693 3438. More information at www.pinnaclepointestate.co.za

ENDS

Issued by Interface by Goji on behalf of the Pinnacle Point Homeowners Association

Media enquiries:

Mimi Finestone
Cell +27 84 583 3144
mimi ]at] gojipr.net

Mariki Theron
Mobile: 083 375 3973
mariki [at] gojipr.net
Fax +27 86 527 5782

www.gojipr.net

Interface by Goji
72 Hibernia Street, George, 6529

Media Release, 5 January 2011. Mossel Bay Tourism

Proud Mossel Bay Salutes Golfer Lee-Anne Pace

Mossel Bay is incredibly proud of golf’s European No. 1, Lee-Anne Pace.

“I don’t think many people realise how much Lee-Anne – who achieved her position after winning the Ladies European Tour’s Henderson Money List (the old Order of Merit) in Dubai last year – has done for Mossel Bay and the Mossel Bay Golf Club,” said the Club’s CEO, Bertu Nel.

“Between her and Louis Oosthuizen, we owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

“I couldn’t even begin to tell you how many articles and broadcasts have mentioned Mossel Bay over the last year because they’ve featured Louis and Lee-Anne.”

Ms. Pace’s five tournament victories in the five months from June to October 2010 set her on course for her title – but her entire career has been no less remarkable.

Lee-Anne Pace (courtesy Mossel Bay Golf Club)

“She began by caddying for her dad (Francois) and playing with some of the boys at Wellington, where we used to live,” said her mother, Sandra.

“But within about three or four months one of the local coaches noticed her, and in another three months she was playing for Boland.

“That was in her matric year, and in the following year she gained her junior and then her Springbok colours.”

The Pace family moved to Mossel Bay in 2001, although Lee-Anne was then working – and playing golf – in Durban.

“She decided on her own to apply for an athletic scholarship to the University of Murray State, in Kentucky, and she started studying in 2003,” said Ms. Pace, Sr.

There she won seven intercollegiate events and the University’s Player of the Year award before transferring to the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, on a full athletic scholarship in 2004.

She graduated with a BA in Science (with a major in psychology and a minor in coaching), and won the Western Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year award in 2005.

Lee-Anne Pace has represented South Africa at the World Amateur Championship in Puerto Rico, at the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand, at the World Amateur Championship in Malaysia, at the Belgian International Championship, and at the British, Wales and Ireland Games.

She was named Player of the Year by both Complete Golfer and Golf Digest in 2009.

“Everyone asks where she gets her perseverance from,” said her mother. “I think it’s from that last year of her studies when she was also playing on the Futures Tour.

“She very often had to sit with her books on the plane and work while she was travelling.”

Mr. Nel said that the Mossel Bay Golf Club had seen a definite increase in demand in the period since Ms. Pace’s European Tour win.

“Our figures are up on last year, and in this economy, that says everything,” he said.

He noted that while most of the additional demand came from South Africans, the course had hosted a significant increase in foreign players over the last week: “And they all ask about Lee-Anne and Louis. They all want to see their photos on the wall.

“Some Swedish players were even lucky enough to recognise Louis on the first tee during a practice round earlier this week, and to have their pictures taken with him.”

Mr. Nel said that the club would be publishing personalised Lee-Anne Pace and Louis Oosthuizen score cards later this year, “And we think they’ll become real collector’s items.”

Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm congratulated Ms. Pace, and thanked her for the work she’d done to market the town.

“We realise that she doesn’t get to spend a lot of time here, but the fact that she comes from Mossel Bay, and calls it home, has done amazing things for the town.

“No estimate could really do justice to the value of the marketing she does simply by being an ambassador for Mossel Bay,” she said.

Ms. Pace is currently ranked 58th in the World (after placing 110th in the rankings during her 2007 rookie season), and will begin her 2011 campaign in Australia.

ENDS

Mossel Bay’s programme of summer entertainment is bigger and better than ever before.

“Some of the country’s top talent, superb golf competitions, children’s entertainment, a food-and-beverage market, and not one but two Blue Flag Beaches – Mossel Bay’s going to cook this December!” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s chairman, René Bongers.

He said that a number of organisations – including the Garden Route Casino, the Mossel Bay Golf Club, the ATKV-Hartenbos Resort, Langeberg Mall, the Barnyard Theatre, and the Diaz Strand Hotel and Beach Resort – have organised individual events which, when taken together, constitute what could be the biggest summer programme of any resort town on South Africa’s coast.

“In fact, there’s so much on the go that you’ll have to get up early to pack it all in,” said Mr. Bongers.

Bertu Nel, CEO of the Mossel Bay Golf Club, said that special arrangements have been made for early, um, birdies. “We’ll be open for play every morning (except Christmas Day) from 5:30 to give as many people as possible a chance to enjoy playing the course where you can see the sea from every tee,” he said. He noted, too, that recent rains and the successful sinking of a number of boreholes have helped to create “fantastic conditions” on the tees, greens, and fairways. “Even the rough is looking good.”

He said that demand has begun to outstrip supply, and that the Rotary Golf Day (11 December) is already fully subscribed. “But there are other competitions, including the Mossel Bay Bells Whiskey Classic (17 December) and various smaller events – and, of course, there’ll also be holiday golf on every day of the season.”

Mr. Bongers said that the Bravo Festival has become one of the most popular event of the year in Mossel Bay.

“It takes place in a temporary pavilion that’s specially set up in the grounds of the Garden Route Casino, and it includes a great food and beverage market which opens at 5:00 every afternoon – so it’s the ideal way to spend an evening.”

This seventh Bravo and Egoli Music Festival will run from the 18th to the 22nd of December, and will include performances by everyone’s favourite Egoli stars and top South African artists – including Kurt Darren, Steve Hofmeyr, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Romanz, Nicholis Louw, Ray Dylan, Lianie May, Emo Adams, Karen Zoid, and others.

The Diaz Strand Hotel’s festival will include performances by Gerrie Pretorius, Collin Street, Danie Niehaus, and Wasserfall, and will also feature various competitions: Mnr Spiertjies en Mej Sandkorreltjie (17 December); Mej en Mnr Diaz Jnr (18 December); Mej Rip Curl Bikini (23 December); Mej Tiener (27 December); Mej Diaz (30 December); Mr. Hunk (31 December); and Mej Roxy Bikini (2 January). There’ll also be the necessary arm-wrestling and baby competitions, as well as a new-year’s eve bash.

Amongst others, The Barnyard will present Just Jinger (11 December); Rooi-Kaart by Frank Opperman (13 December); Chris Chameleon (14 December); and Jan Blohm and his Band (15 December).

Amongst others, the ATKV-Hartenbos will present Heinz Winckler (17 December), and a Miss Hartenbos competition (27 December) in the Walvis Hall, as well as variety shows at the Amphitheatre on the 22nd of December (Karen Ferreira, Snotkop, Arno Jordaan, Eden, Nicholis Louw, Bok van Blerk, etc.); the 26th of December (Colletts, Suzanne Renzke, Rudi & Corlea, Romanz, etc.); the 28th of December (Kurt Darren, Ray Dylan, Dewald Dippenaar, Pieter Koen, Disselboom, etc.); and the 30th of December (Guillaume, DJ Ossewa, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Theuns Jordaan, etc).

Other artists who will appear in Mossel Bay during the season include  Petronel Baard, Nicholas Carstens, Watershed, Steve Hofmeyer, Andre Swiegers, Prime Circle, Anton Goosen, and Elvis Blue, who will sing with L’loyd Cele – the man he narrowly beat to win the Idols crown earlier this year (and with whom he shared the prize money).

Other events include the Yacht and Boat Club’s Kob Derby (18 December);  street markets in Mossel Bay and Hartenbos and the CANSA Sonslimstap on the 17th of December; a Kers-Kunsmark on the 20th of December; and the Coreen Fourie Memorial Eco-Adventure (27 December).

“In fact, there’ll be something on on every single day during this coming Mossel Bay summer,” said Mr. Bongers, adding that the best way to get the latest information is to check out the town’s on-line calendar at www.visitmosselbay.co.za/calendar/.

ENDS

Media Release. 19 July 2010. Mossel Bay Tourism

Mossel Bay Mayor Salutes new British Open Champion

AFRIKAANSE WEERGAWE: Mosselbaai Burgemeester prys nuwe Britse Ope Kampioen

Mossel Bay is celebrating the achievements of one of its best-known residents after local golfer Louis Oosthuizen this weekend claimed his first major golf championship: the British Open.

The 27-year-old took the title with a score of 272 – a dominating, 16-under par, seven-stroke victory over England’s Lee Westwood (9-under, 279), and third-place-holders Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden), who both shot 8-under totals of 280.

The 2010 Open – which began on Thursday, and finished at about 7:30 South African time last night (Sunday, 18 July) – marked the 150th running of the event. It was also the 28th time that the par 72, 7,305-yard Old Course at St Andrews has hosted the championship.

Mr. Oosthuizen’s result puts him just one stroke off the record for the biggest win in the British Open’s modern era: Tiger Woods’ eight-stroke masterpiece at St. Andrews ten years ago.

Mr. Oosthuizen, who won the World Junior Championship in 2002, and was a member of the South African team which won the World Amateur Team Championship in that same year, turned pro at the age of nineteen in 2002. He has since won the South African PGA Championship on two occasions, and now plays the European Tour – on which he took his first victory at the Open de Andalucia, in Spain, earlier this year

“Louis’ win has given everyone in Mossel Bay a shot of good cheer this morning, said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.

“It puts him in the same class as Tiger Woods, James Braid, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Bobby Locke, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, and Nick Faldo, who’ve all won at the Old Course – but we believe he’s got a huge advantage because he comes from Mossel Bay.

“His home course is Mossel Bay Golf Club where, as they say, ‘You can see the sea from every tee.”

Ms. Holm said that Mr. Oosthuizen’s performance was “invaluable for Mossel Bay, because the commentators who were covering the Open were talking about Mossel Bay Golf Club – for three days, over and over again – and now the whole of the golfing world knows about the town.

“For this, we owe Louis a huge debt of gratitude,” she said.

Bertu Nel, CEO of the Mossel Bay Golf Club, said the atmosphere at the Club was electric. “We had our big screen set up, everyone was there, and it was cheers and high-fives over and over again.

“We can’t tell you how proud we are of Louis and what he’s achieved – and our phones haven’t stopped ringing this morning.

“Everyone’s incredibly excited and happy.”

Mossel Bay’s Executive Mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira was just as ecstatic as everyone else in the popular holiday town.

“Congratulations, Louis – your win puts you in a class with the greatest golfers in the world today,” she said.

“We’re very proud of you.”

NOTE: Vote for Mossel Bay as South Africa’s Town of the Year for 2010. SMS Mosselbaai to 33157 before 12h00 on 30 July 2010.

ENDS 506 WORDS

Media Release – 2 April 2010

Mossel Bay Golf Club – which prides itself on its friendliness – will be hosting 30 Days of Golf this April.

“We’ve got organised events on every day of the month,” said the Club’s CEO, Bertu Nel. “But, although we’re expecting to be very busy, we’ll always have room for visitors who want to play.

“And April to July is the best time for golf on the Garden Route – because this is the time of year when we enjoy perfect, windless, sunny weather.”

He said that the recent successful opening of a new borehole on the course had helped playing conditions considerably.

“We’ve been through a serious drought, and we’re still all praying for rain – which is the best water of all. But I’d almost say that we have a grateful course, because of the speed with which it’s recovered since we started watering.

“The course is looking good already – but it’s getting better all the time, and I think we’ll have it in top quality condition in a week or so.”

Mr. Nel said that highlights of the month’s programme included an At Home Day on Thursday the 15th, when the lady members of the Club would entertain ladies from all the other golf clubs in the Garden Route; the Park Primary Fund Raiser on Saturday the 17th; and the Jack Nicklaus Golf Day on Friday the 30th, which is part of a national series – of which the eventual winners will travel to the USA to play with Mr. Nicklaus himself.

“For visitors, one of our most exciting events of the year will be the launch of the Garden Route Golf Pass on the 15th of April,” said Mr. Nel.

Five different passes will allow access at preferential, pre-paid rates to the region’s many championships courses.

The ‘Par’ Passport costs, R550.00, and buys a round each at the Mossel Bay Golf Club, the George Golf Club, and the Kingswood Golf Estate (in George); The ‘Birdie Passport’ costs R750.00, and includes Plettenberg Bay Golf Club, Goose Valley Golf Club (also in Plettenberg Bay), and the Pezula Championship Golf Course in Knysna; the ‘Standard’ Passport costs R990.00, and includes rounds at George, Kingswood, Mossel Bay, Pezula, and the Plettenberg Bay Country Club; the ‘Eagle’ Passport includes Pinnacle Point Golf Resort in Mossel Bay, Oubaai Golf Estate near George, and the Mossel Bay, George, and Kingswood courses – all for R1,500; and the ‘Albatross’ Passport includes Pinnacle Point, Oubaai, Pezula and the Simola Golf Estate in Knysna as well as golf cart hire for just R1,850.

“The Passports are valid until the 15th of October, and offer incredible value for money for anyone who loves playing here in the Garden Route, which really is South Africa’s Capital of Golf,” said Mr. Nel.

Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm said that both Mossel Bay Golf Club’s April Programme and the Garden Route Golf Passports fitted in well with the town’s Domestic Marketing Campaign.

“We’re promoting the idea that Mossel Bay is ‘The South African’s Destination During This Year’s World Cup’,” she said. “And that while the rest of the world would be filling the host cities for the games, South Africans can still escape to their favourite holiday town – and it won’t cost them a fortune, either, as the Golf Passports have shown.

“We’re very much looking forward to welcoming our countrymen this Easter – and during the long winter holidays to come,” said Ms. Holm

More information from www.visitmosselbay.co.za and www.grgolfpass.co.za.

ENDS 595 WORDS

NOTE TO EDITORS: MOSSEL BAY GOLF CLUB PROGRAMME FOR APRIL 2010

Thursday 1 April – Ladies & Social Golf
Friday 2 April – IPS & Social Golf
Saturday 3 April – Comb. Bogey Plus
Sunday 4 April – Social Golf
Monday 5 April – 4 B All Stableford
Tuesday 6 April – SA Police & Sages
Wednesday 7 April – PSG Chicken Run
Thursday 8 April – Ladies & Social Golf
Friday 9 April – Mosselkrakers & Social Golf
Saturday 10 April – BB Medal
Sunday 11 April – Social Golf
Monday 12 April – Open @ 10:00 for Social Golf
Tuesday 13 April – Mosselkrakers & Seniors
Wednesday 14 April – BB Stableford
Thursday 15 April – Ladies @ Home Golf Day
Friday 16 April – Mosselkrakers & Social Golf
Saturday 17 April – IPS – Park Laerskool
Sunday 18 April – Social Golf & Sunday Mixed Competition
Monday 19 April – Ladies League & Social Golf
Tuesday 20 April – Mosselkrakers & Social Golf
Wednesday 21 April – Philren Monthly Medal
Thursday 22 April – Mikeva Golf Day
Friday 23 April – Mosselkrakers & Double Whammy
Saturday 24 April – Srixon Super Saturday – BB Bonus Bogey
Sunday 25 April – Social Golf
Monday 26 April – Open @ 10:00 for Social Golf
Tuesday 27 April – Combined Stableford
Wednesday 28 April – Sakemanne Golf Day – BB Stableford
Thursday 29 April – Ladies & Social Golf
Friday 30 April – Mosselkrakers & Jack Nicklaus Golf Day