An eThekwini councillor has called on the city to sponsor more golf players and tournaments, and create golf academies for the underprivileged.

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Councillor Mncedisi Nxumalo spoke extensively at a council meeting about getting further sponsors for the current professional golfers so that they can be ambassadors and role models to future generations.

The eThekwini Municipality will sponsor R5 million towards the 114th Investec SA Open Golf Championship to be held at the Durban Country Club in March.

eThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele explained that in terms of the sponsorship package, the municipality will participate in several key components of the event.

Mbhele stated that the benefits associated with this championship include global exposure, potentially reaching over 1.25 billion viewers, the promotion of Durban, and economic impact.

He added that the Sunshine Tour event, potentially hosted in partnership with eThekwini, will feature 156 local professional golfers competing for a share of the R2 million prize fund.

Mbhele said discussions are well under way with the event owners and organisers about securing all or most of the events for a minimum of the next three years.

Nxumalo said the city should get sponsors that can support various golfers from the introduction of golf to being a professional and further support to international participation on different circuits.

“Over the years, golf has presented a view of being an elite sport that individuals have to pay money to participate in. Golf courses are in secluded areas and sporting equipment for golf is pricey. These elements have limited exposure to the previously disadvantaged excess, support, and participation. Even in our education curriculum, golf has not seen the rise,” Nxumalo said.

Nxumalo said none of eThekwini residents are part of the Dubai Ports (DP) World Tour circuit. He said six of the residents are partaking in the Sunshine Tour circuit.

“DP World presents an international platform and opportunity not only for eThekwini professional golfers to participate in but also need the council to actively support for its citizens to partake as this presents an opportunity to increase international trade and income from this platform,” Nxumalo said.

The Sunshine Tour circuit is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) professional golfers platform - this can be compared to Betway Premiership in football.

In the Sunshine Tour circuit, there’s over a thousand professional golfers in its registry while eThekwini has only six, making this percentage below 1%. The council now can have an opportunity to make the participation of its citizens into these platforms a better representation.

“The closest tournament for an individual staying in Durban has been a Sunshine Tour event taking place at Umhlali Country Club. The second closest would be in Wild Coast golf course in Mbizana,” Nxumalo said.

Nxumalo said that a professional player still needs a coach so they can be assisted for continuous improvement, also to be supported by manager, caddy, and an administrative management in ensuring they can perform at their best without worrying.

This has been the limitation faced by our Player Development Index (PDI) ability to become professional golfers. As the municipality had taken a stance in being involved with golf, it is further important that such events citizen participation can be increased.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za