We bring you all the latest news stories and updates from the Ernie Els Group.
1. Legends past and present tee it up in The Els for Autism Pro Am
This year’s Els for Autism Pro Am attracted many of the world’s best players, including world number one Rory McIlroy (pictured above and below) and was held at beautiful Old Palm. It raised over $1.5 million and in the past seven years, since the event’s inception, has raised close to $7.5 million. The field also included Rickie Fowler, Nick Price, Keegan Bradley, Retief Goosen, Jordan Spieth, Will McGirt, Louis Oosthuizen, Cameron Tringale, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd (who designed Old Palm), Will MacKenzie, Thomas Aiken, Rory Sabbatini, Luke Donald, Brooks Koepka, Lucas Glover, Jason Dufner, KJ Choi and Ian Baker-Finch, who won the Pro Am.
“It was an incredible line-up,” commented Ernie. “We had 12 major champions with a total of 42 majors between us. It was a bit like a satellite gathering of the World Golf Hall of Fame! Obviously, massive thanks to all of the professionals, amateurs and companies who generously supported this year’s Pro Am and to Ketel One who sponsored the hole-in-one shootout for the pros. Thanks also to our partners, Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado, and to Mark Rolfing, Tim Rosaforte and the rest of the guys at the Golf Channel for covering the day and helping spread awareness for our cause.”
Click here for more information about Els for Autism and the construction of the Els Center of Excellence.
2. Albany set to host Tiger’s Hero World Challenge in 2015
The 2015 Hero World Challenge, an annual tournament co-sponsored by the PGA TOUR, will be staged at the spectacular Ernie Els designed Albany course in the Bahamas (below). It becomes the fifth golf course in the Ernie Els Design portfolio to host a professional tour event, following The Els Club Dubai (Dubai Open Golf Championship), The Els Club Copperleaf (Tshwane Open), Anahita Four Seasons Golf Resort (Mauritius Golf Masters) and Wentworth West Course (BMW PGA Championship). Plans are also in the pipeline to bring an Asian Tour event to The Els Club Teluk Datai, recently voted the world’s best new course.
Albany, the luxury resort community in The Bahamas jointly owned by Joe Lewis of the Tavistock Group, Ernie and Tiger, is nestled within 600 oceanfront acres on the southwestern end of New Providence island and is fast becoming known as the ‘Monaco of the Caribbean’. The golf course, designed by Ernie and which opened for play in 2010, is a links-style championship golf course featuring five par-5s, five par-3s and eight par-4s.
“We had been in discussions with Joe Lewis and his team for some time about this opportunity before it was finalized,” comments Ernie. “He’s a man for whom I have such a lot of respect and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work side by side with him. Right from the start you could see that Albany was going to be a very special place and in the initial site visits with our head of design, Greg Letsche, we quickly developed a vision of a links-style layout. We felt those types of playing conditions and shot values would suit its proximity to the ocean, where the wind would make the course play different from one day to the next.”
Ernie made approximately 15 site visits during the design and construction phases and says, “We’re incredibly pleased with this golf course both from an aesthetic and strategic standpoint. The dunes look very natural and some of the out-of-play areas feature native grasses and plant materials, so it is the type of golf course that really looks like it belongs in its environment. That’s one of our core design philosophies.”
Ernie goes on to say, “We’ve had some wonderful feedback from people who have played the course; members of places like Shinnecock and Pine Valley – serious golfing connoisseurs – who just want to keep playing the course over and again. They’re very impressed. So too are a lot of my fellow tour professionals who have been to Albany – guys like Tiger, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Adam Scott. Some of them have bought homes and were here playing the course and using the incredible short game facility as preparation for last year’s Masters. Albany is that good!”
3. Ernie launches 2015 Els for Autism Golf Challenge
Ernie Els has launched the 2015 edition of The Golf Challenge, the largest international charity-driven amateur golf tournament in history. It consists of a series of Super Regional events and takes in some of the country’s finest courses, among them major venues such as Baltusrol, Congressional, Hazeltine, Atlanta Athletic Club and Chambers Bay. Also featuring on this year’s schedule are PGA TOUR stops including the iconic Harbour Town Golf Links, TPC Boston and Royal Montreal, alongside the Ernie Els-designed Hawaiian gem Hoakalei (below).
The Golf Challenge runs from May through September. Two-person teams will compete for a place at the Grand Finale, a two-day extravaganza including golf and entertainment in Las Vegas hosted by Ernie and Liezl Els on 13-15 November. Proceeds from the Canadian events are donated to a variety of autism-focused, non-profit organizations in the territory or province in which they are raised. Proceeds from the US events predominantly go towards the funding of a state-of-the-art autism center and hub of worldwide operations for Els for Autism; The Els Center of Excellence, currently under construction in Florida.
“We are delighted to celebrate the fifth year of the Golf Challenge with our family of dedicated sponsors, players and donors,” commented Ernie. “The Foundation has taken massive strides forward in the last year thanks to the support of some amazing companies and people who have taken this cause to heart; many of whom have connected to us through the Golf Challenge. It has been pretty amazing to witness the vision that Liezl and I had of creating a world-class Center start to take shape, and we are so excited to be welcoming our first students through the doors this August and taking our global outreach programs to the next level.”
Ernie added: “In addition, the Golf Challenge has already touched a lot of people through the #GameOn Autism Golf clinics. This is one initiative that is particularly close to my heart and plans are underway to develop the program even further so more individuals with autism can have access to golf.”
One unique feature of The Golf Challenge is that a team’s fundraising ability is valued as much as their performance on the golf course. Teams compete in a combined low-net event for a selection of first class regional prizes and all teams that fundraise $13,000 or more will join Ernie Els and his celebrity friends from the PGA TOUR at the series Finale in Las Vegas in November, where major prizes will be awarded to the top teams.
Each team will register online at www.e4aGolf.com, be assigned their own team page, and will be encouraged to choose an ‘Honorary Captain’, a child on the autism spectrum who they play and fundraise in honor of. Teams are able to email their page to friends, family and colleagues and ask them to donate to their team. One team raising $2,500 or more in donations will be selected to receive a 7-day ultimate IRISH LINKS golf tour to Ireland in recognition of their fundraising efforts.
Non-golfers and those unable to play in a regional event are invited to participate in the fundraising drive by joining ‘The Gallery Club’. Members can compete in teams of one or two to raise funds and awareness for Els for Autism and earn the chance to come to Las Vegas and participate in the Finale. For more information on the Gallery Club, please email: info@e4agolf.com.
Els for Autism is excited and proud to announce that a family of highly-respected global brands are supporting Ernie in his philanthropic efforts through the 2015 Golf Challenge. Organizing Sponsors include Presenting Sponsor, SAP; Adams Golf, RBC and Wine Spectator. The Challenge is also supported by an impressive team of Contributing Sponsors including: The Boeing Company, Southwest Airlines, ECCO, The Honda Classic, Hospitality America, IRISH LINKS and Maui Jim.
2015 Tournament Schedule
11 May, Trump National Doral Golf Club, FL
11 May, Morgan Creek Golf Course, BC
13 May, Troon North Golf Club, AZ
18 May, TPC Craig Ranch, TX
19 May, Floridian National Golf Club, FL
25 May, Royal Montreal Golf Club, QC
1 June, Congressional Country Club, MD
15 June, Duke University Golf Club, NC
22 June, Rich Harvest Farms, IL
29 June, Hawktree Golf Club, ND
13 July, Baltusrol Golf Club, NJ
27 July, TPC Jasna Polana, NJ
27 July, Scarboro Golf & Country Club, ON
3 August, The Country Club at Castle Pines, CO
6 August, Hoakalei Country Club, HI
10 August, Chambers Bay, WA
17 August, Atlanta Athletic Club, GA
24 August, TPC Boston, MA
24 August, Hazeltine National Golf Club, MN
31 August, Glencoe Golf & Country Club, AB
31 August, University of Texas Golf Club, TX
3 September, Silver Creek Valley Country Club, CA
14 September, Edmonton Country Club, AB
28 September, Harbour Town Golf Links, SC
5 October, Trump National Golf Club, Jupiter, FL
4. More EEFF members occupying the winners’ circle
The current crop of Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation (EEFF) members continues to impress at the highest level on the South African amateur scene. 17-year old Jovan Rebula made it to the final of the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship, while Ian Snyman (below) – the number one ranked amateur in the country – made history in 2014 by becoming the first player ever to win five tournaments in the Western Province Premier Amateur circuit.
These are just a few of the many recent golfing and academic highlights from the EEFF’s talented group of young adults. Snyman followed his stunning 2014 by winning this year’s Eastern Province/Border Stroke Play Amateur against a star-studded international field. Fellow member Bianca Theron won the prestigious Eastern Province Ladies’ Championship by an impressive six shots, although her talents are not restricted to the golf course. Theron achieved distinctions in all seven of her subjects in the final matric exams in 2014. The 18-year old will soon travel to the US to take up a scholarship at Mississippi State University.
Elsewhere, David Meyers played some of his best golf ever on his way to securing the title in the North West Open at the Rustenburg Golf Club on 22 March. The 18-year old displayed some brilliant golf throughout the tournament with rounds of 74, 64, 70, 70 for 278, 10-under par. He finished in joint first position with local amateur Danie van Niekerk, whom he beat on the first extra hole of a sudden-death playoff when he holed his five-metre putt for birdie.
Zethu Myeki won the biggest title of her amateur career when she was crowned the Border Ladies’ Champion at East London Golf Club, beating a field of top players from all over the country. Siyanda Mwandla became the KZN u23 champion after he defeated talented Matt Saulez with a birdie on the third extra hole of a sudden-death playoff at Selborne Country Club, while Lwazi Gqira kicked off the 2015 season as a man on a mission; the East London golfer came second in the Aliwal North Open and followed that with a win in the Westbank Open.
Soon they’re going to need a bigger trophy cabinet at the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation!
5. Future looks bright for Els-designed Highland Gate
Right from the earliest design sketches Highland Gate golf course (below) promised to be a truly spectacular visual experience. Now, some 10 years after Ernie first visited this beautiful site, the course does justice both to its designer’s vision and the wonderful location. “Whenever I go back to Highland Gate I’m always taken aback by the sheer beauty of this place,” comments Ernie. “There is a grandeur to this scenery that reminds me of the Scottish Highlands; a place such as Gleneagles, for instance. It has that same epic scale with expansive views that seem to go on forever. And the cool-season grasses we have here bless the course with an amazing vibrancy. Take it from me, a world class golf course in such a unique and special setting as this is a rare combination.”
Located only two-and-a-half hours from Johannesburg, nestled in the Steenkampsberg mountain range near Dullstroom, the Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate boasts the ideal offering for an investor looking to own their piece of nature and have the most sought after Ernie Els signature golf course on their doorstep. Visitors to this magnificent golf course, rated by many to be one of the best in South Africa, are in for a treat as the course is set among some of the most scenic mountainous terrain in Mpumalanga. Although the testing layout provides an equal challenge to both club player and the tour professional, Highland Gate’s strength lies in its high altitude charm which makes for a scenic and truly memorable golf experience.
Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate has recently been acquired and re-launched by Century Property Developments and is providing investors with the opportunity of purchasing a weekend getaway property in South Africa’s most exclusive golf and fly fishing resort for the whole family. There is, however, a limited number of only 174 investor stands available selling from as low as R715,000.
The Highland Gate estate spans 700 hectares of which only 30 per cent will be developed. The residential component consists of 455 prime stands ranging between 770m² and 1900m² with the remainder of the property left in its natural state for residents to enjoy nature at its best. Highland Gate is the perfect weekend retreat for outdoor enthusiasts, the focus is not only on the championship level golf course but also the wealth of leisure activities the estate offers, including hiking trails, fly fishing, mountain biking, picnicking, swimming and bird watching to ensure the whole family is catered for in this rare and tranquil setting.
“Due to the fact that Century was able to obtain Highland Gate Estate at a significantly lower market value, we are able to pass on the value and offer the stands at this discounted price which will never be repeated. If this were a greenfield development, the stands would sell in excess of R2 million each. We envisage the property values to double and get to those values in the near future. Investors can also purchase properties in a syndicate to enjoy their weekend getaway with close friends or family,” says Mark Corbett, CEO of Century Property Developments.
“At Century Property Developments, we recognized a remarkable opportunity to leverage what we believe is among the finest golf designs in the country and open it up to the public by launching a strategic investment strategy of completing the development infrastructure and constructing a new 12km tarred access road and state-of-the-art golf clubhouse, unlocking true value for investors. With these improvements and a limited number of properties available, Highland Gate is South Africa’s best kept golf secret. Along with a strong operations team, we have partnered with the Ernie Els Design team who have built us what could be one of the country’s best golf courses, allowing us to leverage the quality of this association with Ernie’s brand to offer a world class experience to visitors and residents,” concludes Mark.
For further information on property at Highland Gate, contact:
Rob Emett
Telephone: 082 882 5087
Email: rob@century.co.za
Website: www.century.co.za
For golf bookings, contact the pro shop on 079 568 6106 or email golfbookings@highlandgate.co.za.
Statement by Ernie Els
“As a test of golf, Highland Gate is challenging and fair, with dramatic changes in elevation that add aesthetic and strategic value. Multiple teeing areas and strategic hazard placement mean it is the kind of layout that it can be enjoyed by players of all standards, which is one of the defining principles of the Ernie Els Design philosophy. From the tips it is, quite rightly, a test for the best.
“Another of the things I love about Highland Gate is that with every hole you play the views go in different directions. In terms of conditioning, the attention to detail is of the highest standards and the quality of the greens are right up there with the very best putting surfaces in the world. The feedback we`ve had indicates that it is the sort of course that people want to play over and over. As a golf course designer, that`s music to my ears. When you hear golfers say they were torn between hitting their next shot or pausing to take a photo of the golf course or the surrounding scenery, you know it has to be a very special place. Highland Gate is definitely that kind of place.”
Invest in your lifestyle
Since its inception in 1975, Century Property Developments has taken the South African market by storm. Initially the Century Group developed a series of rural shopping centres and has since expanded to develop among the most sustainable residential estates in South Africa. Led by CEO, Mark Corbett, Century is revolutionising the idea of refined, sustainable living and is providing residential property investors with assets of enduring quality, integrity and value.
It is Century’s thorough understanding of the unique South African context, their core principles of financial feasibility and their design and aesthetic vision which makes for continued sound property investments. As the only South African property developer to ever win the “Best development in the World” category at the CNBC International Property Awards with a number of local developments, Century Property Developments have redefined the benchmark for secure, residential lifestyle estates.
Besides Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate, Century’s impressive property portfolio includes Waterfall Country Estate, Waterfall Hills and Waterfall Valley Retirement estates, Blue Hills Country Estate, Helderfontein Estate, The Hills Game Reserve Estate and Waterfall Equestrian Estate where the second most expensive property in South Africa was recently sold for over R150 million.
