Latest news and updates from the world of Ernie Els.
1. Els for Autism Golf Challenge raises nearly $12 million in five years
Spearheaded by World of Golf Hall of Famer and Els for Autism Founder, Ernie Els, The Els for Autism Golf Challenge has raised nearly $12 million for autism thanks to over 9,000 rounds of golf and over 30,000 donations since its inaugural 2011 series. 2015 has been the most successful year to date with a total of $2.93 million raised from 25 events across the United States and Canada.
The Golf Challenge, an international, season long, amateur golf series comprising of 20+ events across the U.S. and Canada between May-October, hosted its 2015 Grand Finale at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas from November 13-15. The funds raised from the annual Golf Challenge series are a major income stream for the Foundation’s capital campaign to build The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, a state-of-the-art Center with a local, national and global reach. The Center opened its first two buildings in August 2015 – the Lower School and Auditorium Building, and is now focused on raising the necessary funds to complete the 26-acre campus. Funds raised in Canada stay within the Canadian province in which they were raised.
Thanks to the Golf Challenge’s generous family of sponsors, led by Presenting Sponsor SAP, and Organizing Sponsors RBC, Wine Spectator and Adams Golf, the Grand Finale weekend itself proved an unforgettable experience for all the teams who stepped up to the challenge to help Ernie and Liezl build a more beautiful future for those with autism. Finalists experienced fabulous parties, had access to an autism conference and enjoyed tournament golf at the area’s most prestigious courses. They also had the opportunity to see Ernie in action at a Golf Skills Challenge, presented by the PGA TOUR.
Ernie announced the Highest Fundraising teams of the 2015 Els for Autism Golf Challenge in Las Vegas at a fabulous Awards Ceremony and Gala Celebration. The event, hosted by Presenting Sponsor SAP, celebrated six months of competition on and off the course and featured a performance by Grammy award-winning band, Train. This year, Tim Shreckengost and Steve Sheppard of Team Lucas’ Steps repeated their 2013 fundraising victory by again topping the tournament’s Donation Leaderboard with an incredible $58,165.00. The entire family came up to the stage and were awarded ‘The Els Cup’ by Ernie and Liezl Els in the name of their Honorary Captain, Lucas.
Team Lucas’ Steps commented: “Every person at the Grand Finale as well as those that golfed in all of the challenges have the same goal in mind; we have each embraced autism with the desire to learn as much as possible and do everything we can to help our children. These children may never be able to show us what they feel or are thinking, but we hope that they know we are giving them every ounce of our love and support and are trying daily to find ways to make learning and socializing a little easier for them. With the Els’ vision this will become a reality. Thanks to everyone who has been part of our story and part of making dreams come true for children on the spectrum. A special thanks to Lucas, our Honorary Captain and the inspiration behind our team.”
Ernie Els, whose 13-year old son Ben is profoundly impacted by autism, and who set up the Els for Autism Foundation in 2009 with his wife Liezl said: “A heartfelt thank you to all of our Golf Challenge teams and sponsors who have helped us start to deliver on our vision – our Golf Challenge family has been absolutely pivotal in getting the first two buildings open. A special thank you goes to the Golf Challenge’s long-term Presenting Sponsor SAP as well as our Organizing Sponsors – RBC, Adams Golf and Wine Spectator, our Contributing Sponsors, Regional Sponsors and our event chairmen – who together form the heart of the Golf Challenge series. A special nod to all of the Golden Circle teams and in particular the inspirational Lucas’ Steps whose passion and dedication every year never fails to amaze Liezl and I.”
He added: “The theme of this year’s Finale was ‘Celebrating Connections’. It was the perfect theme for the weekend as we celebrated the connections we are making with the local and worldwide autism communities, and the connections we have with our donor family. Every year we welcome new faces to the Finale event but it is truly awe-inspiring to see how many of our teams come back year after year to support us.”
Click here for the full story and photos from Las Vegas.
2. Ernie Els wins ‘Golf Course Designer of the Year’ award
Ernie Els has been voted Golf Course Designer of the Year at the 2015 World Golf Awards, part of the prestigious World Travel Awards. Ernie triumphed in a strong category of nominees populated by many other high-profile designers including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Gary Player and Sir Nick Faldo.
Ernie commented, “I have always had a keen interest in the design of holes and courses since the start of my career and when the opportunities arose to get involved in the business it was something I jumped at. I have been lucky to work with some great people in the industry and initially set-up my design business with Nicklaus Design. Since 2005 we have been designing courses purely with our own team and we have worked with great clients and their projects. This award had a very strong list of nominees, which makes it all the more special and I want to thank everyone who voted for me.”
Ernie went on to say, “Awards such as this are also a big pat on the back for everyone at Ernie Els Design. We have a great team of talented, dedicated people in our company and we’re passionate about what we do. It’s all about quality for us. The golf courses that we create are a legacy to the game of golf and it’s important to get it absolutely right.”
This latest award completes impressive back-to-back wins for Els and his team at Ernie Els Design, after The Els Club Teluk Datai took the prize of World’s Best New Golf Course at the inaugural World Golf Awards in 2014, which celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world class courses and golf destinations. Votes are cast by professionals working within the golf travel and tourism industry – senior executives, travel buyers, tour operators, agents and media professionals – and members of the public.
Speaking on behalf of the World Golf Awards, Managing Director Chris Frost commented, “I would like to congratulate Ernie on this remarkable achievement! Throughout the year a record number of votes have been cast by leading golf tourism professionals worldwide as well as hundreds of thousands of golf consumers in more than 100 countries. Golf tourism’s highest accolade is truly deserved and rewards your commitment to excellence and determination to become the undisputed market leader.”
3. Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation 2015 highlights and high achievers
Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace once again shone a light on the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation [EEFF] in 2015. The duo, both former members of the EEFF, notched up back-to-back top-3 finishes in Majors; Oosthuizen finishing runner-up in The Open at St Andrews and Grace claiming solo third place at the PGA Championship.
“Louis and Branden are an inspiration to a generation of youngsters back home in South Africa,” commented Ernie, “not least the current members of our Foundation. For them to see former members competing at the very top of the game – and in Louis’ case winning a Major Championship – shows what can be done; that’s the strongest possible motivation to work hard and strive to fulfil your dreams.”
With two wins and seven top-10s in 2015, Grace went on to finish a career-high third in the Race to Dubai. Another former EEFF member, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, capped a strong rookie season topping the Order of Merit in the feeder series Big Easy Sunshine Tour to secure his 2016 Tour card.
The current EEFF membership boasts some fine players, all looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Oosthuizen and Grace. Here are a selection of the many highlights and high points from EEFF members in 2015:
Juniors
Kaleigh Telfer, currently ranked number one on the Women’s Golf SA Senior National Order of Merit, was the best amateur at the Sunshine Ladies Tour Cape Town Ladies Open at Royal Cape GC in February. Kaleigh won the Free State & Northern Cape Championship at Schoemanpark in April. She won three titles in a row: the Southern Cape Championship by 10 shots; the Ekurhuleni Championship by eight shots; and the Boland Championship by five shots! Kaleigh captained the victorious Gauteng A-side at the WGSA 72-Hole Team Championships and in the SA Women’s Inter Provincial Team Championships. Kaleigh received Protea colours for representing South Africa at the Toyota Junior World Cup in Japan, then went on to represent South Africa at the Annika Sorenstam Invitational in Sweden, at the Girl’s British Open Amateur Championships in Scotland and at the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championships in the US.
Jovan Rebula represented Southern Cape at the IPT at Glendower in September and represents his home union at the Junior IPT at Worcester in December. Jovan received Protea colours for representing the SA Junior side in a test against France at St Francis Links and again in the Zone VI tournament in Uganda. Jovan also lost in the final of the Match Play of the SA Amateur Championships.
Aneurin Gounden claimed his first national junior title in style at Bryanston Country Club in July. The Mount Edgecombe golfer drained a forty foot downhill putt for birdie at the last hole to close with a 70 and lift the Nomads National Order of Merit title by three strokes on three under 141. Aneurin represented the SA Presidents Team in the Challenge Cup Team Tournament at Milnerton in May. Aneurin is currently ranked 6th on the SAGA’s Junior National Order of Merit.
Luca Filippi is the number one ranked SAGA u17 player. Luca represented WP Men A-team at the SA IPT, Glendower in September. Luca won the WP U23 event at Durbanville in March and represented WP U23 at Country Club Johannesburg in April. Luca represented WP at the U19 IPT December 2014 and will represent WP again at the U19 IPT at Worcester. Luca received Protea colours when he represented the SA Junior team in the Italian International u16-tournament in September.
David Meyers won the North West Open in Rustenburg in March.
Amateurs
Bianca Theron won the EP Championship at Humewood. Bianca left for the US in August to study on a golf scholarship at the Mississippi State University.
Zethu Myeki won the Border Championship at East London GC. Zethu is currently ranked fourth on WGSA Senior Order of Merit.
Ian Snyman won the EP/Border Stroke Play Championship at PEGC. Ian left for the US in August to study on a golf scholarship at the University of North Texas.
Neswill Croy represented the South African Development Board’s national team in the Triangular Tournament against Scotland and the SAGA Juniors at the Wanderers. Neswill also represented the SA Presidents Team in the Challenge Cup Team Tournament at Milnerton. He now begins his final year studying the PGA diploma.
Fezekile Kana won the Port Elizabeth Open at PEGC in July and the Fallow Dear Trophy at Royal Port Alfred in August. These tournaments form part of the EP Golf Unions schedule and these wins moved him into the number one spot on the EP Golf Unions Order of Merit. Fezekile is also the club champion at PEGC for the second year in a row. Fezekile represented the South African Development Board’s national team in the Triangular Tournament against Scotland and the SAGA Juniors at the Wanderers in February.
Siyanda Mwandla represented the South African Development Board’s national team in the Triangular Tournament against Scotland and the SAGA Juniors at the Wanderers in February. Siyanda is the u23 KZN champion and also the club champion at Mount Edgecombe.
Nkosinathi Dauwa represented the SA Presidents Team in the Challenge Cup Team Tournament at Milnerton in May.
School
Luyanda Mwandla is the EEFF’s top student. His averages for the first three terms are an impressive 85 per cent, 79 per cent and 87 per cent respectively.
“It’s wonderful to see so many of our members excelling on the golf course, but also in the classroom,” commented Ernie from his home in Florida in December. “I’ll hopefully get a chance to visit Fancourt and see our members during my customary winter break in South Africa, as we often do. That’s always a lot of fun.”
4. Els-designed Albany hosts PGA TOUR Hero World Challenge
The Ernie Els designed Albany, a sublime golf course located in the Bahamas, last week hosted the Hero World Challenge, won by Bubba Watson in an impressive 25-under par. Albany becomes the fifth course in the Ernie Els Design portfolio to host a Tour event, following The Els Club Dubai (Dubai Open Golf Championship), The Els Club Copperleaf (Tshwane Open), Anahita Four Seasons (Mauritius Golf Masters and 2016 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open), and Wentworth’s West Course (BMW PGA Championship).
“I send my congratulations to Bubba on a superb win and to the Greens Superintendent and his team at Albany for presenting the course so beautifully; it looked in fantastic shape and the greens had some nice speed in them which was good to see,” commented Ernie, who visited Albany on the first day of the tournament. “And hats off to Tiger and his Foundation for hosting another successful tournament and raising more money for youth charities. Literally tens of thousands of kids around the US have benefitted from the work of the TW Foundation, which is a really wonderful achievement.”
Albany, the luxury resort community in The Bahamas jointly owned by Joe Lewis of the Tavistock Group, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, 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,” remembers 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 thrilled 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!”
About Ernie Els Design
Ernie Els Design is a full-service golf course design company wholly owned by its principal, four-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els. The international scope of Ernie’s 70 professional career victories is mirrored in the increasingly global reach of his designs, with signature courses and renovations making an impact in emerging and established golf markets alike. Many Ernie Els Design courses have won prestigious industry awards and hosted professional Tour events.
Ernie Els Design enjoys unique relationships with the world’s finest developers who share the company’s ambitions, creating attractive destinations that adhere to the principles of sustainable development and sound environmental practice. The company employs the most experienced staff – including leading architect Greg Letsche as its senior design associate – and the latest technology from its two offices in Florida and South Africa. With additional field offices in Malaysia and Dubai, the company provides a near 24-hour service and applies the latest technologies and expertise to service its development partners and clients throughout the world.
Currently there are 13 Ernie Els Design courses open for play and another 10 in development, with many more exciting projects in the pipeline. In addition, the company’s portfolio extends beyond the golf course to feature the exclusive Els Club Collection, featuring the Els Performance Golf Academy, Els Club Estates, Big Easy Winebar & Grill, along with an award winning wine portfolio created by Ernie Els Wines in the heart of South Africa’s wine country, Stellenbosch.
For more information visit the website www.ernieels.com/design, telephone the Ernie Els Design offices +1.561.625.8676 or email info@ernieels.com.
5. Platter Guide ‘5-Star’ caps an impressive 2015 for Ernie Els Wines
Ernie Els Wines is thrilled to announce a successive 5-star rating in the prestigious Platter Wine Guide, South Africa’s definitive wine buying guide. It was just one of four impressive high ratings for winemaker Louis Strydom, who is passionate about the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends. Ernie Els Wines has also just launched a brand new Wine Club with a host of attractive member benefits.
The highlight of the Platter Wine Guide wine ratings was the Ernie Els CWG 2013, which was awarded a highly sought-after 5 stars, but this was closely followed with three other 4.5-star ratings for the Ernie Els Signature 2012, Ernie Els Proprietor’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 and Ernie Els Proprietor’s Blend 2013.
Ernie Els Wines is situated in the “Golden Triangle” on the north facing slopes of the Helderberg mountain range in Stellenbosch, with the ideal terroir to produce ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon. Ernie Els Wines is committed to become the foremost Cabernet Sauvignon producer and to showcase the different styles and characters that this noble variety can produce.
Ernie Els Wines also this year launched a new Wine Club with to create a great way for people to enjoy the company’s full portfolio of wines in their homes, with the convenience of delivery to the door. One of the main focuses will be special ‘inner-circle’ offers, older vintage releases, and other great member-only benefits. The overriding goal is creating genuine value for club members to keep them engaged and fully able to enjoy the world of Ernie Els Wines. Membership benefits include:
– 15 per cent discount on Cellar Door Prices on all wines.
– Early access to new vintages and the option on older vintage releases.
– Regular special wine offers.
– Unlimited complimentary wine tasting at Ernie Els Wines for member and one guest.
– The option to send wine from Ernie Els Wines as a gift to family, friends or clients.
– Invitations to local and countrywide tastings, dinners and events.
