KNYSNA NEWS - A fitting commemoration of the burning down of the Knysna Golf Club clubhouse was held on Saturday 13 January, when the 14th annual Ashes Trophy was held with great success.
Blessed with glorious weather once more, this year's Ashes Trophy was held 14 years to the day since the clubhouse went up in flames after a fire broke out in the water heating system and, fanned by high winds, rapidly spread through the clubhouse.
While there were thankfully no injuries, the clubhouse was gutted.
The entire clubhouse and its contents (including trophies and memorabilia, pro shop stock and members' golfing equipment) were destroyed within an hour.
It was a huge tragedy for the club, as the clubhouse had been renovated and completed in June 2008, meaning members could only enjoy their brand new clubhouse for a year-and-a-half before it all went up in flames.
But, club members quickly banded together and from the flames a brand-new facility arose only 15 months later.
The new clubhouse did not open in time for the first Ashes Trophy, but three months later in April 2011. Now, 13 years on, the 14th edition of the now iconic competition was held under the bonus bogey format.
Sunny skies and barely a lick of wind provided perfect conditions for great golf. Schalk and Bev Pienaar matched last year's winning score of +10 to take home the trophy.
The top five pairings were:
1. Schalk and Bev Pienaar – +10
2. Henry Huneberg and Alan Flint – +9
3. Alan Crocker and John Cooper – +8
4. Connie Scheepers and Ken Watt – + 8
5. Eugene Kok and Francois Rousseau – +8
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