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Walking in the footsteps of giants

It’s that time of year again, where the world’s top golfers walk in the footsteps of legendry golfers before them, attempting to master one of ‘the home of golf’s’ toughest championships.

It would be difficult to imagine a more spectacular setting for The Barclays Scottish Open than Loch Lomond Golf Club by the shores of the most famous stretch of inland water in Scotland.

Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, the 7,100 yard parkland course is considered to be among the 'Top 100' finest golf courses in the world. The course is a true test for even the best golfer, demanding skill on the fairway, in approach play and on the green.

South African golfers are pulling out all the stops with Retief Goosen coming close to matching his course record at Loch Lomond, settling for an 8-under 63 Friday to build a two-shot lead over Adam Scott midway through the second round of the Scottish Open.

No one has a better record on the bonny banks however, than Ernie Els, having won twice. Over his last 32 rounds on the Loch Lomond course he is a collective 84 under par. No wonder he struck a quietly confident note when confronted about his recent poor form. "I have been losing my patience a bit and in this game you can't do that. The angrier you get, the worse it gets," he said. "But I'm focused to play well this week and into the future, and I'd like to start doing that this week."

"I feel like I have the drive and the desire to win more golf tournaments, and that is why I am still trying. I don't know when that will ever go away. If it does, then I will probably walk away but right now I am still very, very dedicated to my sport. Why do I still love golf? I can't answer that. It's been in my blood. It's been what I've always done. I still watch golf on television, so it's a mad drug."

Listening to Els speak so passionately, it is hard to believe anyone could still doubt his commitment to the sport, but inevitably some will remain unconvinced until the South African recaptures at least some of the form that once made him the third member of golf's holy trinity, alongside Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

As Ernie fights back for his passion, so other South Africans are fighting for quite a different cause.

In 1984 the highly acclaimed South African writer, Dalene Matthee, first kindled the fire in South Africans’ hearts for the Knysna Forest and its inhabitants. Her much beloved novel, Circles in a Forest, was so successful that it was eventually translated into numerous languages and had a similar effect on people around the world.

The heartwarming tale of Saul Barnard and his life long relationship with the greatest and most feared of all the Knysna elephants, ‘Oupoot’, opened our eyes to the tragic history of the Knysna Forest and all who lived within it.

The elephants of Knysna, the only really wild elephants left in South Africa (as there are no fences keeping them in a designated park), and certainly the most mysterious, elusive and endangered, are dwindling at an alarming rate. Strong evidence suggests that only one matriarch and a few younger individuals remain. But they are genetically isolated, and almost certainly destined to die out.

Conservationists tried translocating a couple of elephants from Kruger to Knysna a few years ago, but those poor Lowveld animals took one look at the tangled forests and rushed to hide out in the much safer-looking surrounding farmlands and so the plan was abandoned.

In this day and age, walking is probably the least efficient way to get from one place to another. So there has to be another reason for anyone deciding to walk the 400-odd kilometres between Kranshoek in the Knysna Forest to Addo near Port Elizabeth. And there is. South Africa's Eden to Addo Mega-Hike is a pilgrimage – a pilgrimage to biodiversity.

It's a ridiculously optimistic and romantic idea, but that's what a pilgrimage is all about – faith. And hope. It's about putting one foot in front of the other, day after day, for a cause, for a dream, and for a better future.

The hike is offered once a year as a "slackpacking" trail. Trailists carry only the essentials in a day pack, and all their gear is taken from camp to camp by a back-up vehicle. Added luxuries are the fact that your tents are erected for you, and meals provided. So like any good pilgrim, you can concentrate on the mission at hand.

The hike straddles five distinct biomes and links three major conservation areas. The existing parks and reserves are the Knysna Protected Area, the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve and the Greater Addo Elephant National Park. These together protect patches of Afromontane Forest, Mountain Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, Savanna Grassland and Albany Thicket. The views are stupendous, the air is invigorating and the constant change in scenery and vegetation offers an intellectual challenge equal to the physical one.

The 2009 hike runs from 4 to 23 September and certainly promises to give visitors a once in a lifetime experience.


Surpassing all expectations

It has never been a better time for the South African sports fan as the nations’ sporting heroes are all stepping up to the plate this winter.

Sabbatini, the 33-year-old South African, finished at 19-under 261 on Sunday 24 May at TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas. This win was especially remarkable as it broke the tournament mark of 18 under set by Loren Roberts and playoff loser Steve Pate in 1999, when the Cottonwood Valley course also was used the first two days.

Wearing a pink shirt in a show of support for Amy Mickelson, recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and heavy hearted because of the rapidly deteriorating health of a friend with Hodgkin's lymphoma, Sabbatini shot a 6-under 64 for a two-stroke victory over late-charging Brian Davis in Lord Byron's tournament.

Embracing his wife and Peggy Byron, Lord Byron’s widow, Sabbatini commented: "Obviously this tournament is very special, it's one that I wish I had have been able to win it and look up and see Byron sitting there at the 18th green. ... What a wonderful name to be associated with now."

While the South Africans are deeply passionate about their sport, there is no shortage in the love of culture and with this comes award winning wines and fantastic traditional cuisine.

This year marked the sixth anniversary of the Robertson Wine Valley’s biggest annual wine festival, with the ever-popular Wacky Wine Weekend that took place during the first week of June. With over 48 wineries having participated, visitors had four days of even more festivities and celebrations!

The Wacky Wine Weekend embraced the usual line-up of fun-filled activities, for example: ‘meet-the-winemaker’ tastings, vineyard tractor trips, river cruises, sunset game drives, cheese- and olive tastings, a farmers’ market, street theatre, live music, a fireworks display, the half-marathon and mountain bike challenge. New attractions comprised a jewelry market, brandy tours and tastings, a sushi- and wok bar and a simulated rodeo bull.

In addition to the wine offerings, the Valley also presented plenty to please food lovers. Oysters, perlemoen (abalone), sushi, riverside picnics, Italian cuisine, and potjiekos were all included in the mouthwatering options.

In Rugby, the Super 14 came to a suspense-filled conclusion seeing the South African Blue Bulls crowned the 2009 champions.

A packed Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria saw The Bulls defeat The Chiefs in the Super 14 final by a record 61-17.

Just as the excitement of the IPL, hosted by South Africa came to an end, the next big cricketing event is already under way. The South Africans are picked by many to win the ICC World Twenty20 this time around, although critics of the team point to a history of underperformance in big ICC tournaments.

Judging by the performances we have been seeing from the Proteas since the beginning of the year, here in South Africa we have all the confidence in our team’s abilities.


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