CMH's Ralph Nortje Captains Team to World Cup of Disabled Golf
First Car Rental sponsors SA Team's transport at World Cup.
CMH's Ralph Nortje, one of the captains of the South African team for the World Cup of Disabled Golf.
MAY 2017 - The South African Disabled Golf Association (SADGA), announced in March 2017 the South African team for the World Cup of Disabled Golf with CMH Group's Ralph Nortje as Captain.
The world's top golfers with disabilities from 13 countries will be competing for the World Cup trophy in Cape Town from 14 - 19 May 2017.
South Africa will have two teams at the World Cup competing against players from USA, Canada, UK, Spain, Wales, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Germany, Japan and Sweden.
South African Team:
- • Herman van Wyk
- • Rupert Fortman
- • Ben van Zyl
- • Byron Calvert
- • Team Captains: Ralph Nortje and Pieter Verwey
Ralph Nortje, formerly the Chairman of the Board of SADGA, currently works for the CMH Group. He oversees three CMH dealerships, CMH Kempster Ford Hatfield, CMH Menlyn Auto, and one other in Pretoria.
A keen sportsman and golfer, Ralph lost his right arm in a car accident in 1988. He took up golf soon after the surgery and has been part of disabled golf for over a decade.
He has developed an all-consuming passion for the game and is truly a competitive participant as his one-arm amputee stableford victories in the 2009 and 2012 SA Disabled Golf Opens attest.
As a non-playing Captain of the South African World Cup of Disabled Golf team, Ralph will focus on promoting not only individual achievements, but also team goals and objectives.
Says Ralph, "It is a true honour to represent your country in any sport, but even more so in a World Cup Championship. Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated. It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening - it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented."
The South African Team selected for the World Cup of Disabled Golf: (left to right) Herman van Wyk, Rupert Fortman, Ben van Zyl, Ralph Nortje, Pieter Verwey, and Byron Calvert
First Car Rental is sponsoring transport for the South African Team at the World Cup of Disabled Golf. The sponsorship includes and Automatic Sedan, a First Car Rental Branded Toyota Quantum, and two TaylorMade golf club travel bags for the Longest Drive of the competition.
First Swing Programme
It is at a development level that SADGA (South African Disabled Golf Association) has achieved some of its greatest success. The organisation's First Swing Programme continues to grow around South Africa.
The programme offers golf clinics at various schools throughout the country, introducing disabled children to golf, as well as using the game to expose them to life skills and possible career opportunities within the golfing industry.
What the programme offers:
- • Children with physical disabilities receive golf coaching and are given the chance to participate in different golf events.
- • Children with severe physical disabilities are taught the basics of golf to enhance muscle movement, and to get a chance to enjoy an outdoor sport activity. Golf, at the level at which they participate, is not very physical - the result is that children can take part in a sport for the first time - a feat that is very important to them.
- • A golf career guidance programme where SADGA exposes disabled children to various career opportunities in golf.
Coaches from the First Swing Programme introduce children with disabilities to golf, teaching them various skills and improving muscle movement.
To find out more about SADGA, visit their website.