“Growing South African

Women’s Golf”

Standard Bank Pro-Am Series 2021-2023

History & Portfolio

At 9am this morning, 31 March 2021, the first stroke of the Standard Bank Pro-Am Series was played and, with it, the world of women’s golf in South Africa got a welcome shot of energy and vitality. The series of tournaments, that will be played in Gauteng over the course of 2021, has been years in the making. We’ve waited until now to put out a statement,

The first Standard Bank Pro-Am Series was supposed to happen in 2020, but that pesky pandemic put a particularly problematic spanner in the proverbial works. But 2020 is now officially hindsight again, and 2021 has seen the series come marvellously back to life.

“After a challenging year which saw the postponement of the inaugural 2020 Standard Bank Pro-Am Series, initiated by Lifestyle Golf in collaboration with the Women’s Professional Golf Association [WPGA], we are thrilled to have Standard Bank on board again as a sponsor as we commence the 2021 Series,” says Margie Whitehouse, Chair of the Women’s Professional Golf Association. “As we embark on this new journey, the WPGA welcomes opportunities to grow and empower both current and future individual women golf professionals within their chosen careers. We look forward to the continued support of our valued partners in uplifting and developing the women’s game, and the women’s professional game in particular.”

Together with our partners and sponsors, we’re looking to forge a brighter, better future for women’s golf in SA. We’re working hard to make each stop on this tour of Gauteng’s finest courses better than the last. We want the Standard Bank Pro-Am Series to be a beautiful beacon that shines light on what women’s golf can be.

In the words of our fabulous founder, and fearless leader, Jenny Havenga: “Our aim is to promote, grow and develop Women’s Professional Golf in South Africa, and in turn, afford amateur golfers the opportunity to improve their skills by playing this amazing game with our top SA professionals. We thank Standard Bank for their commitment in driving women’s golf in our country and are excited to pursue our vision together. We’d also like to thank the Women’s Professional Golf Association for their assistance in helping us achieve this milestone.”

The best is definitely still to come, and we’re going to be doing all we can to take the series from strength to strength. After all, the journey has only just begun.

Let the Ladies

Take the Lead

It’s a well known fact that women’s sports have a long history of being sidelined, underserved, underdeveloped and poorly supported. There is no good, valid reason for this state of affairs. It is simply something that needs to change, and at Lifestyle Golf, we’re going to do our best to make sure that the beautiful game of golf finally gets the benefit of an elegant, feminine touch.

We’re aiming to develop talented players and build pathways to “going pro” for ladies who love to get out on the green.

At the launch of the Standard Bank Pro-Am Series, Schalk Kotze, Standard Bank Head of Affluent: Consumer and High Net Worth South Africa had this to say:

“We are proud to be the title sponsor of the 2021 Standard Bank Pro-Am Series. It is imperative that we support the development of women’s professional sport. Over the years, our contribution to the development of sporting programmes across the continent has significantly helped elevate the role of sport in Africa’s growth story. Golf is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and Standard Bank’s sponsorship aims to support and grow the development of women’s golf locally and across Africa at large.” He added, “Golf, in general, has low female representation. Female golfers make up less than 20 per cent of registered golfers in the country. […] Standard Bank’s contribution to the growth of the golf ecosystem will not only create new revenue opportunities for professional golfers but will also help young female golfers transition successfully from the junior and amateur ranks into a world of professionalism.”

We believe that golf is a game for girls, boys, women, men, and the whole spectrum in between. So let’s say goodbye to boys’ clubs and hello to golf clubs. Let’s get out of the bunkers, drive straight down the fairways, and smash that glass ceiling, together, on the way to the green!

Standard Bank Golf Development Programme

Launched in 2021 alongside the Standard Bank Pro-Am Series, which concluded in 2023, this development program aims to empower talented professional female golfers by providing increased playing opportunities to further refine their skills. The Standard Bank Golf Development Programme has actively supported these objectives by introducing young girls to the sport.

Driving the development and advancement of female players across all levels is instrumental in preparing them for future roles within both the golfing and business spheres, thereby contributing to societal and economic development.

Thanks to Standard Bank, Lifestyle Golf in collaboration with the WPGA has successfully spearheaded grassroots golf development over the past three years in five key regions of the country, namely, the Eastern and Western Cape, as well as Gauteng (including Orange Farm, Serengeti, and West Rand). This initiative is rapidly evolving into a nationally recognized grassroots program.

 

These programs are meticulously crafted with longevity in mind, recognizing that continuity is paramount for the growth of the game. We are committed to not only retaining the majority of children within the golfing environment but also attracting new learners along the way. Therefore, our focus is on extending time and fostering growth for existing learners while carefully managing the intake of new participants.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Standard Bank for providing invaluable support in creating opportunities for grassroots level exposure and training, which is greatly needed within the women’s golfing community in Southern Africa.