Interviewing Maria Verchenova, above.
I have just returned from an amazing 3 days on the Gary Player designed Fancourt Links. 3 days of exceptional golf, albeit not my own, and an opportunity to meet and interview some great sportsman and woman.
The Gary Player Invitational is the biggest charity event on the South African golfing calendar, and this year saw many big name celebrity's arrive at the Links. Top golfers were there, such as retief goosen, John Bland, Adilson da Silva, Constanino Rocca and the new ladies tour sensation, Maria Verch! enova.
On Friday, members of the gathered media had the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am, and I had the chance to learn from playing a round on this exceptionally tough course with Sunshine Tour Pro Adilson da Silva.
On saturday, I walked the 18 holes with Retief Goosen and his 4-ball, which included Constantino Rocca and Spanish Model Ines Sastre. Goosen's sublime striking of a golfball is truly appreciated when you see the swing from a few meters away. 'Effortless' is the word that comes to mind.
On the Sunday, another 18 hole stroll, this time with the legendary Gary Player, and with him, the beautiful sensation on the European Ladies Tour, Maria Verchenova. The sports celeb on that round was former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe. I was shooting images of Maria Verchenova to mail to her back in Russia, she's a sponsors dream! And to have walked 18 holes with Gary Player, on the Gary Player designed links, what a privilege, and what a humbl! e, fit and gracious man. And he still strikes a peach of a sho! t. I can not say more.
There were just too many big names to go into any detail, but on the Saturday evening, I was standing at the venue of the supper and listening to views being shared about the course between Victor Matfield, Roland Schoeman, Shaun Pollock and Sally Little, and that was just an hour or so after watching Herschelle Gibbs coming to within 4 feet of sinking a 60 ft putt for a million bucs! Thats probably the way to describe my weekend, a million bucs!
