In the true spirit of giving back, the Department of Sport and Recreation in Ekurhuleni hosted a golf development clinic as part of a legacy project linked to the South African Open Championship at Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate on Saturday.

Thirty children from Daveyton and Thembisa in Ekurhuleni and a further 60 children from various development structures around the Gauteng province attended the clinic, where several coaches shared their knowledge, skills and love of the game with the group of aspirant golfers.

The coaches talked to the learners, who ranged in ages from six to 18, about the swing and basics of the game where after the youngsters received one-one-one instruction.

Director of Sport and Recreation in Ekurhuleni, Atwell Sijadu, said that the coaching clinic is aimed at cultivating the children’s love for the game and motivate them to continue in the sport to one day play in the SA Open themselves.

“The clinic is only the beginning, but in five years time, I want to read a newspaper article about a Ntombi or a Jabu from Thembisa that we helped to develop from scratch,” Sijadu said.

The €1-million South African Open Championship, which teed off on Thursday with 2011 champion Hennie Otto in title defence, finishes today.

Third round leader Henrik Stenson from Sweden leads the field at 16-under-par and is under pursuit from South Africa’s George Coetzee and fellow Swede Magnus A Carlsson at 13 under. The field also includes top South African golfers Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Thomas Aiken and Germany’s Martin Kaymer.