Pro golfer Coetzee chips in for orphanage

George Coetzee heads into this week’s Tshwane Open with an orphanage in Atteridgeville as his latest fans in his quest to add to his triumph in this tournament two years ago.

A golf day arranged by Coetzee and his family at Pretoria Country Club helped to raise R450 000, which he donated to the orphanage to help them buy the house they were using.

“The house they were in was going to be sold, so with my mother and girlfriend driving it, we helped them buy it. All of the funds raised from our golf day went to that orphanage. It was a good cause and a great success. A lot of good people chipped in to help,” Coetzee said.

Coetzee has made it his priority to target a worthy charity every year and host a golf day to raise funds.

“We’re planning on doing another fundraiser later in the year. You obviously hear about a lot of people that don’t have everything they need – food, water, a house. You try and do your best and give back to the community as best you can.”

Coetzee says that giving back in this way helps him to find more balance in his golf career.

“Sometimes it’s good to know that I’m not just playing golf for myself and that I’m working towards helping other people. I don’t want to sound too deep or anything, but it’s kind of fed my soul a bit.

“I’m just doing little things for little communities and trying to help out where you see people need help. I’m trying to do my little bit to make it easier for some of the people in this country.”

The official Tshwane Open Pro-Am tees off at Pretoria Country Club on Tuesday. The field will include the three junior golfers Neil Retief, Jesse Venter and Joshua Koekemoer who earned a place in the pro-am after they won their respective divisions at the Tshwane Open Junior Tournament at Irene Country Club on Sunday.