Golfing for good raises R320 000 for charity at Sun City

True to its commitment to the community, PwC and Sun City invited golfers to golf for good at a charity tournaments in the run up to the prestigious Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player taking place at Sun City from 9 to 12 November 2017. The event, PwC Cares hosted at Sun City, played out on the The Lost City Golf Course on 08 November 2017. A grand total of R320 000 was raised, with R160 000 to be donated to Sun City’s chosen beneficiary, Mazibuko Professional Golf Academy, and R160 000 to be donated to PWC’s chosen charity, Touch Community Network.

“We are overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm we received for our third annual charity golf day. While giving golfers an opportunity to put their skills against other golfers on one of the most beautiful golf courses in South Africa, they were also able to make a contribution to worthy causes which are close to our hearts. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the golfers who took part, to the prize winners who further donated their prizes to the golf programme as well as the additional R5 000 donated by Better Billy Bunker and R10 000 by Jet Patcher,” says Raul de Lima, General Manager at Sun City.

Over the first two years the annual charity golf day has raised R975 000 for the chosen beneficiaries. In 2015, R315 000 was donated to the Els for Autism Foundation and in 2016, R480 000 was donated to the South African Golf Development Board’s North West Chapter and R180 000 was donated to orphaned and vulnerable children at the Touch Community Network. The additional contribution the third event has raised this total to R1 310 000. 

With the Gary Player Country Club being home to the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player, Sun City considers its investment in golf development as an investment in the long term sustainability of the resort as a golfing destination. That is why the resort has chosen the Mazibuko Professional Golf Academy as its chosen beneficiary this year.

Sun City runs a Schools Golf Development Programme for children from communities surrounding the resort in collaboration with the North West Golf Union and with the support of the South African Golf Development Board’s North West Chapter.

Through this programme, managed by Gary Player Country Club caddy, Peter Mazibuko, some 48 children from the disadvantaged community of Ledig have access to the equipment and skills training they need to learn to play golf. Aside from teaching golfing skills, Mazibuko is nurturing confidence and hope amongst his young trainees. The youngsters are transported to the resort, courtesy of Sun City, given lunch and then enjoy their weekly lesson on The Lost City Golf Course’s driving range. After they have completed the eight week course, they get to play a full round of golf.

Mazibuko’s story is nothing short of inspiring. He has worked as a caddie at Sun City since 1986 but had aspirations of becoming a golf coach. He has now completed his level 1 coaching certificate with the PGA of South Africa and is reveling at being able to share his skills and passion with the children. He hopes to see some of his young trainees competing in the Nedbank Golf Challenge one day.

“PwC is proud to be associated with these organisations. The objective of both link well with our corporate responsibility strategy. We’re very focused on giving back to the communities in which we operate, and we are pleased to be supporting the North West Province given our long involvement with the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player,” concludes James Du Preez, Director at PwC.

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