20 Sep 2016

Orapa Golf Club’s Gaone Golowe is the champion of the Peermont Metcourt Francistown BOTS50 Independence Golf Day.
Speaking in an interview after the price giving ceremony on September 18, Golowe said she was excited to be the champion and that her win would encourage other women to play golf, more especially in Orapa where there is a low turn-up of ladies playing golf.
She said women dragged their feet when it comes to playing gold and lamented that the Francistown golf course was not in a very good condition; hence it worsened the situation.
Francistown Golf Club captain and also the national golf team captain, Bolokanang Podise, said the turn-up was reasonable considering that there was another golf tourney going on at Tsamaya on a privately owned golf course.Podise said the tournament had attracted 35 golfers; four women and two junior boys from Francistown and Selebe-Phkikwe; and 29 men registered and participated in the tournament.
On the other hand, he lamented that the challenge with the Francistown golf course was its poor status which negatively affects people’s enthusiasm to play golf there.
He said the fact that the golf course was not fenced off, which resulted in people crossing uncontrollably through the course and interfering with the game, together with its bushy status was also an issue to deal with.However, he said clearing of the bush on the course was on-going to take the course back to the right standard.
“I believe and hope that these efforts will help in attracting golfers to play and also reduce criminal activity,” he assured.
He said the primary objective of the Peermont Metcourt Francistown BOTS50 Independence Golf Day was to develop the golf sport from grassroots level and to embrace the cooperate world in sport development.
For his part, Peermont Metcourt Francistown General Manager, Mr Martin West expressed delight at the number of golfers registered to participate in the just ended gold day.
He said it was the second time the company had sponsored a successful golf event, adding that he was happy for the inverse support as some of the golfers lodged at their lodge/hotel.
He said what he liked most about Francistown golf club was that they encourage and support golf sport at grassroots level freely to the community.
The one day tournament was played at the Francistown Golf Course on Sunday over 18 holes.ENDS