User:Highlanderdownunder/Nomads Golf Club

Introduction

Nomads Golf Club is an incorporated yet non commercial organization travelling social club of golfers who have no fixed home club or location but are tied to a geographical territory from which they draw their membership.

Nomads Official Club Logo. A bell signifying Charity crossed with a golf club. “Through golf helping others”

The purpose of Nomads is to:

1. Through the enjoyment of golf, to raise funds to assist those less fortunate than ourselves;
2. To raise funds in order to foster and encourage junior golf; and
3. Enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded people through the medium of golf;
4. To belong to an International golfing club and enjoy in the near future playing against overseas club mates.

Currently there are twenty one affiliated clubs spread over six countries with membership in the thousands. The organization has grown significantly from its South African roots in the 1960s to be internationally recognized and every year hosts one of the largest amateur golf tournaments in the world. The Annual Grand Nationals tournament regularly hosts over 500 Nomads internationally affiliated amateur golfers over 3 days at a pre chosen golf course in South Africa. This support enables Nomads to raise and contribute significant sums of money to charitable organizations. In the year since formation, Nomads South Africa alone has donated over ZAR 23,000,000 (US$3.2million at January 2011), Nomads New Zealand has raised and donated more than NZ$300,000 and in Australia, Nomads to date has contributed approximately AUD$160,000 to charity. The $25,000 proceeds of the 2010 Sydney North Charity day was donated to the R.S.P.C.A of Australia. As a non profit organization the individual clubs and national bodies rely on sponsorship themselves. Corporate backing is received from blue chip companies such as Volvo, Bell’s Whiskey (Diageo) and Budget Rentals as well as smaller but numerous localized territory sponsors. In addition to Nomads charitable donations the Club has a significant history of junior golfer sponsorship. The South African PGA tour professional Tim Clark is a notable recipient of Nomads junior golfer support when he was in his teens. Currently Nomads Australia has two junior golfers it supports namely Jordan Zunic who as an Australian is ranked amateur on the Royal and Ancient, World Amateur Golf Rankings, and a second junior golfer, Reuben Sondjaja. The sponsorship of these players is through the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation whom Nomads Australia has supported for five years . Patrons of Nomads include nine time Majors winner Gary Player ,five times Majors winner Peter Thompson and one time Majors winner, Bob Charles to whom they have annual competitions named after them.

Members of Nomads must be of high standing in their respective communities and must be willing to volunteer their time in order to raise money for charity or promote the Nomads name to further enable underprivileged junior golfers.

This 'Nomadic' style of play is suited to a broad golfing experience by playing many different types of courses over the membership year. Although there are many clubs claiming to be 'Nomads', a club looking for affiliation must first apply to the Nomads South Africa National Body in order to be recognised under the Nomads Golf Club worldwide umbrella. An affiliated club can be instantly recognised by a bell signifying Charity crossed with a golf club and the motto “Through golf helping others” In 2010 the Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary for which a 50 Year book was commissioned and written by Moira Richards . In addition to the book attention was given from the South African golfing fraternity by way of articles published in prominent golfing magazines as well as notable mentions on television

Brief history

After World War II, Michael Florence who was the Personnel Officer of the New Union Merchant Industrial was granted the authority to implement his proposal that the NUMIC Social & Sporting Club be formed for the Staff members to have the opportunity to socialize together and get to know each other. Mike was a good golfer and he became the catalyst for organising the NUMIC Golf Club. As they did not have a course of their own, they obtained the approval of the course on which they played. In those days Saturday mornings were a quiet time for local golf clubs and it was simple to host an organised, keen group of golfers. Membership was soon extended to business associates and friends and meetings became even more successful.

The "Follow the Sun" Nomads Golf Club was officially launched in April 1960, with 106 "Founder" members. The special "Rules of Play" developed then are still in use today. The guiding principles being : Fellowship (four ball); Least inconvenience to Club members - avoiding slow play (stableford medal, continuous putting, calling up on short holes etc) and Courteous Behaviour (properly dressed, fines for misdemeanours etc.). In addition to each monthly meeting being a complete competition in itself, the annual competitions (or their forerunners) were established. In forming the club, it was stressed that a member's first loyalty was to his home club which should always take precedence.

The success of the new club was immediate and membership soon rose to 200 when it was closed as it was impossible to accommodate all those wanting to play. This led to the arrangement of away tours to the Eastern Transvaal and Durban where games were played against local clubs. During 1962 it was decided that funds raised should no longer be donated solely to the National War Fund, but also to promote the game of golf in South Africa (Golforama) and “to assist those less fortunate than ourselves”. The Nomads badge was changed to its present format : a bell crossed by a golf club signifying the remembrance of others through golf. (Now registered with the Department of Heraldry). The concept was so successful that it quickly spread to other regions of South Africa and eventually into other countries. 1963 Natal 1965 Western Province 1966 Transvaal 1967 Northern Transvaal 1969 Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) 1972 Eastern Cape 1975 Border Club 1980 Midlands 1984 Southern Natal 1985 Southern Cape 1993 Boland Club 1996 Lowveld Club 1997 Free State 1998 Gauteng 1997 New Zealand 2003 Nomads Australia 2003 North Sydney Club 2007 Brisbane Club 2011 South Sydney Club

In 1966 due to club expansion a Nationals Tournament was organized. The occasion was a great success and it become an annual event, which has been the case ever since. The publicity generated by this and subsequent uNationals is of great importance to Nomads Golf Club in that it makes the formation of new clubs easier. The staging of the first National Tournament is a major turning point in the history of the club. In the early days, greater emphasis was placed on raising funds for charity than promoting golf. Moreover a fund raising tournament in aid of a national charity was organised in 1967. At the eleventh hour, the sponsor, an international publishing house, withdrew their offer of R1 500 and Andrew Mentis, a Nomads Founder member, stepped into the breach to sponsor the first of what is now known as the Nomads National Andrew Mentis Endowment Golf Tournament . This also led to Andrew donating an "Andrew Mentis Trophy" to each club in the family. This original gesture has brought Andrew and the NOMADS clubs an enormous amount of publicity amongst the golfing and welfare fraternities as the total amount raised is now (2010), in the vicinity of R23 million (excluding funds raised by Zimbabwe).

Expansion into New Zealand

The Nomads Golf Club (NZ) Inc. was formed in August 1997 in Auckland and officially launched at the Titirangi Golf Club in December of that year. Sir Bob Charles is the Patron of Nomads Golf in New Zealand. Support and promotion of members & sponsors is an integral facet of the Nomads' philosophy, and members are encouraged to make use of the great source of products, services and knowledge that is embodied in their membership.

Expansion into Australia

In December 2003 Nomads South Africa officially inaugurated the Nomad Golf Club of Australia (NomadsGCofA). At the AGM, a constitution based on the South African and New Zealand Nomad formula was prepared. NomadsGCofA ran their club on the tried and tested basis of the SA clubs with a couple of slight differences. The main difference at this stage is not wearing jackets, ties and Nomads insignia after the game at prize giving. This may come into play to be in keeping with tradition when they start participating in Nomads competitions out of the country. The individual club committees comprise of the following: Captain, Vice-Captain, Junior Vice Captain, Treasurer, Secretary, Handicapper, Venue Co-ordinator, National Webmaster and a Past Captain. The committee meets once a month to run, administer and grow the club. Nomads Sydney The idea to start a Nomads representation in Australia was formed and by three former South Africans that emigrated to Australia in the 90's. They thought that the Nomads concept would be well received in Australia and explored the level of interest from within their local community.

The very first “fly the flag” game was held at Gordon Golf club in Sydney hosting 19 players. The interest in the Nomad format, uniforms and discipline, accelerated membership and 8 months later Nomads Australia was inaugurated with 60 founder members.

It was soon evident that the organization was going to grow and expand to other regions and the original club was renamed Nomads Sydney North. A National committee was elected to manage the organizations affairs and to look after the development of the organization in Australia.

The first Charity day was held a couple of months later starting the tradition that has been successfully implemented by a succession of Vice Captains. Nomads Sydney North have collected and distributed to charities over $160,000 and junior golf through the Jack Newton Golf Foundation has benefitted two Junior golfers per year. This contribution is in the form of a scholarship that is awarded to a young player on his golfing merit and his attitude towards the game and benevolence.

Peter Thomson was approached to consider the role as Patron of the Australian organisation which he accepted.

Brisbane Nomads was started in 2007 by two ex Gauteng Nomad from South Africa. Similar to the experience in Sydney the popularity of the Nomads club exceeded expectations. The Brisbane Club was inaugurated and in less than six month membership reached the 80 mark.

The Inaugural Australian National Tournament was played on the weekend of the 23rd to 25th of October 2009 at Noosa Springs GC, Queensland to great fanfare and success. Approximately 90 players took part from Australia, New Zealand, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa giving the entire tournament an international field. New Zealand were the overall winners of the Tri-Nations trophy with Sydney North taking the inaugural State of Origin Trophy The 2010 Australian Nationals Tournament hosted 120 players and attracted further interest from oveaseas Nomads and national sponsors who made the trip to The Vintage Hunter Valley where the tournament was hosted.

Playing Format At each monthly game, three competitions are run in tandem:

1. Individual Medal Stableford. Play the course to par and add handicap afterwards. The Nomad handicap is adjusted monthly on this result.
2. Better-Ball Medal Stableford.
3. Best Playing 4-ball.

Since 2003 NomadsGCofA has developed a good standing within the Australian community by always leaving no free slots at the courses they participate at, supporting numerous Charities and supporting Junior Golf in Australia. As of January 2011 there are three participating clubs within the Australian Territory namely [1] Nomads Sydney both Norths and Souths Clubs and the newer Nomads Brisbane. Membership is strong and a new club is being planned for 2012.

Nomads Worldwide

For a full list of active clubs please visit the Nomads Golf Club Worldwide Portal.