• Golf federation

Nedbank for Good introduces first Ladies Central Open

• 18 Hours Ago

The sixth edition of the Nedbank for Good Series teed off on Saturday at Omeya Golf Club, marking a historic milestone with the introduction of the first-ever Nedbank Ladies Central Open.

The opening round saw 106 players participate – one of the largest fields in the event’s history.

The newly launched Nedbank Ladies Central Open took place simultaneously with the series on Saturday and Sunday, drawing 26 senior ladies and six junior golfers. Organisers hailed the event as a resounding success, exceeding expectations.

Tashia Kalondo, newly elected secretary of the Namibia Amateur Ladies Golf Union (NALGU), applauded the initiative, emphasizing the significance of providing a competitive platform for women golfers.

“Plaudits to Nedbank Namibia because without them, we would have only had the Coastal Open as a women's competition this year. Seeing six junior golfers compete with their parents as caddies was inspiring. It is crucial to support the next generation of female golfers in such a competitive environment,” Kalondo said.

She stressed the importance of developing young talent through planned workshops and training programs. Noting that the average age of women golfers in Namibia is currently 40 years, she highlighted the urgency of introducing younger players into the sport to ensure competitiveness on the international stage.



Three more clubs incorporated

Dan Zwiebel, founder of DZ Golf and organiser of the Nedbank for Good Series, echoed Kalondo’s sentiments and expressed enthusiasm for future collaborations.

“This is the first time the series has partnered with another golfing event, and it may open doors to more such collaborations. Integrating NALGU into the Nedbank for Good Series could be a strategic move in nurturing future stars of the sport,” Zwiebel said.

This year the series expands to 13 venues – up from ten last year, adding Outjo, Okahandja and Grootfontein into the calendar. “Innovation is key in keeping the series fresh and engaging,” Zwiebel added.



Round 1 winners

Douglas Holtzhausen secured victory in the men’s competition with 39 points, followed closely by Dieter Schrywer, second with 38, ahead on count-out against Braam Vermeulen (38 points, third).

In the women’s category, Wilna Bredenhann claimed top honours with 43 points, with Tashia Kalondo finishing second on 42 and Mariena Ludwig third with 38 (count-out). Bredenhann was also crowned the overall champion of both the Nedbank Ladies Central Open and the Nedbank for Good Series with a gross score of 169. Doulaine Holtzhausen followed in second place, four shots behind.

The overall net winner was Brenda Lens (147), ahead of Evelyn Paulino (153).

Additional winners included:

A Division best gross: Mary-Ann Boltmann (189). A Division best nett: Anecia le Grange (166)

B Division best gross: Celonika Robinson (188). B Division best nett: Ina Maier (157, count-out)

C Division: 1 Tashia Kalondo (73, count-out); 2 Jolene van Schoor (73); 3 Tiekie de Wet (68).

Junior winner: 10-year-old Mikaela Ann Eises.



Giving back to the community

Proceeds from the 2025 Nedbank for Good Series will be donated to Agra ProVision, an initiative dedicated to training, servicing and supporting underserved agricultural communities.

The series is co-sponsored by Autohaus Windhoek, AfricaOnline, Agra, B2Gold, Future Media, Gondwana Collection, JTC Namibia, King Price, Pupkewitz Megabuild, Vivo Energy, and WV Manufacturing.

With an expanded calendar and a renewed focus on fostering young talent, the Nedbank for Good Series 2025 promises to be a landmark season for Namibian golf.



Windhoek Golf Club

After a three-week layoff from competitions, the Windhoek Golf Club hosted a divisional medal competition sponsored by AVO SuperShop and Paypal last weekend.

Club member George Gariseb, a former football player with African Stars, passed away on Friday and a minute of silence was observed.

Forty-six players participated, which is a reasonable turnout. Top results were:

Overall winners: 1 Bertus Damon (gross 84, nett 72); 2 Olavi Hamutumwa (gross 90, nett 72).

A Division (handicap under 14): 1 Anton Smit (gross 85, nett 74); 2 Dewald Coetzee (gross 87, nett 74); 3 John Williams (gross 84, nett 75); 4 Marco Vollgraaff (gross 86, nett 75).

Nearest-to-pin prizes were won by Pieter de Klerk (hole 3), Dewald Coetzee (hole 9), Marco Vollgraaff (hole 13) and John Chadyiwa (hole 17).

Windhoek Golf Club’s scheduled second monthly medal has been rescheduled due to the Ladies Central Open held at Omeya. The NAGU Central Open, which was to have taken place this weekend, has been rescheduled to take place from 31 May to 1 June.