Nomads Golf Club
Nomads Golf Club is non commercial organization travelling social club of golfer's who have no fixed home club or location but are tied to a geographical territory from which they draw their membership. The purpose of Nomads is to: 1. Enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded people through the medium of golf; 2. Through the enjoyment of golf, to raise funds to assist those less fortunate than ourselves; 3. To raise funds in order to foster and encourage junior golf; and 4. To belong to an International golfing club and enjoy in the near future playing against overseas club mates.
Currently there are fourteen affiliated clubs spread over five countries with membership in the thousands. The organization has grown significantly from it’s South African roots in the 1960’s to be internationally recognised 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 22,528,851 (US$2,805,000 at 1st June 09), Nomads New Zealand has raised and donated more than NZ$300,000 and in Australia, Nomads to date has contributed approximately AUD$100,000 to charity. 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 as an amateur by the Royal and Ancient, 838th in the world , and a second junior golfer, Ryan Smith. 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 and five times Majors winner Peter Thompson to whom they have annual competitions named after them.
Member’s 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”
Affiliated Charities
New Zealand
Parenting with Confidence Offering programmes to help children gain an increased sense of purpose in their family and community lives. Nomads have contributed to many such programmes.
Spinal Cord Society of New Zealand Representing those afflicted with spinal cord injuries. Nomads have donated a specialised refrigerator for the Society's Dunedin research programme.
Motor Neurone Disease Society of New Zealand Providing support for those suffering from this terminal neurological disorder. Nomads have donated a new car for part time workers to make house calls.
National Burns Centre Recently established at Middlemore Hospital. Nomads have purchased two specialised mobile shower units for severe burn victums as well as muscle stimulating equipment.
NZ Riding for the Disabled Association Training programme for instructors.
CCS Tirelessly working for children with disabilities. Nomads have donated a Lomak keyboard enabling the recipient to access the computer-internet world. More keyboards are planned for suitable children.
Hearing House Assisting deaf children to listen and speak via a cochlear implant. Nomads are donating funds for a new playground.
South Africa
CEREBRAL PALSY CLINIC & OUTREACH The Clinic provides assessment and treatment to children with cerebral palsy e.g. physiotherapy, speech therapy, feeding therapy, occupational therapy, advice and intervention by a multidisciplinary team of specialist doctors, nurses, social workers and interpreters. On average between 250 and 350 children receive therapy each month. Skills development training and education, and group or individual counselling services are also extended to the mothers and carers of the children attending the clinic. Patients attending the clinic come from all over the Western Cape, mostly from the poorest of the previously disadvantaged communities. The clinic also runs an outreach programme delivering vital assessment, treatment, counselling and training services to various communities. The Outreach program currently operates in eight (8) areas along with one satellite clinic. Areas of operation include Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, Guguletu, Bonteheuwel, Cross Roads, Claremont and Milnerton and the satellite clinic in Kraaifontein serving the Wallace Dean, Scottsdene and Bloekombos informal settlement areas.
CHILDREN’S SPECIAL CARE CENTRE A secure and happy environment in which up to 38 cerebral palsy children and youths benefit from a continued developmental programme to ensure that the child / youth obtains optimal benefit. All the children are profoundly physically and intellectually disabled and experience severe barriers to learning. In addition to this a programme for parents with ongoing social work services, counselling and skills training is offered to ensure continued management in the home environment. The centre caters for children and youths up to age 21.
RESIDENTIAL HOME Rosedon House is a residential home for adults with varying degrees of cerebral palsy from various communities throughout the Western Cape. The aim of Rosedon House is to create a home for adults disabled by cerebral palsy who can no longer reside in their parental homes. The home offers independent supervised living with each resident having their own room. Residents are transported to doctors, social functions, sport association etc. Rosedon also has the added facility of accommodating several respite care cases from time to time when required. They also offer an occupational group five mornings per week for disabled adults from the community. Currently there are 54 adults residing at Rosedon House.
OCCUPATION CENTRES The occupation centres, Ulwazi (in Bellville) and Our Hope (at Rosedon House), offers stimulation and social interaction to severely disabled adults from the Northern and Southern suburbs who are unable to work even in a protected work environment due to the extent of their disabilities. The groups participate in fabric painting, ceramic painting, free art, music and a variety of other social activities and outings, providing an opportunity to get out of the house and to interact and socialise with others. We currently have a total of 35 adults attending two groups which operate five mornings per week.
THE VILLAGE WORK CENTRE 125 Disabled workers with varying degrees of mental and physical disabilities are collected from their homes in areas of the Northern Cape Flats as well as from Mitchell’s plain, Retreat, Grassy Park, Manenberg, Silvertown, Athlone and Lansdowne.
They are taken to the centre which provides meaningful work opportunities for adults with cerebral palsy who are unable to function in the open labour market, but are capable of performing supervised routine tasks and be trained to enhance their skills level. These tasks include woodwork, mechanical repairs to wheelchairs, sewing, assembling of contract goods and packaging. The workers are generally people who have completed their schooling in special schools or training centres established under the auspices of the Western Cape Cerebral Palsy Association. The centre provides training where necessary and appropriate in order to establish independence with dignity and self-esteem.
SOCIAL WORK SERVICES Services are provided on an ongoing basis to all disabled clients at all centres (schools & training centres included when required) and their families. The Association employs two full time Social Workers who are experienced in the field of disability. A substantial part of their function entails home visits to the families in the community to provide ongoing support and counselling in their own homes.
HOME BASED CARE CENTRES IN THE TOWNSHIPS There are 3 home based total care homes for severely cerebral palsy children, rendering 24 hour service. These homes are financed through the Care Dependency Grant from the Government, as well as donations from the public.
This South African donations list is not a complete archive going back to the 1960’s
Australia
Autism Spectrum Australia Autism Spectrum Australia is a leading service provider for children, young people and dults with autism spectrum disorders, including autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder and typical autism.
Autism is twice as common as cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, childhood deafness or blindness and is ten times more common than childhood leukaemia. Despite the prevalence of this condition, for which there is no cure, awareness and support by the general public remains remarkably low.
1 in 160 children have autism in some form. The prevalence of autism is now sixty times greater than when it was first recognised in the 1940’s. Right now over 10,000 Australian children and 125,000 Australians of all ages have autism and as each year passes and the population grows, more and more people are added to the spectrum.
While Autism Spectrum Australia is able to provide quality education, specialised therapy and professional support for more than 5,000 of these people, it is clear that we need to expand our services in response to the growing need. The generous support we receive each year from the community is becoming increasingly important.
Autism Spectrum Australia provides: • A central resource for families and professionals seeking information and advice about autism spectrum disorders • Direct services for children and young people in the form of assessment and diagnosis, early intervention, schooling, incorporating six special schools and a network of over 50 satellite classes, transition to mainstream and itinerant education support • family support via parent mentoring and specialised training and sibling’s camps • Services for adults in the form of employment and community participation All of these programs provide a vital lifeline to many people living with autism each year, however, this is just the tip of the iceberg as the number of people diagnosed and the demand for our services continues to grow. With this in mind I invite you to join our small but passionate team of supporters who are committed to working with us to overcome the isolation of autism.
Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation
A BRIEF HISTORY
Shortly after World War II, a consortium of Companies was formed in Johannesburg called the New Union Merchant Industrial Corporation (NUMIC) with a certain Michael Florance as Personnel Officer. Because of the diversity of the various subsidiary companies, Mike Florance was authorised to implement his proposal that a NUMIC Social & Sporting Club be formed to enable the Staff members to get to know each other. Being a keen golfer, Mike became the Honorary organiser of the NUMIC Golf Club. Not having a course of their own, they had to obtain the courtesy of the course on which they played, but in those days Saturday mornings were a slack time for local golf clubs and it was a pleasure for them to host an organised, thirsty group of golfers. Membership was soon extended to business associates and friends and meetings became even more enjoyable.
Mike evolved a modus operandi for the club, incorporating several features new to the South African golfing scene, all of which added to the interest and enjoyment of the participants. So the NUMIC Golf Club went on its merry way, giving much pleasure to its members for a number of years - until 1959.
In that year NUMIC unbundled and the NUMIC Golf Club held its final meeting that March. At this meeting, Mike and a fair number of members felt that an organisation which had engendered such great camaraderie and enjoyment should not be allowed to disappear and as Mike said in a follow-up letter on the subject, he "was assailed on all sides to continue, in some form or another, a similar type of association." Still not having a course of their own, it was logical to change from NUMIC to NOMADS and so in 1960, shortly after the life story of American golfing legend, Ben Hogan, was portrayed in the movie "Follow the Sun", Mike Florance and his committee announced the formation of the "Follow the Sun" NOMADS Golf Club under the aegis of the National War Memorial Health Foundation.
The lapel badge adopted was similar to the badge we have now hanging from the name bar but it consisted of a bell alone with a scroll on the top edge with the legend "Follow the Sun" and "Onthou 1939-1945" immediately above the bell. The background colours were top half - yellow (sun) and bottom - green (grass). The choice of the Bell was prompted by the Meditations of John Donne (and now our Creed) - "For Whom the Bell Tolls", symbolising the aim of the remembrance of those who had lost their lives in the War.
At this time, Mike was also Honorary Organiser of the South African National Golf Foundation which had been formed as a result of a donation from the "Follow the Sun NOMADS" on 18 October 1960 for the promotion of golf among the juniors. So it was no surprise that two additional aims of the new Club were the furtherance of golf and to raise funds for Charity.
The "Follow the Sun" NOMADS Golf Club came into being officially in April 1960, with 106 "Founder" members attending the first monthly meeting scheduled for the first Saturday in May at the Glendower Golf Club. The meeting itself was washed out but what a party! Rain also partially disrupted the second attempt at Parkview so it was June before the first complete official NOMADS meeting took place, this time at the Irene Golf Club.
The special "Rules of Play" used were virtually the same as those developed in the NUMIC days, and 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 in place so that there was always that little extra to consider when playing your game. 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 it's present format : a bell crossed by a golf club signifying the remembrance of others through golf. (Now registered with the Department of Heraldry).
After several NOMADS visits, 13 Durban golfers under the leadership of Noel Thompson were given the go-ahead to form a Natal club in September 1963. After a somewhat slow start, the NOMADS concept gradually caught on and with plenty of encouragement from Transvaal, Natal forged ahead. In the meantime, a certain Louis Immerman in Cape Town, who had heard of the NOMADS concept, was badgering Mike Florance to let him form a club in the Mother City. Eventually Louis had signed up sufficient numbers (45) to warrant the formation of a Western Province club in 1965. With three NOMADS clubs in existence, it was only a matter of time before a "National" Tournament was arranged and this Mike Florance did at Kyalami in 1966. The occasion was so successful and enjoyable that all concerned vowed that it should become an annual event, which has been the case ever since. The publicity generated by this and subsequent early Nationals was of great importance to NOMADS in that it made the formation of new clubs so much easier. In fact, the staging of the first National Tournament must be regarded as a major turning point in the history of the club. By 1966 the pressure on the Transvaal club to take in new members was such that it was decided to split the club and let John Thornton, Arthur Ferneyhough and their fellow Pretoria based members, form a new club north of the Jukskei. The Northern Transvaal club was launched in April, 1967 with Mello McRobert as Captain.
At this stage it was felt that the NOMADS Golf Club had reached its peak and no other centres were large enough to support a club. However, Brian Norgarb, an ex-Transvaal NOMAD, now in Rhodesia, clamoured for the formation of a club in Salisbury. Eventually a "Show the Flag" visit was arranged and in 1969 the Rhodesia club was launched.
From 1960 to 1964 Mike Florance ran the club with the help of a couple of members and sponsor's female staff. (notably Helen Inggs of United Tobacco and, later on, Jean Bechet of BP in Natal) In 1965 Ludie Ludeman was elected Captain of the Transvaal club with Mike in the engine room as Match Secretary. With the advent of the first National Tournament in 1966, a National Executive Committee was established with Anthony Handley as first Chairman with Brian Barends as Honorary Secretary. (In memory of his father, Anthony donated the "John Handley Trophy" to the Transvaal and each succeeding club as they were formed.) The Club and its systems continued to develop in an orderly manner until mid-1970 when a major dispute arose over operating expenses. The result was that Michael Florance was forced to leave the club he had founded. However, he never lost interest in NOMADS and kept abreast with it's affairs through friends. In 1989, in recognition of his achievement of setting up such a unique club and with his health rapidly deteriorating, Mike Florance was invited back into the NOMADS Golf Club by the National Council. Mike was buried in his NOMADS blazer in August, 1990.
In the early days of the club, more emphasis was placed on raising funds for charity than promoting golf. And so it was only natural that 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 (NNAMET) which each club holds annually as a training exercise for its Vice-Captain, apart from raising funds to purchase some tangible asset for its nominated beneficiary. This also led to Andrew donating an "Andrew Mentis Trophy" to each club in the family. This original generous 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 (2001), in the vicinity of R11.5 million (excluding funds raised by Zimbabwe).
In 1970, the Western Province club felt that the time had come to take a third look at the Eastern Cape and two "Show the Flag" meetings were arranged in Port Elizabeth. Not only did the NOMADS have a wonderful time, but the seed was sown to successfully grow into a new club. With the assistance of an enthusiastic steering committee, Dennis Howard was able to arrange the Eastern Cape Club launch in October 1972.
In 1974, halfway through his term as second Captain of Eastern Cape, Founder member Joss Hamilton was transferred to East London where he immediately set about organising the Border club. It was inaugurated with 90 founder members in July 1975. While the coastal development was taking place, the huge golfing population on the Reef was being balked by the virtually static membership of the Transversal club and something had to give. With a number of Transversal members switching over with him, Bill Mosey got the new Eastern Transversal club going in June 1978 with headquarters in Benoni, thus creating the space needed for new blood in Transvaal.
The next move was rather sad. When white rule came to an end and Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, NOMADS from north of the Limpopo were forbidden to fraternise with South Africans and the 1980 National Tournament in East London was the last in which they participated. On the other hand, being isolated made them look inward. The old Rhodesia club became Mashonaland; Matabeleland was formed in Bulawayo and Midlands centered in what was Gwelo (Gweru). They now have their own Executive and National Tournament and send a combined team to the South African one.
Although it was some time before any more clubs were established, it wasn't for lack of trying. One group was working in Southern Cape and another in Southern Natal. The Southern Natal group had the advantage of a number of upcountry NOMADS retiring to that part of the world. The two Gillies, Sales and Richardson eventually getting their club off the ground in February 1984 under the Captaincy of the latter. Southern Cape wasn't so easy but after a couple of false starts, Jan de Kock finally got them going at a never-to-be-forgotten Seaboard Trophy meeting in Oudtshoorn in June 1985.
Within a couple of years of their formation in 1965, Western Province membership was closed and it continued that way off and on through the years; the members knowing they should do something about it, but when? A measure of the pressure which had built up can be gauged by the fact that when the Boland club was eventually launched by Bones Nagel in January 1993, they had 180 Founder members and the membership was immediately closed!
By the early 70's, Transvaal NOMADS were making regular "tours" to the Lowveld to the extent that it is now one of their most popular outings. However, it never appeared to them that there was potential for another club. Eastern Transvaal though, had different ideas. Shortly after their formation in 1978, they also started undertaking "Away Tours" to the Lowveld. As time went by, the idea grew that a new club could be formed. In 1994 the National Executive gave Eastern Transvaal the go-ahead to investigate the formation of a new club. A Steering Committee under Dave Tod was formed and a "Show the Flag" meeting held in Nelspruit in March '95. Gerald Bullen was elected to lead the Lowveld party. After much close liaison between the National Executive and the parties, the Lowveld NOMADS Golf Club, with Gerald Bullen as Captain, was officially inaugurated on 17 November 1996 at a meeting at the Nelspruit Golf Club.
Over the years, a number of NOMADS moved, or were transferred, to the Free State and several unsuccessful attempts were made to form a club. However, in May 1996, no less a person than the President of the Free State Golf Union, invited the NOMADS National Chairman, Neale Kunhardt, to address a small gathering of interested golfers at the Bloemfontein Golf Club in this regard. This was followed in August by a "Show the Flag" meeting at the same club at which sufficient interest was shown to warrant the election of a steering committee under the chairmanship of Herman Braam. Assisting him to assess the potential support from both golfers and local clubs, were three ex-NOMADS. The major problem was distance between centres, but the enthusiasm of the steering committee more than made up for this. They were greatly assisted by several more informal games supported by NOMADS from other centres. In August 1997, the National Management Committee gave the Boland NOMADS Club the go-ahead to oversee the formation of the Free State Club with Herman Braam as Captain. The event took place in great style at the Schoeman Park Golf Club on Sunday, 9 November, 1997.
Meanwhile, sometime in 1993, a group of golfers in Gaborone, Botswana, calling themselves "Gomads", started playing NOMADS style games once a month on a Thursday. Through the Gauteng Club, they applied to the National Executive for permission to become NOMADS. As they have only one 18 hole course and are in another country, they were granted independent status and were inaugurated under their Founder Captain, Julian Harris, on Thursday 5 February, 1998.
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.
Whilst the energies of all 17 Founder Members were collectively applied to bringing the Club into being, the vision of the inaugural Club President, Lisle Thackwray, combined with the commitment of Secretary John O'Sullivan, John Philpott, Guy Newlove, Peter Ramsay, Ian Braddock and inaugural Club Captain Mike Gibson, were paramount to the successful establishment of Nomads in New Zealand.
The objectives of the Nomads Golf Club in New Zealand can be summarised as follows:
To encourage and promote, foster and support the game of golf and in particular to provide such service as may be used for the benefit of golf in greater Auckland. To generate funds which may be distributed to such charitable causes as the members of the Club may deem proper. To promote fellowship amongst members, their spouses and partners. To work in harmony with all Golf Associations and Golf Clubs within the Auckland Area. To be affiliated to a Nomads' National Association if and when such a body is created. To do anything that may be expedient, necessary or desirable to further the aims and objectives of the Club. To seek reciprocity with other international golfing societies having similar aims and objectives. e.g. Nomads of South Africa. To promote a high standard of dress and conduct both on the course and in the clubhouses of host clubs.
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 our 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 run 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 committee comprises 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.
The Vice-captain is responsible for nominating the charity we wish to give monies to. This is done with the sanction of the members and committee and the monies are donated on Gold Cup day, which is the December game.
The AGM is also held on this day with the election of the new Vice-Captain. The out going Vice-captain succeeds the Captain who in turn takes up the Past Captain’s role on the committee to maintain continuity for a one-year period.
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 June 2009 there are two participating clubs within the Australian Territory namely Nomads Sydney and the newer Nomads Brisbane. Membership is strong and a new club is being planned for 2009.
Current List of Active Clubs Globally
South Africa
Nomads South Africa National Body Home of Nomads Golf South Afria and the Nomads National Body.
Western Province Home of Nomads Western Province
Border Home of Nomads Border
Easterns Home of Nomads Easterns formally Eastern Transvaal
Free State Home of Nomads Free State
Boland Home to Nomads Boland
Eastern Cape Home to Nomads Eastern Cape
Gauteng Home of Nomads Gauteng
Natal Home of Nomads Natal
Southern Cape Home to Nomads Southern Cape
Southern Natal Home to Nomads Southern Natal
Northerns Natal Home to Nomads Northerns Natal
Botswana
Nomads Botswana Home of Nomads Botswana
New Zealand
Nomads New Zealand Home of Nomads New Zealand
Zimbabwe
Australia
Nomads Golf Australian National Body Home of the Nomads Australian National Body
Nomads Golf Sydney Home of Nomads in Sydney
Nomads Golf Brisbane Home of Nomads in Brisbane