KDM Ladies Update

Dear KDM Ladies

This is double-header newsletter to make up for my absence in May. I was deep in the Amazon forest, on the River Araca, on a successful botanical adventure.

Tuesday Trophy Competitions

We had two Trophy competitions in the May-June interval. Congratulations to June Watson who is our 2026 Doreen Rocky Champion with an excellent nett medal score of 71. We celebrated KDM stalwart Jackie Davis’s 98th birthday on June 2nd. Jackie generously sponsored all the prizes; Cindy Illing and Gabrielle Boshoff were the proud winners of the Jackie Davis Trophy in 2026.

It has been very reassuring seeing the excellent participation in our Tuesday competitions, observed from afar in the Amazon, and now that I am back home this June.

A very big thank you to my committee who made sure everything ran smoothly in my absence.

InterClub 2026

KDM fielded four teams in the InterClub competition, organized by Boland in Langebaan this year. The KDM crew were sad that Glenda Muller had to pull out of InterClub as she is ill. We wrote down message on pink ribbons which we tied to our hats and wrists, with comments that reminded us of Glenda feisty approach to golf and life. These messages worked well, and a huge shout out to Pearl Mbeje and Pontsho Maruping who won the Bronze division on Stableford points.

My sister Suzie and I had the privilege of playing with Pearl and Pontsho on the Saturday; suffice to say that Pearl and Pontsho trounced Suzi and I, despite us playing in different divisions.

The KDM teams made sure we kept the tradition of the Club with the best ‘gees’ at InterClub. Theresa Steyler designed tassel pink boobies for us to flaunt. None of us could match Theresa in her boobie twirling skills.

League Report

Our placement in the League tables (as of May 24 are summarized below. The Saturday and Tuesday 5th League team remain the best performing teams.

We have two more League fixtures left. Please could everyone try their best to make themselves available for these fixtures.

Good luck to all the teams for the July matches.

WP mid-am and Seniors Tournament: 31 May

Congratulations to Marianne Kiessig who came 2nd in the Seniors, on Stableford points in the C-division, at the WP mid-am and Seniors Championship held at Rondebosch golf club on May 31. Well played, Marianne!

Birdie Tree Leaderboard

We have had a good take up on logging of birdies on the Birdie Tree. Please keep up the good work and log your birdies on the birdie tree in the Change Room, as well as with the QR code that is on display. Our Birdie Tree leaders are:

Silver Division

Natasha Murray: 17 birdies (it’s going to be hard to catch up with Natasha!)
Theresa Steytler (9 birdies) & Nicci Illing (9 birdies)

Bronze Division

Marianne Kiessig (5 birdies)
Sally Jamieson (4 birdies)
Pearl Mbeje (3 birdies)

Prentice Girls report from June Watson

“Zoey Rhoda was selected to a WP team which is currently participating in the Run Africa Dames in Reunion from 22 June and we wish her good luck. She and Ana Firer will also participate in the RoseBowl at Heron Banks in July.

We have 4 experienced, Championship Division girls who have progressed from supporting the WP Junior Tournaments to playing in the Premier Amateur Tour Opens to attain ranking points and experience.

Zoey, Ana and Gabi Dolan were selected to a WP Chaperoned group to participate in the Nomads SA Girls Champs in April at Middelburg.

Zoey recently came 5th gross and 3rd Nett in the Nomads WP Junior Girls Champs. Sydney Small won the C division. Good luck to Sydney when she participates in the Champion of Champions on 5 July.

Elewa Boshoman, Mia Wyngaard, Tara Cartwright and Zahra Khan have played some matches in the High Schools B League. Sydney is a regular player for Pinelands High in the B League.

Zoey, Gabi and Ana are committed players for the Combined Schools team in the A League.

Thank you to Jaden Visagie for being an excellent Team Manager and also for supporting our Saturday Morning coaching group.

The Saturday morning coaching with mostly young girls has continued with Hayden Africa as the new coach. The register is still full and the attendance is regular. I have recently started 3 new players on the course and Annabelle Lebreton has played her first 18 hole competition.

Knock-out Singles and Betterball

Progressing to the next round in the knockout competition are:

Betterball knockout (to be played by end-August)

Semi-finals (2): Rona Maske and June Watson vs Lyn de Villiers and Marianne Kiessig

Silver-singles (to be played by end-October)

Finals: Sandy Swanson vs June Watson

Bronze single (to be played by end-October)

Finals: Marianne Kiessig vs Lyn de Villiers

We thank Glenda for the fine job she has done in keeping the knockout tournament on the boil. Glenda has passed the baton of the knockout – tournament organizer to Theresa Steytler.

Biodiversity Report

Good progress has been made on the “no mow’ zones at KDM2/KDM7, as well as the VULA restoration project on KDM13/14.

Members will have noticed that the Chasmanthe are shooting up leaves, as well as the March Lilies on KDM2 and KDM7. It is satisfying to see that the Arums are blooming next to the bridge as you walk to the 9th fairway.

We have set up a collaboration with the Kenilworth Race Course Conservation who have kindly donated some precious Cape Flats Conebush (Leucadendron levisanus) seedlings to the KDM Biodiversity project. The Cape Flats Conebush used to be a common species stretching from Goodwood through to Kenilworth but is now listed as a rare and endangered plant species as this habitat has disappeared with urbanization.

You will have seen big changes to the KDM13/KDM14 Biodiversity zone.The VULA Environmental Services team have laid down irrigation, have killed the grass cover, and have seeded these areas with green manure. The weather has been chilly, so germination of the green manure has been slow. However, if you look closely, you will see lupin seedlings, which fix nitrogen naturally in the soil, emerging. Once the green manure has grown, it will be tilled back into the soil, and VULA will be planting the KDM13/14 Biodiversity zones with Fynbos species.

iNaturalist Sightings

KDM Members are encouraged to sign up to the iNaturalist App and record sightings of birds and flowering plants. Below are sightings recorded for May-June 2026. It is encouraging to see our ponds being visited by rare birds, including spoonbills and African black duck.

Goodbyes

It is with a heavy heart that we say good bye to Emma who has returned to Scotland, Pearl Mbeje who has not renewed her KDM membership and Belinda Shaw who is moving to Philadelphia to start up a new venture.

We have such good memories of you all being core KDM Lady members and sharing golfing friendship both on and off the course.

We will miss you – remember that there is always a home for you at KDM.

Proposed KDM Development

Please remember to comment on the proposed KDM Development.

Go to this website: https://www.infinity.capetown/mowbray#background and, scroll down (several pages) to the Comment and Registration form. Fill in your details and any comments that you may have.

Upcoming Events

Good luck to our Club Championship winners, Jaden Visagie (A division), Marianne Kiessig (B division) and Sydney Small (C division) who will be playing in the WP Regional Champion of Champions on July 6th, at Durbanville.