Lifestyle Golf And Standard Bank Driving Girls Golfing Dreams
Lifestyle Golf and Standard Bank are driving the golfing dreams of young South African girls. Through the Standard Bank Golf Development Program and the Standard Bank Pro-Am series, the two corporate companies are helping young girls achieve the seemingly impossible.
Jenny Havenga, the owner of Lifestyle Golf, partnered with banking giant Standard Bank to expose young girls to the sport of golf through the Standard Bank Golf Development Program. The program has seen girls as young as ten years old learn how to play golf and get an opportunity to become professional golfers in the future. The Women Professional Golfers Association also backs the program, which is run by PGA-qualified women coaches.
“We get our girls from previously disadvantaged areas. Right now we have girls from around Kempton Park, Orange Farm, and Durbanville in the Western Cape. Golf keeps them off the street and gives the girls focus,” Havenga explained after watching the final round of the Serengeti leg of the Standard Bank Pro-Am Series.
The girls Havenga passionately talks about do not have to look far for inspiration. Kaiyree Naidoo came in third place on Friday. Naidoo is on a golf scholarship at the University of North Carolina, America. She is hoping to turn professional after graduation in 2024.
“I hope to return to South Africa after turning pro but we’ll see. I’ve been living in the States for over a year now so I might stay there,” the smiling Naidoo said.
Standard Bank’s backing has been important in keeping the development program going, and the bank has promised to keep the girls’ dreams alive.
“As Standard Bank, we are very happy with the way the Pro-Am Series has grown to a national level. It is our wish to see more girls join the development program with Jenny and look forward to seeing the girls turning pro,” said Presh Govender, who spoke on behalf of Standard Bank.
If the swinging and driving shown by the young girls at Serengeti is anything to go by, South Africa will have at least two notable golfing champions competing on the world stage sooner rather than later.
