Page 10 - Nationals 2025

The National Tournament

The history of the National Tournament
We all know that, as it was known at the time, the “Follow the Sun” Nomads Golf Club was
formed in 1960 by Mike Florance and his committee. Transvaal was then the only club. It was
however only after the next 2 clubs were formed (Natal in 1963 and Western Province in
1965) that plans were put in place for a “National” tournament. The first National tournament
then took place in 1966 at Kyalami Country Club with Mike Florance as the coordinator. It
took place over 3 days with some 200 players taking part and was a huge success – so
much so that it was decided to host a National Tournament on an annual basis
Various formats were tried over the years. The number of contestants peaked in 1995 at no less than 504 players competing over 7 days on a single golf course
with a field of 288 per day! This however ended up an unpopular decision because of the time it took and the 3 days that each player had off days.
On several occasions when Nationals was fully subscribed, a “Fringe” or 2 nd tournament was arranged for those unlucky not to compete in Nationals. On 4
occasions we played 2-course tournaments. Randpark / Windsor, Margate / Southbroom, Nelspruit / White River and Mowbray / Rondebosch.
The Nationals Tournament was played every year since 1966 and had it’s 50 th anniversary at Champagne Sports Resort. The tournament even took place during
the Covid pandemic when it was also played at Champagne Sports Resort in 2021. The “independent” Champagne Sports Resort is one of only a few golf clubs
that hosted Nationals twice.
This year sees the 60 th National Tournament, hosted for the 3 rd time by Boland, and called The Jubilee Nationals. This is also the first time that this tournament
will take on a new format as it will take place over 4 days with each golfer competing in 3 rounds.

Nationals Tournament Trophies
We are playing for a number of trophies. Let’s have look at them:
Bert Hunt Trophy - Presented for the SA inter-club competition at the annual National Tournament. The scores of all rounds of players from each SA NOMADS Club
shall be added and averaged each day, the trophy being awarded to the SA Club whose members achieve the highest average score over the rounds played at
the current National Tournament.
Champion of Champions Trophy - Presented to the player achieving the highest aggregate score over the entire tournament played, regardless of division.
Prometheus Trophy - To qualify for this trophy, the player must have won any of the following trophies at a previous National Tournament. Individual Divisional
Championship, Division Eclectic Competition, or over 55’s Salver and the Captains Cup. The winner will be the NOMAD achieving the highest aggregate score over
the stipulated rounds played at the current National Tournament.
Individual Divisional Championships - Played in three handicap divisions “A”, “B” and “C”. This shall be won by the member in each division with the highest
aggregate score over the Tournament.
Ferneyhough Gold Salver - All members who have won a silver tray prior to the commencement of the National Tournament shall be eligible to play for the
Trophy, which shall be awarded to the qualifier achieving the highest aggregate score over the last two rounds played.
Eclectic Competition - Played in the three handicap divisions “A”, “B”, “C”, with an allowance of 80% of 4 less than the average handicap. This shall be won by the
member in each division achieving the highest eclectic score over the rounds played A trophy shall be awarded to the overall winner.
Over 55’s Salver - All members over the age of 55 at the commencement of the National Tournament shall compete and the winner shall be the qualifier achieving
the highest aggregate score for any two rounds of the rounds that have been completed.
Over 65’s Salver - All members over the age of 65 at the commencement of the National Tournament shall compete and the winner shall be the qualifier achieving
the highest aggregate score for any two rounds of the rounds that he has completed .
Club Champions - The Club Champion in each NOMADS club will be player with the highest aggregate score regardless of division, over the entire tournament.
Past/Present Captain’s Trophy - The winner shall be the eligible player with the highest aggregate score, regardless of division.
Two-Nations Trophy - Presented for Inter-Club Competition at the Annual National Tournament. The cumulative scores of all completed rounds of players from the
Zimbabwean and South African NOMADS Clubs shall be added and averaged each day, the Trophy being awarded to the Club whose Members achieve the
highest average score over the rounds played.
Mike Florence International Trophy - Presented for Inter-Club Competition at the Annual National Tournament. The cumulative scores of all completed rounds of
players from the following NOMADS teams/team combinations shall be added and averaged each day, the Trophy being awarded to the team whose Members
achieve the highest average score over the rounds played:
· South Africa
· Zimbabwe
· New Zealand and Australia
· Botswana and Eswatini
· United Kingdom and Zambia
International Challenge Cup - Presented for Inter-Club Competition at the Annual National Tournament.
The cumulative scores of all completed rounds of the all players from the following NOMADS teams/team combinations shall be added and averaged each day,
the Cup being awarded to the Team whose Members achieve the highest average score over the rounds played:
· South Africa (this shall be the twelve SA Club Captains plus the trophy donor and the National Tournament Coordinator, or their delegated representatives,
should they be absent at the National Tournament)
· Zimbabwe
· New Zealand and Australia
· Botswana and Eswatini
· United Kingdom and Zambia
In all of these team competitions above, the team with the highest average points per player wins the trophy.
If necessary the count-out procedures per Rule 3.2 of the Nomads Rules of Play, shall be applied.

10 Issue 2025