Caddy dad raises sons with passion for golf
Johannes Kutumane was 10 years old when he became a caddy at the Royal Cape Golf Club in Wynberg, Cape Town, and fell in love with the game. The youngster from Gugulethu on the Cape Flats did not become the golf star he dreamt of being. But he played and caddied for 16 years, and shifted focus to his four sons, who he named after some of the world's greatest players - Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Arnold Palmer.Today Jack and Arnold - who prefers the name Thabang - play competitively.The next few weeks will be crucial for the Kutumanes. Thabang, 22, is training to defend his title as club champion at King David Mowbray Golf Club.story_article_left1And in a few days' time 31-year-old Jack, who is playing on the Sunshine Tour, hopes to tee off at the Tshwane Open."I taught my boys to play. Yes, I am the master. I laid the foundation," said Kutumane, who made his sons small clubs to play with as children.Thabang recently caught the attention of Canadian student Nicholas Avramis and businessman Felix Mthembu, who met him at the golf club and were blown away by his talent. Both have vowed to help him grow his career.Avramis, who is studying at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business, started a movement called Team Thabang to raise funds to ensure the player gets professional coaching and equipment. Mthembu, who is CEO and director of GPI Slots, plans to move Thabang to Johannesburg to gain exposure."I live golf, golf is in my blood and I am doing very well now. My confidence is up. I want to play on the Sunshine Tour and play professionally," said Thabang.He has recently started coaching at the South African Disabled Golf Association at King David Mowbray, where he plays for free.While he is grateful for the generosity of the club managers, he is disappointed that he has not been able to secure sponsorship.So is Jack. He turned professional in 2006 but without financial backing he can play in only a fraction of the tournaments on the Sunshine Tour, which takes place in several countries including Namibia and Mauritius...
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