Jozi domestic worker rules the fairways

17 August 2015

 

For the past 19 years, Connie Seatlholo has been hitting the little white ball and most of her rivals fear the ground she treads on.

 

She, however, never in her wildest dreams thought that a date with a former boyfriend at a driving range in the mining town of Carletonville almost two decades ago would turn her into a mean golfer.

 

Love is known to make people do crazy things but Seatlholo has no regrets. Every weekend, after sharing sweet tea and milk tarts with the tannies at the Carletonville Country Club, Seatlholo would hit the ball with such ferocity that some of the women would almost quake in their boots. Fast forward to 2015. Seatlholo is the Soweto Country Club’s Ladies’ captain and reigning club champion after only joining it last year.

 

“When I go to Carletonville I still play scratch league with the boeremeisies, but I’m glad I found a home here at the Soweto Country Club. The greens are not in the condition I’m used to in Carletonville but the warmth and friendship I’ve made in Soweto makes up for it,” says Seatlholo, who makes a living as a domestic worker in Ruimsig, in the Roodepoort area, when she is not at the driving range.

 

She is one of 31 women members of the Soweto Country Club.

 

On Saturday August 15 she was among Joburg’s 80 golfers who turned up to celebrate golfing legend Gary Player’s 80th birthday at the club. Seatlholo, who plays off a 21 handicap, unfortunately did not win the encounter. She laughs and says she cannot remember how many trophies she has won in all the years she has been playing golf.

 

“Yoh, now you ask me. I’ve lost count. I think I’ve won 32 competitions. I haven’t turned professional yet because I don’t have a sponsor. You need to enter certain tournaments to become a professional,” says the 45-year-old mother of 21-year-old Semakaleng.

 

“Golf is not as expensive or elitist as some people make it out to be. Once you have your clubs, the only thing you need to budget for are green fees and transport. Fortunately, the ladies at the Soweto Country Club have been generously helping me when I come short with my finances. For that, I’m grateful,” says Seatlholo.

 

With National Women’s Month celebrations gathering pace, Seathlolo is one woman who deserves recognition for breaking down barriers in the sporting fraternity.