LOTUS GOLF MAGAZINE

History of Lotus Golf Club: 1994 – 2024

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Marcus Garvey

◆ In 2004 , the Club hosted its 10th anniversary held at Sun City on the 21 st and 22 nd March. ◆ In 2009 , the Club hosted its 15th anniversary held at Sun City on the 27 th and 28 th April. ◆ In 2014 , the Club hosted its 20 th anniversary held at Sun City on the 10 th and 11 th March. ◆ In 2019 , the Club hosted its 25 th anniversary held at Sun City on the 9 th and 10 th March. ◆ In 2024 , this tradition is still prevailing with the 30 th anniversary played at Sun City on the 13 th and 14 th April. Members of the Club have also been afforded the opportunity of playing at golf clubs far and wide – Mmabatho, Bethal, Orkney, Swaziland, White River, Graceland and numerous others. Under its leadership the Club also hosted several dinner and dances. It embarked on several outreach programmes, inter alia: Lenasia Cancer Association, ShriAdi ShankaraAshrama, Ubuntu, Jocod, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Society, Midas Sport Academy, Kids for Life, among others. Over the years the membership has fluctuated, and we do not have the numbers of yesteryear. This can be attributed to various factors, - from members grouping together with friends and creating smaller golf clubs; to the fanning of the population of Lenasia to other areas that were previously closed due to apartheid, and there are a host of other contributing factors. This has however not affected the Club in its outreach endeavours. As Lotus Golf Club, we place a great emphasis on charity and though membership numbers are dwindling, we still continue to donate as generously as we previously did. However, it is the Club’s fervent wish that the younger generation inject their enthusiasm and reignite the embers. History is fact, remembering it helps us to build upon it to achieve greater heights. Viva Lotus Viva Viva!

It is with warm sentiment that we recall the beginnings and growth of Lotus Golf Club The launching of the Club began because of the enthusiasm and passion of a handful of golfing enthusiasts – namely Shantoo Ramjee, Surendra Mistry, Jack Bhana, Diar Kesa, Narendra Vallabh, Arvind Narshi, Ishwar Vithal, Kanti Lakha, Prakash Devchand, Balvant Vasanjee, Bhupendra Parbhoo, Madhu Devchand and non-golfer Boodram Narsi. These pioneers set up a committee with the objective of simply getting golfers who play at different golf clubs together. Subsequently golfers from the different clubs got together and formed a social club. It was agreed by the members present at that meeting held on the 9 th July 1994, at the Gandhi Hall, that a tournament would be held every second month at different golf courses. This was indeed an exciting venture, especially as golf and accessibility to the various clubs had just emerged in our budding democracy. The first tournament was played at the Roodepoort Golf Club on 31 st July 1994. It was the first of many tournaments to be played over the years to come. Over the months, membership at every tournament increased and the need to identify the club became necessary. And thus, the formation of LOTUS GOLF CLUB…. As with all formal structures, the need for a constitution arose which led to the club’s founding rules and regulations. Membership to the club was closed after it hit a resounding success of 120 members! The Club’s history has been eventful, with milestone anniversaries celebrated: ◆ In 1999 , on the 16 th May, a Charity Golf Day was held in Sun City to celebrate the Club’s 5 th anniversary. Golfers from Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa participated in the tournament. It was an astounding success. From the enthusiasm and interest shown by the members, the Club decided to host the tournament every five years, hence the following anniversaries were celebrated.

Lotus Golf Club • 30 th Anniversary Brochure • Page 13