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Altin van der Merwe is keen to build on his Sunshine Tour rookie glory
By MICHAEL VLISMAS
When Altin van der Merwe won the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School in April last year, it was a signal of intent. When he went on to win the Sunshine Tour’s Fortress Rookie of the Year this past season, it was a confirmation.
The 28-year-old Van Der Merwe remembers that moment well when he was 19 and missed his Sunshine Tour card at Q-School by just one shot. It took him a while to work through that disappointment. When he did, he rededicated himself to the amateur game and became one of GolfRSA’s leading stars. Then he rededicated himself to his dream of playing on the Sunshine Tour.
It was an impressive debut season on the Tour, with Van Der Merwe losing a playoff for his first title at the SDC Open at Zebula, to none other than the form man of the season – Daniel van Tonder. Van Der Merwe ended the season with that second place and a further five top-15 finishes that saw him crowned the Fortress Rookie of the Year.
‘I was obviously hoping for the best season possible, including a win. When I came that close to winning at Zebula, I knew I could do this. I had the game to be out here and compete, so I was very happy with my progress this past season,’ he says.
2024-25 TOP-10 FINISHES
28 Aug 2024:
GVP Challenge, T4th
2 Oct:
SunBet Challenge – Sun Sibaya, T6th
17 Oct:
Fortress Invitational, T8th
23 Jan 2025:
SDC Open, 2nd
20 March:
The Serengeti Playoffs, T6th
2024-25 TOP-10 FINISHES
28 Aug 2024: GVP Challenge, T4th
2 Oct: SunBet Challenge – Sun Sibaya, T6th
17 Oct: Fortress Invitational, T8th
23 Jan 2025: SDC Open, 2nd
20 March: The Serengeti Playoffs, T6th
‘I had the game to be out here and compete, so I was very happy with my progress this past season’
Having been through his share of knocks on the golf course and armed with a bit more experience that comes with having turned pro later than most, Van Der Merwe can look back on this season with a bit more wisdom.
‘Not being able to win at Zebula was tough, but I learned a lot from it. Golf is a game of misses. I think it was Tiger Woods who said that golf is basically a game filled with faults, and the one who makes the least faults wins. So with that in mind, I’m very happy with my rookie season.’
Throughout the season, Van Der Merwe made no secret of how much he was looking forward to his Sunshine Tour journey, having worked so hard to get another shot at his dream.
‘There were so many things that surprised me out there. Of course, I knew that as a newcomer it was expected of you to prove yourself. So I made it a point to act like a professional. I think if you’re going to act like an amateur on the Tour, you’ll be treated like one. You need to act professionally and be respectful to the players who’ve been out here for years.
‘Your bad day has to become an average day otherwise you don’t play on the weekend’
‘You also realise very quickly how high the standard is on the Sunshine Tour. Week in and week out your performance has to reflect that standard. You don’t have time for an off week or a bad day. Your bad day has to become an average day otherwise you don’t play on the weekend. And there’s no time to work on anything major during the season. You need to be dialled in before it starts.’
These are all valuable lessons that Van Der Merwe will take into the new season, where he has some big goals. ‘I’m no longer a rookie so I want to improve and I want to get to the top of the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy.’
Van Der Merwe has waited a long time to live this dream, and now he’s going to make it count.
EXTRA SUPPORT
Van der Merwe paid tribute to his wife, Minette, during his rookie season, saying: ‘My wife left her job in teaching to caddie for me and I’m very happy. She used to be almost a scratch golfer but she gave up on the dream and decided to help me, which she says it just as much fun for her.
‘She’s that extra support on the bag for me... She’s also like a psychologist on the course. We get along so well. We’re like friends out there.’
QUICK Q&A
Favourite Sunshine Tour course played in your rookie season?
St Francis Links stays my favourite in South Africa. But a new one I played was Highland Gate. Even though I missed the cut there, I loved that course and the whole environment with the mountains.
The best thing about the Sunshine Tour?
The camaraderie among the players. There’s a mutual respect out there. For example, Kyle de Beer and I are great friends, but we also want to beat each other. And this past season we were vying for the Rookie of the Year. There is a great competitive camaraderie on the Sunshine Tour.
The one tip you’d give a rookie pro?
Don’t be scared to play golf. Do your thing. You’re going to learn hard lessons, but take it on the chin, learn from them and move on. Don’t be stubborn and think you know it all. Be ready and willing to learn.
One lesson Tour golf teaches you?
There are many, but one I learned this past season was the balance between aggressive and conservative play. As a player, you need to know when to be aggressive and when to be conservative because every shot counts. It’s knowing when to hit the aggressive shot, and then if you’re going to do that, having the self-belief to pull it off.
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TYRONE WINFIELD/shaun roy/sUNSHINE TOUR/ernest blignault/golfrsa
