INSIDE THE ROPES
the
big
picture
Slenda Sithebe is playing to help others
BY MICHAEL VLISMAS
The game of golf has found its willing participants in some unlikely places. For Slenda Sithebe, the winner of the Vusi Ngubeni Q-School Tournament at Soweto Country Club, which earned him his Sunshine Tour card, the game introduced itself to him at a taxi rank.
In 2008, Sithebe was washing taxis in Newcastle when a friend of his started talking to him about golf and invited him to play his first round. Sithebe was hooked, and hasn’t looked back.
‘I didn’t even know what this game was, but after I played it that first time, I fell in love with it,' says Sithebe, who surprised a field of youngsters in April to win the Vusi Ngubeni tournament by three shots and earn his Sunshine Tour card for this season – at the age of 49.
‘I didn’t even know what this game was, but after I played it that first time I fell in love with it’
It’s been a surprising journey for Sithebe as he’s gone from a taxi rank to competing in KwaZulu-Natal golf as an amateur before deciding to join the Gavan Levenson Golf Academy at Glendower in pursuit of his professional aspirations.
‘I felt like I needed some real knowledge of the game. I was lucky to have a local councillor, Sam Mlangeni, who urged me to go to Gavan Levenson at Glendower. So in 2011, I spent time in his academy to really learn the game.’
It was a decision prompted in part by his desire to grow his game, but to also gain enough knowledge to pursue his other passion – teaching golf.
'I started coaching because I asked the question, how can we improve our golf in the areas where we come from? The answer is to have proper coaches,’ he says.
QUICK Q&A
Who were your first golf heroes?
Fred Couples, Louis Oosthuizen and Zach Johnson.
What is your best teaching tip?
I always tell my golfers to be yourself and play to your strengths. Don’t try to be or play like somebody else.
Favourite course in South Africa?
Probably Glendower because I learned so much in my time there. I’m also representing Observatory now. They kindly allow me to play and practise for free.
Any golf superstitions?
Not really. I just try to keep everything simple. I’m a feel player.
With his victory in April, Sithebe regained his Sunshine Tour playing privileges which he’d lost the season before, largely due to an injury caused by a car accident.
“I had a car accident in April 2024 after the Tour School. It was raining, and a drunk driver came straight towards me. I reacted to avoid a head-on collision and as I swerved off the road he hit my right front wheel and the steering wheel twisted my wrist badly.
‘The doctor told me not to touch a club for three months. But as a golfer, I couldn’t do three months. I took just one month off and came back to play. But I wasn’t ready. I started guiding the ball instead of hitting it, to protect my wrist. Then at one tournament I hit a root and had to withdraw again,' he says.
Having recovered fully, April’s victory was a major confidence boost for Sithebe.
‘Winning at my age was an honour. I was playing against youngsters who were hitting the ball miles. I tried to just keep my head’
DID YOU KNOW?
Sithebe went on a six-hole birdie run on the back nine in the third round of the Vusi Ngubeni Q-School Tournament to take the lead going into the final day.
‘Winning at my age was an honour. I was playing against youngsters who were hitting the ball miles. I tried to just keep my head. My plan was to keep the ball in play, attack the green and try to make putts.
‘My scoring that week was solid, and I think that’s what gave me the edge over the younger pros. I may have been playing with long hitters, but I was the one who was able to attack the flags and who was always in play. To have a Sunshine Tour card again is a blessing.’
Sithebe has yet to make a real mark on the extremely competitive Sunshine Tour. But his aspirations for this season include honing his game for the senior circuit.
Gallery below
'I want to make more cuts this season and compete, not just add to the numbers. But I’m also looking forward to playing the Senior Tour soon.’
But one of his biggest goals is to keep inspiring the young kids of Newcastle who he coaches.
‘The young kids here all look up to me because I now have the knowledge of how to improve their games. I have one youngster who is a plus three and has been selected to represent KwaZulu-Natal, and another youngster is playing off a five handicap.
‘Helping these kids is the way for me to give back to them because they have nobody who can give them what they need for this game. Golf is tough when you face it alone. You need help in this game.'
TYRONE WINFIELD/SUNSHINE TOUR
