Driven by a commitment to uplift lives and communities, we asked national chairman John Kayula more about Nomads and his involvement 

BY MICHAEL VLISMAS 

Please share your journey as a golfer.

I was introduced to golf in 1996 in Mthatha and I bought my first set of clubs in Durban at the Value Centre. I went home and headed for the fairways without any training and practice. I loved the game from the word go, played my golf at Mthatha, then moved to East London where I joined West Bank in 1998. In 2004, I joined East London Golf Club where I am still a member.

How did you become a Nomad?

I was invited by my golfing friend Litha Solombela as a guest to play a Nomads monthly game by at West Bank. I first played some games as a guest, then three games as a prospective Nomad before I was inducted by the then Border captain Richard Johnson in 2002. In 2017 I was voted in as junior vice-captain, promoted to vice-captain in 2018 and in 2019 I became captain of Border Nomads. I was the host captain for the 2020 National Tournament in East London. In 2023 I was nominated by Border to stand for national junior vice-chairman. I was voted into this role, became national vice-chairman in 2024 and in March, at the National Tournament in Hermanus, became national chairman.

Is there a highlight that stands out above the others?

Yes, without a doubt it was when I became the first black national chairman of the Nomads Golf Club of South Africa. The overwhelming applause I received when I went on to the stage to receive the national chairmanship made me very tearful and when I saw 500 tearful Nomads giving me a standing ovation I quickly had to gather myself to present my acceptance speech! Wearing the light blue blazer during my term as national chairman comes with many responsibilities, but leaves lasting memories that I will cherish forever.

What message do you offer anyone who is showing interest in becoming a Nomads member?

If you want loads of fun while doing wonderful things in the community and meeting new friends for life, Nomads is for you! I quickly learned that the more you put into Nomads, the more you will enjoy this organisation. Those who just joined Nomads or are about to, must get involved at their clubs. Offer to serve on committees. Who knows – you may soon be standing in front of Nomads applauding you for becoming the next national chairman!

Given Nomads is 65 years old and it’s grown to such an extent, where do you see the organisation being when it celebrates its century in 2060?

The pandemic slowed Nomads down – as it did with many organisations. But Nomads, and golf in South Africa, is stronger than before. We can see that in the quality members we induct each month at our clubs, our playing fields and the many organisations who see the value of Nomads and enquire about national sponsorships. I see Nomads becoming a much bigger organisation with a wonderful spread of youth, men and women and different cultures.

Nomads national PRO Alten Hulme shares more about the organisation 

BY MICHAEL VLISMAS 

How long has Nomads been in existence?

We go back 65 years to 1960 when the Nomads Golf Club of South Africa was formed as the old Transvaal (Gauteng) club. More clubs followed and today we have 12 clubs in different regions in South Africa and a further 14 clubs in seven countries – Zimbabwe, Botswana, Australia, New Zealand, Eswatini, United Kingdom and Zambia.

What were the foundations on what it was formed?

The same three pillars that apply today:

• To support the furtherance of golf in South Africa where we support junior golf through GolfRSA, golf development through the SA Golf Development Board and disabled golf though the SA Disabled Golf Association.
• To raise funds for the less fortunate, where each of our clubs have annual projects to raise funds for the needy. We never hand over cash but pay for goods and services on behalf of approved beneficiaries.
• To meet like-minded golfers at least once a month at our games. The great Gary Player was a founding member of Nomads and he still has a presence in the organisation.

What sacrifices does it take to be a Nomad?

I wouldn’t call them sacrifices because everything is worthwhile and makes you proud to be a Nomad. We don’t get paid to do the scoring at pro tournaments (we report in at 6am in all weather conditions), the starting at some tournaments, manning the scoreboards or TV spotting. The Tours pay Nomads a fee and that money is spent on golf development in South Africa. We raise funds for the needy and support those charity events. It is wonderful to hand over much-needed items to children’s homes, the disabled, children with cancer and vulnerable children – to name but a few.

What involvement or influence does Nomads have in the developmental aspect of golf?

GolfRSA has called Nomads the ‘the unsung heroes of South African golf’. We are, and have been over many years, a main sponsor of junior golf (boys and girls) through GolfRSA, golf development and disabled golf. We not only sponsor many of their big tournaments, but with our financial assistance we also make it possible for many juniors to compete at a higher, competitive level. Over the past year or two we saw many more disabled tournaments take place around the country and Nomads contributes hugely towards these events.