AMATEUR WATCH

PASSION

Project

This GolfRSA National Squad member has followed a well-trodden path but he is determined to create his own destiny

BY CLINTON VAN DER BERG 

Isabella

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The rhythmic, metallic thwack of an iron shot echoes across the manicured lawns of Fancourt, the pristine golfing sanctuary nestled against the dramatic backdrop of the Outeniqua Mountains in George.


For twenty-three-year-old CJ van Wyk, this is the comforting arena of his entire life.


'I feel like I haven't had a life where golf wasn't involved, to be honest,' Van Wyk admits, speaking just after a rigorous session with his coach.


Born Constantine Junior van Wyk, his destiny seemed pre-written. He grew up as the youngest of three brothers in a household dominated by the sport. His father, Constantine Senior, introduced the boys to the game early. One of Van Wyk's earliest memories is the sheer contagious electricity of a day at the driving range after his older brothers, Ben and Alex, unboxed a brand new sets of clubs.


Yet, being born into a legacy can sometimes feel more like a shadow than a gift. In his formative years, Van Wyk harboured a secret: he didn't actually like golf. Surrounded by the third tee box, the 11th green, and the 12th tee of Fancourt's world-class courses, the sport felt inescapable. 'It felt like everyone in my family was doing it. It felt like I had to do it. It felt like a chore.'

'It's so easy for us to take it for granted and just care about results. My long-term goal would be to be able to enjoy a round of golf even if I don't play well'

But the youngest brother in a hyper-competitive sports family quickly learns how to adapt. Dwarfed by older, stronger siblings who routinely out-drove him, CJ developed a gritty edge. If he couldn't overpower Ben and Alex, he would out-finesse them. He poured his energy into the short game, mastering the delicate artistry of chipping and putting. It gave him a relentless competitive fire that defined his junior years, even as he split his time in high school between the fairways and the hockey fields.


The turning point, the moment duty transformed into passion, happened thousands of kilometres from home. Following his brothers' footsteps into the American collegiate system, Van Wyk packed his bags for Augusta University before later transferring to the University of Toledo to study finance.


The transition wasn't seamless. Plunged into a foreign country, navigating a new team dynamic, and wrestling with the weight of expectation, his game initially suffered. 'I really had to learn to adapt,' Van Wyk reflects. 'For a while, it was actually a bad thing for my golf. But once I learned to overcome it, I could apply it to many different areas.'

At Toledo, surrounded by familiar South African faces like NJ Botha, Van Wyk matured. By his third year, he saw the game through a completely different lens. He fell in love with the grind. His putting sharpened into a lethal weapon, and a spectacular final semester followed in his senior year before graduating injected him with momentum.


When he returned to South Africa, the golf world took notice. He notched second-place finishes at the 2025 Boland Amateur Stroke Play and the Western Province Amateur Championship. By early 2026, he was formally inducted into the prestigious National GolfRSA Squad, following the exact path of his brother Ben.


In May, Van Wyk made a glittering debut for South Africa at the Africa Region 5 Golf Tournament in Eswatini. Alongside teammates Judd Sundelson, Johndre Ludick, and Josh Koekemoer, he helped spearhead a staggering 26-stroke victory at the Ezulwini Golf & Country Club. He backed that up on the local circuit with a third-place finish at the North West Open and a gritty ninth-place showing at the SA Amateur Championship.


Yet, if you ask Van Wyk which performance he is most proud of, he won't point to a trophy. He points to last year's Western Province Amateur match play, where he finished second.


'I remember starting that week… I was very doubtful and not confident in where I was with my golf,' he says candidly. 'But my ability to deal with my doubts and my negative thoughts that week was the best I've ever had. I was very proud of myself to get that far.'

This psychological maturity is Van Wyk's defining trait. In a sport known to break the fragile minds of prodigies, he protects his peace with deliberate, grounding rituals. There are no lucky charms or superstitions in his locker. Instead, the morning before a tournament, you will find him journalling, meticulously writing down his thoughts, plotting his daily goals, and later reflecting on the outcomes.


When the suffocating pressure of a Sunday back nine mounts, Van Wyk looks up at the sky. 'One thing that really settles my nerves, that calms them down when I'm playing, is just focusing on the Lord. Just realising what a gift it is to be able to play golf, and just looking with a bigger perspective.'


Off the course, he describes his style as calm and consistent, modelled after his sporting hero, tennis sensation Jannik Sinner. He clears his mind by hiking through the breathtaking mountains wrapping around George, explicitly seeking moments where golf cannot follow him.


Currently polishing his iron play, Van Wyk has delayed turning professional for one more year to maximise his time with the GolfRSA squad. He eyes a leap to the professional ranks by March or April next year, with the short-term goal of securing a win on the Sunshine or Big Easy Tours.


But his ultimate, long-term goal is far more profound than a tournament victory.


'I've been on this journey to really be able to enjoy golf more,' he muses. 'It's so easy for us to take it for granted and just care about results. My long-term goal would be to be able to enjoy a round of golf even if I don't play well. That's a big challenge for me, and it's one I'm trying to work towards.'

ERNEST BLIGNAULT | GOLFRSA