His life had been a round of golf, one might say: he played the outward nine into a formidable wind, with devilish rough all around the course. Yet somehow, his artistry allowed him to make several unlikely birdies.

As he turned into the homeward nine, he saw the sun starting to break through the clouds, and the wicked wind dying down.

And, as he signed his scorecard, he might have wondered how much better he might have fared, if he had the chance to play in fairer weather, and his patch of land hadn't been quite so penal.

The late Vincent Tshabalala wrote how he was once described as 'the best player never to win the Australian Open in Sydney'. It was intended as a compliment, but it didn't have the desired effect on Tshabalala or his game.

When he struck a 160m 5-iron to a metre from the flag in Sydney, he turned around to the hecklers who had derided him and retorted, 'This smoke can play,' before striding off towards his birdie.

There were some worse obscenities hurled his way, not only from beyond the ropes but just going about his daily business. It was par for the course for a man who played against a lot more than a golf ball and the golf course in his prime.

The greatest tragedy Baba Tshabalala faced was that he was denied the chance to compete on home soil when at the top of his game, due to the apartheid laws that forced him to look beyond these shores for access to golf tournaments.

He scraped together the funds to travel overseas and proved his worth by standing toe-to-toe with some of the giants of Europe at the prestigious French Open in 1976, at Le Touquet, in the north of France. That victory, in the oldest national Open in continental Europe, was an illustration of his pedigree, his adaptability and what might have been as he conquered a field that included the best of Britain and Europe. Trailing behind him were Salvador Balbuena of Spain, Neil Coles of England, Simon Hobday then playing out of South Africa and Sam Torrance of Scotland.

Vincent had turned 34 on 16 March, his victory célèbre came on 9 May and on 16 June the Soweto revolution that would forever change the face of South Africa began.

Later, Tshabalala revealed that throughout the week of the French Open, during which, according to son Ben, he carried his clubs along on a caddie cart, he had a clipping of a newspaper article about Sally Little, the only South African female to win a tournament on American soil tucked away in his wallet.

Little's story of breaking through in America was a source of inspiration for him as it showed that one could achieve great things despite considerable odds. It was difficult enough for a South African to leave home and be in a foreign land without all the other obstacles Tshabalala had to face, but Little's story sent a strong message that it could be done.

Tshabalala eventually met Little, in 2009 at her induction to the South African Golf Hall of Fame (Tshabalala was himself inducted in 2010), the thrill from both sides was equal and unfiltered.

'He was wonderful, so full of life and love for this game,' Little said of her brother across the colour bar. 'There were all sorts of surprises, too. As soon as they embraced, he pulled out his wallet, and showed Little something from 1976.

'I couldn't believe it! It was a newspaper clipping about both our victories, from 1976. I was astonished he had kept hold of it for all those years,' Sally exclaimed.

Those who saw Tshabalala play attested to a terrific mindset, an imaginative short game, and great skill with his long-irons. More's the pity that he was restricted in the manner that he was, and one can but wonder what heights he might have reached if he had been born at a different time or place.

Tshabalala retained his sense of humour on and off the course – often excelling in the Nelson Mandela Invitationals organised by the Player Group, and he continued to play the game that he loved so much until his sudden death, after a short illness, in 2017.

'I was devastated when he passed. You would never have said he was as old as he was, because he was so energetic. Even after everything he had gone through, he never had a chip on his shoulder,' Little elaborated.

'He said that he did what he had to do, through this great game that we love. I remember Vincent Tshabalala fondly, and so wish we had met earlier.'

In his wake is a trail of opportunities for the next generation to pick up a club and swing for their dreams. Tshabalala would have been proud of the re-designed layout at Soweto Country Club, because it puts a premium on accuracy and patience. No smoke, no mirrors.

Tshabalala bore his personal struggle with great dignity and nary a sense of bitterness. Even though he was often put in difficult situations in the battle for equality as opposing factions laid claim to his loyalty or support, he was always gracious, good humoured and sanguine about the vagaries of life.

Lala kahle, Donga laMavuso, Sdwaba saLuthuli. Mshengu. Tshabalala (Zulu praise names for Tshabalalas) – Original words by Lungani Zama

PAUL SEVERN | GETTY | HISTORY SA ZAR | FACEBOOK.COM