A THREE-hole golf course created on waste ground at an Ipswich firm could provide a blueprint for similar courses in South African townships. A South African delegation, headed by Acting Premier of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape Leonard Ramatlakane, visited ground care machinery firm Ransomes Jacobsen to see first-hand the course, which was created at its Ransomes Europark site last year.

A THREE-hole golf course created on waste ground at an Ipswich firm could provide a blueprint for similar courses in South African townships.

A South African delegation, headed by Acting Premier of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape Leonard Ramatlakane, visited ground care machinery firm Ransomes Jacobsen to see first-hand the course, which was created at its Ransomes Europark site last year.

If successful, an initiative will provide affordable and sustainable golf to 21 priority areas for social transformation in the Western Cape, mainly in the townships.

Following a tour of the manufacturing plant with Ransomes Jacobsen managing director David Withers, the delegation played a round of golf on the par three short course.

The visit was arranged by Firstgolf Ltd. Its founders, Gill Wilson and Howard Swan, are committed to delivering inclusive programmes to allow people across the social spectrum to develop their skills.

Mr Withers said as a result of the visit to their site and a further visit to the Firstgolf course at Rye Hill Golf Club in Oxfordshire, Mr Ramatlakane had signed a Declaration of Intent on behalf of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape on behalf of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape with Firstgolf to pilot the initiative in the townships of Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain.

“We are delighted to be involved with this forward-thinking initiative which recognises that offering affordable, available and sustainable golf in the less privileged township areas will have a lasting impact on the broader South Africa,” said Mr Withers.

“Not only will it contribute to more diversity in the game of golf, it will also encourage education, careers and healthier lifestyles.”