Andrew and De Wet take the helm at WGSA
29 May 2023 – Susan Andrew from Ekurhuleni and Gauteng North Golf’s Madeleine de Wet were elected as the new office bearers for Womens Golf South Africa at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting on 21 May at the Paarl Golf Club.
Succeeding the outgoing President Sarah Braude, with whom she served as Vice-President for the last three years, Andrew was appointed President at the AGM. Gauteng North Golf Union Vice-President and Treasurer De Wet was elected Vice-President. Both will serve three-year terms.
Speaking at her induction, Andrew said: “It is a special honour for me to continue to serve amateur golf as the President of Womens Golf South Africa.
“This is a remarkable time for our organisation, and I truly believe that we have the right people in place with the passion and desire to elevate women’s golf and golf in general in the coming years.
We work in close association with GolfRSA, and the South African Golf Association, and together we have an opportunity to strengthen our position in the sport of golf and, most importantly, to grow the game and to become the driving force for the golf industry in South Africa.”
Andrew, an independent Finance & Insurance Business Manager in the motor industry, has been involved with golf administration since she served as the Lady Captain of Benoni Country Club for four years starting in 2013.
During this period, she worked as a Tournament Administrator for Ekurhuleni Womens Golf and qualified as a Rules Official. She became the union’s Vice-President in 2016, and she served as its President for three years from 2017.
Braude and Andrew took the wheel at Womens Golf South Africa at the end of April 2020, and did an excellent job of guiding women’s golf through the challenges caused by global Covid-19 pandemic.
“Coming into office at the start of the in South Africa, it was encouraging to experience what we as WGSA, GolfRSA and SAGA can accomplish when we stand together and combine our strengths. Golf was the first sport to re-open and we experienced a surge of new members, especially in the women’s space. We have maintained the upward trajectory and I am excited to have the opportunity to build on the great work done by my predecessors to continue to grow the game at all levels in South Africa.”
De Wet’s journey with golf started 13 years ago, and she brings 10 years of golf administration experience to the position of WGSA Vice-President.
Having worked for many listed corporate organisations as Director and Manager to build successful business solutions for corporate clients in various Industries, De Wet has been applying her skill set in golf administration as she progressed from the Silver Lakes Golf Committee to the Gauteng North Golf Union.
The former Ladies Captain at Silver Lakes served on the Gauteng North Golf Union Executive for five years and during this tenure, obtained the Rules 2 certification as Rules Official and was the union’s treasurer since 2021. She also managed multiple teams at the national team events, including the team that lifted the South Africa Women’s Inter-Provincial title at Silver Lakes last year.
“I am honoured to have been selected as the Vice-President of WGSA and I thank the unions for their incredible support,” De Wet said. “I am committed to carrying out the objectives of WGSA, and to serve the interests of amateur golf in South Africa. I am excited to be working on providing opportunities for everyone in South Africa to experience the game of golf, while respecting and upholding the values, honour and traditions of the WGSA.”
Braude wished her successors well as they steer women’s golf in South Africa.
“I have been tremendously honoured and privileged to have been at the helm of WGSA for the past three years, because it opened up experiences and opportunities I never expected to have,” Braude said. “Whilst challenging at times, especially navigating through the pandemic when Susan and I came into office, it has been extremely rewarding that golf and women’s golf came back stronger. To be part of growing the game in the collaboration with the SAGA under the umbrella of GolfRSA is possibly the greatest opportunity.
“The Development Programme has strengthened as younger players are coming into the game, there has been an increase in women’s affiliates, participation in National and Provincial Championship has remained positive and the Mid-Amateur circuit has seen significant growth with there now being 21 events. Our players continue to perform on the international stage and together with our GolfRSA National Squad structure and the Development Programme, girls and women’s golf is on a healthy trajectory.
“Thank you to all the GolfRSA partners, sponsors, women’s golf Executive, Unions and the GolfRSA Board of Directors and staff who are so committed and dedicated to achieving the best for amateur golf.
“Susan has been tremendously supportive and a valued and appreciated colleague as my Vice-President for the past three years. I have every confidence and belief that Susan and Madeleine will forge forward with GolfRSA and SAGA in continuing to strengthen and grow the amateur game in this wonderful country of ours.”
GolfRSA Chief Executive Officer Grant Hepburn welcomed the result of the election.
“We welcome Susan’s appointment as President, and we welcome Madeleine to the WGSA Executive,” Hepburn said. “Since the establishment of GolfRSA, the support and collaboration from the WGSA, in particular its Executive, has been critical in consolidating and accelerating the work we started in 2015. We have a great rapport and understanding with the WGSA, and we are delighted to continue this relationship going forward with Susan and Madeleine.
“We would also like to salute outgoing president Sarah Braude. Her meticulous attention to detail played a massive role in our dealings with government during the Covid-19 pandemic, and our roll-out of our Risk Mitigation Strategy and compliance protocols as we moved through the different stages of lockdown. She played an important role in advancing the unity in golf in South Africa and we wish her happy golf in her retirement.”