Columnist Peter Benton: South African course impresses Nicklaus

Peter Benton

Wednesday, May 2, 2001 | 10:55 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

"This is one of the most beautiful courses I have ever seen," said Jack Nicklaus last week of the Links Course at the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate in George, South Africa.

Nicklaus made this comment while taking time out from a South African business trip to tour Fancourt, where next year he will captain the United States team that defends the Presidents Cup.

"You have to feel you're either in Ireland or Scotland, but you are in South Africa. I have seen a lot of people attempt to capture the Scottish look outside of Scotland, but never have I seen it done better than it is done here," Nicklaus continued.

The Links Course is one of four Gary Player designs at Fancourt. Player, by the way, is captain of the 2002 International team.

The biennial team match play competition between the United States and an International side, excluding Europe, will be held outside the U.S. for a second time, Nov. 7-10, 2002.

The International team was victorious in 1998, when the competition was held at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia.

Three of the first four Presidents Cups, including a 21 1/2-10 1/2 victory in 2000 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Prince William County, Va., have been won by the United States.

Dianne Byman, D'Anne Daniels, Eileen de Doelder, Sue DeFrancesco, Pam Downey, Irene Frank, Sherry Jackson, Mona Leslie, Mary McFarland, Rene Raynes, Barb Roberts, Susan Roma and Patty Wright.

Earler qualifiers to this tournament, which is scheduled May 21-23 over the Thunder Canyon Golf Course in Washoe Valley, were Laurie Durant, Sylvia Bergman, Rita Byorick, Sherry Corsello, Doe Emes and Brenda Knott.

The WSNGA Senior Amateur Championship is set for May 14-16 at the Nellis Air Base's Sunrise Vista course.

This event, which is open to ladies over the age of 50, necessitates a verifiable USGA handicap of at least 36.

Entry fee into this 36-hole stroke play tournament is $100 which includes cart, green fee and awards function.

For further information, please call 458-4653.

Playing with fellow golfers, Bill Fain, Pete Segel, Tom Wood and Bob Frusco, Peterson, for the umpteenth time, bettered his age. From the back tees at the 7,164-yard Las Vegas Country Club, this living legend shot a 39-38--77 over the par-72 layout.