Tee off with purpose at Nedbank for Good Series

Golf
The golf clubs Gobabis, Tsumeb, Oshakati, Mariental, Oranjemund, Henties Bay, Rössmund, Walvis Bay and Windhoek will be hosting events leading up to the final.
  • 8 Months Ago - 2024-03-07 00:00:00
Nedbank Namibia is once again gearing up to drive change on the greens with the fifth instalment of the Nedbank for Good golf series.
The prestigious 11-event golf series not only celebrates sporting excellence, but also raises awareness and funds for chosen charities through pledges and donations.
Over the past four years, the competition has grown from strength to strength, firmly establishing itself as the premier charity golf series in the country.
Commencing on 16 March at the Omeya Golf Club, the 2024 series will conclude with a grand finale on 4 October, once again hosted at the Omeya.
Previously known as the Nedbank for Autism Series, the tournament rebranded last year as the Nedbank for Good Series, after raising N$656 000 for the Autism Association of Namibia during its initial three-year tenure.
While the primary focus of the series may be hosting golf events of exceptional quality at golf courses across the country, the ultimate winners are those who benefit from the funds raised through the generosity of the golfing community.
Dan Zwiebel, owner of DZ Golf and organising partner of the series, explains: ‘Even though Nedbank for Autism had become a household name, we thought it was time for a change, hence the rebrand to Nedbank for Good. Through a wider description, we can support several charities should the need arise.”
Last year, the Rössing Foundation was the primary beneficiary, raising a remarkable N$250 000 to aid learners and teachers in rural areas with limited access to educational resources. Uparura Kuvare, executive director of the Foundation, underscored the profound impact of these contributions on the educational advancement of the nation.
Golf players will this year battle it out in aid of Agra ProVision. Theo Ickua, manager of the organisation, emphasised their excitement: “Agra ProVision’s involvement in the Nedbank for Good series will mean that underserved communities will directly benefit from the agricultural training, services and support that Agra ProVision provides.”

WINNERS FROM ALL OVER
Beyond its charitable aspect, the Nedbank for Good series serves as a showcase for Namibia’s top golfing talent, and the increasing number of participants reflects the impact.
“We reach approximately 70% of all listed golfers throughout the 11-event series. But every year, we strive to grow,” Zwiebel says.
“Last year we added the women’s section, which saw a major influx of female participants. Having 45 ladies in total participate in the 2023 series was a major accomplishment, and we look forward to building on it.”
In a show of commitment to developing local golfing talent, Zwiebel adds that this year’s series will include golf clinics at four of the events, as part of the organisers’ quest to grow the game and identify new talent.
The spirit of inclusivity is reflected in the past winners, who have hailed from all over the country. Kyle Johnson from Walvis Bay Golf Club won the inaugural series as a teenager in 2020, followed by Emile Vilbert (Walvis Bay) in 2021 and Kiewiet Dreyer (Gobabis Golf Club) in 2022.
Last year, Wilna Bredenhann (Henties Bay) won the first-ever women’s final, while Heinrich Schmidt (Windhoek Golf Club) took the men’s top honours.

TARGET IS SET
By bridging the gap between the golfing fraternity, corporate entities, and communities in need, the impact of the Nedbank for Good Series goes beyond the fairways, insists Zwiebel.
“With the continued support of Nedbank Namibia, co-sponsors and the series’ participants, we remain committed to maintaining the momentum generated over the past five years. We’ve already managed to raise a whopping N$906 206 for these worthy causes and we’re aiming to reach the N$1-million-mark midway through this year’s series.”
The 2024 Nedbank for Good Series is co-sponsored by Pupkewitz Toyota as the official vehicle supplier, Vivo Energy, AfricaOnline, CB Enterprises, The Logistics Company Namibia, Africa Personnel Services, Agra, Erongo Marine Enterprises, Pupkewitz Megabuild, Gondwana Collection Namibia and Future Media.