Images: Supplied
Even as a child in rural South Africa, Matthews Mfubu was a natural storyteller. But he never imagined he’d be telling stories about a strange game called golf – let alone that he’d become one of the top and most knowledgeable communicators of the sport.
Mfubu was born in Cape Town and grew up in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. But for the last few years, he’s been travelling the length and breadth of Southern Africa, spreading the love of the beautiful game – initially as a Press Officer for the Sunshine Tour, and, lately, as a media assistant and content creator for GolfRSA.
It’s been a rewarding journey.
“Before I worked in golf, I never imagined travelling to places like Kenya, Zambia, Mauritius and Zimbabwe,” he says. “Now I’ve had the privilege to manage media centres at events such as the South African Open Championship, the AfrAsia Mauritius Open, the Zimbabwe Open and countless local professional tournaments. And there’s never a shortage of exciting moments – like meeting the legendary Gary Player and World No. 3 Rory McIlroy.”
So how did a village and township boy end up mastering golf writing?
Mfubu studied Journalism at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and went on to work as a community newspaper journalist, then a media officer at the University of the Western Cape. From there he joined the National Education Collaboration Trust as a District Communications Representative based in Mount Frere, Eastern Cape (with a few attempts at starting a business in between).
“My interest in the field was established quite early on. The idea of storytelling resonated with me so much because I have always considered myself a storyteller and an advocate of truth. So, after quitting the teaching degree, there was only one way for me to go – and that was media studies.”
Still, he was always looking for a new challenge – so when he came across an opportunity to try his hand at golf communications, his curiosity was piqued.
“The game itself was strange and since I was never exposed to golf before, it was also exciting and fun. ”
Like any new territory, Mfubu found golf writing really tough in the beginning. “Golf, like cricket, has its own language (jargon if you like) and the concepts proved a little tough to grasp in the beginning.”
Luckily, Mfubu had a secret weapon.
“The key is always reading! My manager at the time, knowing I was new to the game and the game new to me, sponsored me with a bunch of books on the history of the game. I was introduced to some of the best writers in the game locally and abroad – and I bookmarked every one of the websites where these writers published. Then every time I would write, I’d first go and read one or more of their pieces.”
This exercise, combined with more reading and watching golf tournaments close up, helped fast track his progress. But more than that, it triggered an interest in the game that has only continued to grow.
“I found that the lessons learnt in golf are as important to life. The values and ethics were something that inspired me to get into it deeper and seriously. And soon I’d found that I had developed a real liking for golf as a sport – and as a community-building tool.”
Golf For All: Sharing The Sport, Sharing The Spoils
Having spent a few years working in golf, Mfubu is of the opinion that golf is no longer as exclusive to a few wealthy people. He believes many South Africans understand the opportunities within the sport, and many more people want to get involved.
“I believe that golf infrastructure must be rolled out to communities just as football, netball and other sporting codes are brought to the communities,” he says. “As it stands, Soweto Country Club is one of the few – if not the only – township-based golf course that hosts local and international championships. As a result, a lot of youngsters and community members in that area play golf or work in some capacity in the club, and are therefore a part of a golfing community.”
Fortunately, there are efforts underway to address this.
“The Sunshine Tour, for example, has developed many initiatives aimed at levelling the playing field and this includes the recently-formed Papwa Sewgolum Class which is aimed at providing more playing opportunities for black golfers, financial support, coaching and other necessities.
And structures such as the South African Golf Development Board, chaired by businessman and philanthropist Johann Rupert, have helped make golf accessible to many South Africans.
“Since its establishment in 1999, the SAGDB has seen over 35000 children from previously disadvantaged communities receive coaching at a high level while also developing coaches and other golf operations personalities. This has seen a rise in people of colour who play the game – or try to. This is not only producing more golfers, but developing good human beings for the betterment of the country.”
The future looks promising for Mfubu, as he continues to write about the triumphs and tragedies of golfing, while also focusing on building his business and establishing a sports channel on YouTube.
He’s also busy building his Ikasi Autism Tour, an initiative aimed at educating and empowering rural and township communities about autism and other mental illnesses that ravage our land.
“Many people in our communities don’t know about autism,” Mfubu explained. “They don’t even understand its symptoms and how to treat a child living with the condition. The Tour aims to change that by raising awareness about autism among children and adults alike.”
