The Mole managed to catch up with South African golf legends John Bland and Brian Henning at the Southern Africa Golf Hall of Fame banquet hosted at Oubaai, just before the they snuck into the dinner, but after a couple glasses of champagne.
John Bland
Born: 22 September 1945
Career wins:
European Tour - 2
Sunshine Tour - 21
Challenge Tour - 1
Champions Tour - 5
European Seniors Tour - 3
The Mole: How does it feel being inducted into the hall of fame?
It’s a wonderful honour, and I think they have done a wonderful job here in conjunction with Oubaai. It is very important that we remember the older guys like Gary [Player] and Bobby Locke.
It’s just wonderful and I’m very humbled to be inducted into the same hall of fame as them.
TM: Do you think it is sustainable?
I think so, there were a lot of great South African players and now we have all the youngsters coming through.
Golf is a wonderful sport, I won my first event in 1970 and 40 years later I won this year as well.
If South Africa is going to keep producing world-class golfers and we need something like this for the young guys to look at and aspire to and say, ‘hey I want to be in the Hall of Fame like Gary and Ernie Els.
TM: How do you keep on winning?
It’s just that desire to play, all you’ve got to do is get out there and know you’ve got a chance to win just by being there. It’s your own ball and your own way of playing, but you are not responsible for the other guys.
It’s a very individual game, all you can do is try to get yourself into position to win at the end of the week.
I’ve always had fun, I’ve always paced myself very well. I’ll play maybe six [tournaments] in a row then take two weeks off where I wont touch a club for two weeks, so my enthusiasm is always there.
I think sometimes the younger guys try and play too much, too often.
Golf is very difficult and need to enjoy playing it to do well.
TM: How long do you think you are going to keep playing?
Well I’m still exempt on both tours, but I’ll keep going as long as I keep enjoying myself.
Even when I’m not playing tournaments I still play a lot of golf with my friends and I don’t know if I’ll ever give that up.
Brian Henning
TM: How do you feel about the induction tonight?
Well I’m very honored and very proud to be inducted tonight, it’s going to be a fabulous affair and I know my friends back in America are tremendously excited for me.
TM: How important do you think it is to have a Southern Africa Golf Hall of Fame?
I think it’s very important, we have many years of great golfers who have never been acknowledged, and I think it’s about time that the likes of Gary Player, Bobby Locke and Sid Brews.
And the modern players Ernie Els, Goosen, Tim Clark, Louis; they are all great players and they have got to be recognized.
TM: How do feel about the evolution of the Sunshine Tour, as a founding member?
It’s fantastic, I’m very proud of where it’s come today. It’s as big as I could have ever hoped it would get.
On the world stage there is a lot of opposition with big tournaments going on in Europe and America; and now Asia and the Middle East, the tournaments we have between November and March are perfect timing.
