After Contributing Editor Dan Nicholl plays golf with Annika Sorenstam and Ashleigh Simon at the opening of Euphoria Golf Estate, Annika’s signature design in the Waterberg, iafrica.com speaks individually to all three players about the experience.

iafrica.com: Was it a memorable day on the course?

Dan Nicholl: Very much so. Annika and I swapped stories — she told me about her Majors, being number one, playing the world, and I told her about some of the best shots I’ve played, and gave her a couple of tips, which I think she really appreciated. And Ash was a little quiet, but I think she was slightly overawed by playing with Annika and me.

Annika Sorenstam: Memorable? Well, I probably won’t forget it, much as I’d like to. He’s an appalling golfer, he wouldn’t shut up, and he kept trying to give me advice. It was torture.

Ashleigh Simon: I’ve never met anyone who talks so much on the course. I kept as quiet as possible in the hope that he’d eventually shut up, but no luck.

iafrica.com: Talk us through the Dan Nicholl swing…

Dan Nicholl: Fluid, strong, authoritative. Very Trevor Immelman, I suppose, although with slightly more of a power game. I’m striking the ball magnificently, to be honest.

Annika Sorenstam: He has the swing of a man attached to a high voltage electric fence. I don’t know how he actually connects with the ball; although that said, he doesn’t very often.

Ashleigh Simon: I played in a pro-am with Stephen Hawking earlier this year in America, and Stephen strikes the ball better than Dan. Jim Furyk is a work of art in comparison.

iafrica.com: Did the three of you strike up quite a friendship.

Dan Nicholl: Definitely. Annika and I got on immediately. Is soul mates too strong a term after one day on the course? I have a feeling we’ll be friends for life. As for Ash, I’ve always been a role model for her, a big brother figure. I know she cherishes playing with me.

Annika Sorenstam: It’s the first time I’ve thought of getting a restraining order for someone I’ve been playing with. He kept going on and on about the Mighty Dodos — I wanted to throttle him. He reminded me of that guy from The Office.

Ashleigh Simon: I’m off to LPGA Tour School in three weeks to try and get my full card for next year. My biggest motivation? Putting a very large stretch of ocean between me and Dan. Although a couple of planets would be preferable.

iafrica.com: Who was the pick of the day’s golfers, then?

Dan Nicholl: That would have been me. Look, I’m obviously a lot stronger than Ash and Ann, and I have a very gentle touch round the greens. Did I carry them both? I don’t want to cast either of them in negative light, but honestly, yes. But they both will have learnt a lot from the day.

Annika Sorenstam: Ashleigh hits the ball very nicely, and she’s got a great future; I’m playing good golf at the moment. Dan? He lost 14 balls, made eight stableford points all day, and did untold damage to the course. I think he’s probably myopic.

Ashleigh Simon: Annika’s always great to play with, and was great again; I was a bit erratic, but I’m hitting most fairways. Dan hit two fairways; pity they weren’t the ones he was aiming for. And he has to be the worst bunker player on the planet — he leaves bunkers looking like archaeological dig sights.

iafrica.com: So what does golf hold for you going into 2009?

Dan Nicholl: I’m thinking of playing a few top amateur events, maybe going over to the States to give Ash some support, which would be a dream for her. And Annika’s getting married, so might drop in and surprise her, make her big day. Mighty Dodos captain, former world number one — we just come from a similar space, which is why we connected so well.

Annika Sorenstam: Four more events and I’m retired, so 2009 will be course design, development, working on new projects. And I’m getting married, which is very exciting. Which reminds me — Dan mentioned he’d like to surprise me there. Guess we’ll be having armed guards at the reception.

Ashleigh Simon: Tour School in a few weeks, then hopefully my card for next year, and a good season in America. But if Dan asks, I’m playing the Asian Tour, starting in Kabul. He’s most welcome to join me there…

  • Euphoria Golf Estate, two hours from Johannesburg, is an Annika Sorenstam Signature Course, and is now open for play — and with Zabula, Elements and Legend in the immediate vicinity, it’s a cracking golf tour destination. Visit www.euphoriaestate.co.za to have a look at Annika’s design — a tight but impressive layout that comfortably got the better of me yesterday…

  • Contact Dan at dan@metropolis.co.za

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