Aspiring young deaf golfers from the First Swing Program (FSP), run by the South African Disabled Golf Association (SADGA), will have the opportunity to play in the Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open tournament in May. One of these golfers is Moloko Arlaat, a learner from St Vincent’s School for the Deaf in Gauteng.
Moloko came second in the IPT Elite division at the Canon First Swing Program Deaf Junior IPTs in December 2017. A member of Zwartkop Country Club and boasting an impressive 36 handicap, she is certainly one to watch at the tournament, which takes place at Magalies Park Golf Club from May 13 to 18.
This will be the first time that she will be competing in the tournament. She recently had the opportunity to play in the Canon Ladies Tshwane Open, part of the Sunshine Ladies Tour, where she revelled in rubbing shoulders with a few professional lady golfers.
Moloko has always had an interest in golf. Her dad is a keen golfer and she wanted to follow in his footsteps. When she got the opportunity, she grabbed it with both hands and has been doing great things ever since.
“With the support she gets from her coach, Andrew Corthing, and the rest of her team, the sky is the limit. She wants to play professionally one day and I am confident she will reach her dreams,” says her mother, Mapula.
At the age of two, Moloko was discovered to be deaf. She has navigated the challenges ever since with grace and has lived life to the fullest. She enjoys swimming and dancing, and performs well academically.
Several other young deaf golfers have also qualified to compete in the Canon SA Disabled Golf Open this year, including Kwazi Mahlangu, Mpho Tlhatlha and Wilfred De Bruin from St Vincent’s.
These youngsters have been playing regularly in the Provincial Golf Days organised by SADGA.
Canon South Africa will be the proud sponsor of the prestigious Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open in 2018, 2019 and 2020. This comes on the back of Canon South Africa’s successful, inaugural sponsorship of the 19th annual edition of the tournament, which took place in Cape Town in May 2017.
Hosted annually by SADGA, the South African Disabled Golf Open attracts the world’s top golfers with disabilities, offering them a platform to compete against some of the best players in the world. For more information, please visit www.canon.co.za.
