INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / September 17, 1991

 

 

 

Golf and rugby not related

Both feature nice shirts. Both are
played on grass with balls.

That's really all you can find in
common between golf and rugby.

“They are two different sports
and the personalities of the people
who play are different,” admits Gert
Van Niekerk.

So how does he manage to
coach these two very different
sports at the same time for Douglas
College?

“| was exposed to both since |
was 12, so | can change caps easi-
ly,” says Van Niekerk, whose father,
George, golfed in the British
Amateur and once reached World
Seniors semifinals. His brother Leon
is a South African pro. Van
Niekerk’s own handicap hovers
between three and eight. His rugby
background came from school days
in Zambia, where the “ruffians
game played by gentlemen” is the
pre-eminent sport. Later, as a player-
coach at the University of Alberta,
Van Niekerk led the Golden Bears
to two Edmonton titles.

Van Niekerk has been equally
successful at Douglas College.
During his nine seasons, Royals gol-
fers have captured nine BC medals,
including one gold and seven silver.
Rugby was only an exhibition sport
last season, but now Douglas
College competes in a league with
Trinity Western, Kwantlen and UBC
Freshman.

Both sports begin in late Septem-
ber and, like most coaches before a
season, Van Niekerk preaches
optimism. And who can blame
him? His golf squad features players
with handicaps between one and
eight.

 

Correction

In the Sept. 3 issue of INSIDE, we
said that Georgina Ferguson’s
office was across from the
north-west elevators. Well, there
are no north-west elevators. Her
office is located across from the
south-west elevators. Sorry! @

 

 

“Most players on the team are al-
ready good golfers so I’m not going
to work on their swing. My job is to
get them mentally prepared. | try to
get their confidence level up and
help them with strategy, hole by
hole,” says Van Niekerk.

In rugby, the coach will spend
more time on technique

the enemy,” says Van Niekerk. “Gol
fers are more individualistic and put
much more pressure on themsel-
ves. They second-guess themselves
and are never satisfied. If a young
golfer shoots a round of 75 he will
wonder why he didn’t shoot 70.” &

 

and less on attitude.
“Players coming out of
high school like the tack-
ling and contact, so
rugby is not a difficult
sell.”

And that brings us
back to the most surpris-
ing personality difference
Van Niekerk faces in the
two sports. A golfer can
be more taxing to coach
than a clubhouse full of
tough rugby players.

“Rugby players are
team men and like
camaraderie. Five utes

 

Farcus

 

© Farcus Cartoons Inc. 1990

 

 

after leaving the field
they are socializing with

 

 

 

... and now I'd like to discuss new ways to
fight our absenteelsm problem.