As Yolandi Magatye held the Canon Open Series trophy aloft, her victory was a confirmation. Confirmation that there was joy to be found in life after her amputation. Confirmation that the South African Disabled Golf Association had found its newest star.
In 2018, while playing golf at Kingswood Golf Estate in George, Magatye decided to remove her golf shoes and socks and walk the fairways barefoot for a while. She recalls feeling as though she’d been bitten by something and a day or so later found that her foot had begun to swell. The doctors at the local hospital assured her that whatever had caused the swelling, Panado and Allergex would reduce it and relieve her pain. A week later she returned to the hospital and again was met with a similar response, that whatever had caused the swelling, Panado and Allergex would reduce it and relieve her pain. A week later she returned to the hospital and again was met with a similar response. Over the ensuing two months, the state of Yolandi’s foot worsened and the infection spread to her leg.
Upon her third visit to the hospital, Magatye received the dreadful news that she needed to have her left-leg amputated immediately or face certain death. While her life had been spared, the married mother-of-three’s future was anything but certain. Would she keep her job as a course marshal at Fancourt Country Club? Would she be fitted for a prosthetic and walk again? Would she play golf again?
The short answer is a resounding “Yes” to all of the above. Fancourt gave assurances that her job was safe while a generous benefactor – a prominent South African professional golfer – funded Magatye’s prosthesis. Words of encouragement from a trio of PGA coaches meanwhile dispelled Magatye’s lingering self-doubt over her ability to play golf again. “After the operation I thought my career was ruined but I had encouragement from Carlo Kok, Val Holland and Nicole Loesch who told me that I could still play and that it wasn’t the end of the world,” says Magatye.
“I was thinking about that and decided that I could do it.”
After joining the South African Disabled Golf Association in June of 2021, Magatye set her sights on September’s Cape Town Disabled Open hosted by The City of Cape Town to make her competitive disabled golf bow. With time against them, and doubts over her physical ability to play 18 holes on consecutive days, Magatye and Kok got to work to ensure she was able to participate. As it turned out, she did a whole lot more than merely participate. The victory was – as it turned out – anything but beginner’s luck. In the Canon Open Series, Champion of Champions Yolandi once again defied her inexperience as a disabled golfer. Magatye and blind golfer Leon Strydom put on a mesmerising display of golf over the two rounds at Zwartkop Country Club.
Magatye held a slender one-point advantage after 18 holes after amassing 39 round one points. Strydom though was determined not to gift her the title in the final round and looked for much of the day like he may pip her at the post.
To Magatye’s credit she finished in exceptionally strong fashion, carding two three-pointers and a four-pointer over the final four holes as she eclipsed Strydom by just two points. Magatye held a slender one-point advantage after 18 holes after amassing 39 round one points. Strydom though was determined not to gift her the title in the final round and looked for much of the day like he may pip her at the post.
To Magatye’s credit she finished in exceptionally strong fashion, carding two three-pointers and a four-pointer over the final four holes as she eclipsed Strydom by just two points. “It means a lot to me to be the Canon Open Series Physically-Disabled Stableford champion. It was very challenging for me as it was only my second-ever disabled tournament but I am proud of the fact that I managed to win,” she said
The South African Disabled Golf Association has been longing for a female champion at one of its events for a number of years. It’s unsurprising then that SADGA Director Pieter Verwey remarked that Magatye’s win is a source of pride for the association. “We are so proud to have Yolandi Magatye as a Canon Open Series champion,” said Verwey.
“To have a female winner – and particularly one who has performed exceptionally in a short space of time- is such a beautiful story for us.”
