Mr Golf at Sages is Ready for Another Round
Randpark’s Tom Buckle is nearing the end of his two-year term as Vice-President of Sages, which is the nationwide golfing society for senior golfers over the age of 50.
There are 28 branches throughout the country and these branches arrange tournaments at different clubs within its area one or more times a month. The emphasis is on fellowship and camaraderie between these senior golfers, and there are 2500 Sages throughout South Africa.
As Vice-President, one of Tom’s most important responsibilities is to drive Sages’ very worthy charity fundraising arm which is currently the fight against cancer and last year with him at the helm a record R940 000 was raised. He visited a number of branches as part of his duty, was involved with the various Regional and National tournaments, and played 29 courses, including – for instance – Southern Cape gems like The Links at Fancourt, Oubaai, Pinnacle Point and Mossel Bay.
“I’ve been a Sages member for 20 years,” says Tom, “and in that time you get to know your fellow Sages from across the country. Golfers from, you name it, Lichtenburg, the Free State, the Cape – all over. It’s very special. Every year we have our Nationals – this year it will be in Bloemfontein – and it’s great to meet up again with players from other branches that you’ve met before. Sometimes you can’t remember all the names, but you always recognise the faces! The camaraderie is so special.”
It’s no secret at Randpark that Tom loves his golf and last year he played no less than 331 rounds, the majority here at the club but plenty of golf elsewhere too. In fact, over the last six or seven years – even longer – he’s consistently logged well over 300 rounds each year. The year before Covid he hit the magical 400-round mark! And even when he had bypass surgery in 2022 he still managed a hefty 260 rounds, driving his golf cart.
Here at Randpark, Tom plays with different schools throughout the week. There’s the Monday Group, the Tats on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the LEGS (Legion of Extraordinary Gentlemen golfers), the Ysbere and the Kwaggas. On Sundays when there’s Senior League, Tom is captain of the Firethorn Senior League team.
Tom’s thousands of rounds of golf over the years, incidentally, has resulted in five holes-in-one, two within nine days of each other on Bushwillow.
His two-year term of office as the Sages Vice-President ends in May when there is an election process and he may take over as President.
The 2026 Sages Nationals will be played at Randpark, the perfect venue for the club’s most active golfer, a man who plays more golf than any other at the club – sweet-swinging Tom Buckle.
Written by Randpark member Grant Winter.
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