May 26, 2026 – St Francis Today

The biggest amateur ladies golf tournament in South Africa, the Pam Golding St Francis Ladies Open, starts on Friday!

by SFT | May 26, 2026 | St Francis

On Friday nearly 200 lady golfers will arrive in St Francis for the annual Pam Golding St Francis Ladies Open, sponsored every year since 2006 by Pam Golding.

Amazingly 40 clubs around South Africa will be represented at the Pam Golding St Francis Ladies Open, from Bedford to Benoni, Gonubie to Goose Valley, Hankey to Humewood, Paarl to Pecanwood, Royal Johannesburg to Royal Port Alfred, Sardinia Bay to Silver Lakes, and Simola to Stutterheim! And many more!

Once again the Pam Golding St Francis Ladies Open, played on both local courses, is set to bring excitement, competition, and plenty of fun to St Francis Bay, promising to be unforgettable both on and off the course. More than just a golf tournament, the Pam Golding Ladies Open has become a celebrated three-day event that combines competitive golf with great entertainment, friendship, and the unique atmosphere that St Francis Bay has to offer.

Group photo before the shotgun start

Pam Golding’s Involvement since 2006

The tournament has grown tremendously over the years, especially recently with St Francis Bay growing exponentially in popularity. A major part of that success has been the long term enthusiastic support of Pam Golding Properties, who have proudly sponsored the event every single year since its inception. Their long-standing commitment to women’s amateur golf has helped build the tournament into one of the premier events on the South African amateur golfing calendar.

Friday Afternoon and Evening

The weekend kicks off on Friday with registration at the St Francis Bay Golf Club at 1pm, and at 2pm a complimentary Par 3 practice round, giving players the perfect opportunity to settle in and enjoy some relaxed golf before the main competition begins.

This is followed by the always-popular “Saria Shootout” competition, where ladies can enjoy some light-hearted fun and “tasters” while competing for exciting prizes, trying to beat Saria Blaauw, Pam Golding’s Links specialist.

The evening concludes with the official welcome function, creating the ideal setting for players to connect and enjoy the start of the weekend together. There will be Welcome Drinks, a Harvest Table, and Links Pro, Norman Riley, will give an overview of the rules, while we all enjoy a glass of wine or two.

Saturday’s Golf

The main tournament takes place on Saturday and Sunday, with competitors alternating between two of South Africa’s premier golfing destinations — the St Francis Links and the St Francis Bay Golf Club.

With shotgun starts (with a hooter!) at 10am on both courses, the event promises an exciting and competitive atmosphere as players compete for a range of fantastic prizes.

All players play off the RED tees, with club length placing on both courses, and “Grab & Go” at Halfway Houses.

Adding even more excitement to the competition this year are two incredible hole-in-one prizes, with VW Polos up for grabs on both courses, provided by Dirk Ellis Volkswagen Motors. We are hoping that two ladies will drive away in brand new vehicles on Sunday afternoon!

A professional photographer will also be on hand throughout the weekend to capture all the action, memorable moments, and vibrant atmosphere both on and off the course.

VW Polos for a hole-in-one 👏

Saturday Evening’s Jol

While the golf is always fiercely contested, the social side of the tournament is equally anticipated. Saturday evening’s themed dress-up dinner is a highlight of the weekend, giving the ladies a chance to let their hair down and enjoy a memorable evening of entertainment and laughter.

This year’s theme, “Girls on Safari,” is sure to bring plenty of animal print, colour, and creativity to the celebrations. The Buffet Dinner is at Joe Fish Restaurant, Cape St Francis Resort, at 6pm. Teams will dress up in their best safari-themed outfits for the evening. Further features will be the Gin/Wine Tasting, and musical entertainment by Kevin McNaughton who alway gets the girls dancing!

Joe Fish at the Cape St Francis Resort

Pam Golding team members Dean Fox, Saria Blaauw, Richard and Jane Arderne

Sunday, Day 2

Golfers play on the alternate golf course on Day 2. So if they played on the Links on Saturday, they will play on the Bay course on Sunday and vice versa. They need to be at their course in time for another shotgun start, at 7.30am. Lunch and the Prize Giving will be at St Francis Links

Last year’s winners

Thank You’s

This year we have received fantastic support from additional sponsors including Albert Saunders Attorneys, ooba Home Loans, Currencies Direct, Bay Union Financial Services, Cape St Francis Resort and several other valued partners who elevate the tournament year after year.

Pam Golding would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the organising committee, whose hard work and dedication behind the scenes help make this incredible event possible year after year:

St Francis Bay Golf Club: Katie Belman (Captain), Noelle Pearson (Chairlady), Anzet Schoeman (Admin), Mickey Freund (Admin), Gary Geddes (Manager)

St Francis Links: Heather Becker (Captain), Diane Biggs (Vice Captain), Norman Riley (Links Pro), Debbie-Lyn Corringham (Admin)

Pam Golding Properties: Saria Blaauw, Dean Fox, Richard Arderne

With world-class golf courses, a vibrant social programme, outstanding sponsorship support, and the biggest amateur ladies field in the country, the Pam Golding Ladies Open promises to once again be one of the standout golfing weekends in South Africa.