by Richard Arderne
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The biggest amateur ladies golf tournament in South Africa, the Pam Golding St Francis Ladies Open, 29 to 31 May 2026, and the winners were Chrisna Chalmers and Karen Maritz!
After 36 holes on two of the best golf courses in South Africa, and ahead of nearly 200 golfers, these two are the 2026 Pam Golding Properties St Francis Bay Ladies Open winners.
Please see the gallery of photos to get a taste of what a successful golfing and partying weekend the ladies enjoyed.
Background
Nearly 200 lady golfers arrived in St Francis for the annual Pam Golding St Francis Ladies Open, sponsored every year since 2006 by Pam Golding.
Amazingly, 40 clubs from around South Africa were represented.
Once again, the Pam Golding Ladies Open, played on both local courses, brought excitement, competition and plenty of fun to St Francis Bay, providing an unforgettable weekend 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.
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, which has 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 kicked off on Friday with registration at the St Francis Bay Golf Club and a Par 3 practice round, giving players the perfect opportunity to settle in and enjoy some relaxed golf before the main competition.
This was followed by the always-popular “Saria Shootout” competition, where ladies enjoyed some light-hearted fun and “tasters” while competing for exciting prizes and trying to beat Saria Blaauw, Pam Golding’s Links specialist.
The evening concluded with the official welcome function, creating the ideal setting for players to connect and enjoy the start of the weekend together.
There were welcome drinks and a harvest table, while Links Head Pro Norman Riley gave an overview of the rules as everyone enjoyed a glass or two.
Saturday’s Golf
The main tournament took place on Saturday and Sunday, with competitors alternating between St Francis Links and the St Francis Bay Golf Club.
Adding more excitement to the competition were two incredible hole-in-one prizes, with VW Polos up for grabs on both courses. Sadly, no ladies drove away in brand-new vehicles!
Saturday Evening’s Jol
While the golf is always fiercely contested, the social side of the tournament was equally important for most ladies.
Saturday evening’s themed dress-up dinner was 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,” brought plenty of animal print, colour and creativity to the celebrations.
The dinner and party were held at Joe Fish Restaurant at Cape St Francis Resort, with gin and wine tasting and musical entertainment by Kevin McNaughton, who, as usual, got the girls dancing!
Sunday, Day 2
Golfers played on the alternate golf course on Day 2. So, if they played on the Links on Saturday, they played on the Bay course on Sunday, and vice versa.
Lunch and the prize-giving were held at St Francis Links.
Thank Yous
This year we 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 once again proved to be one of the standout golfing weekends in South Africa.
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