It’s all systems go as more than 300 golfers wind their way to The Royal Port Alfred Golf Course to participate in the annual Mad Hatter Golf Tournament from Monday April 21 to Saturday April 26.
The 29th edition of the tournament, which will see just over 1,000 rounds of golf in total played, is jam-packed with activity on the greens, ends off with a prize-giving after the day’s round each night starting at 7pm and backed by different sponsors.
The showpiece attraction of the week is a Mad Hatter prize-giving dinner on Friday April 25 where colourful headgear of all shapes, sizes and design are to be worn by participating golfers. If you don’t wear your hat, be warned – you’ll be fined.
The Mad Hatter has its humble beginnings 29 years ago and started by Kimberley Golf Club member, Dave Wilson whose club still holds an annual Barney Barnato Tournament, run along similar lines of next week’s festival of golf. On a visit to Port Alfred, Wilson suggested Royal Port Alfred run a similar event – and is still going strong today.
“A number of local charities benefit from the tournament. And they will have their representatives present for a handover on Saturday towards the end of proceedings,” said main Mad Hatter organiser, Lynette Harbrecht.
The competition that tees off at 12pm is as follows Monday (Sotheby’s) is a Fourball Alliance – 2 to count with a shotgun start. Tuesday (Sotheby’s) follows the same format. Wednesday (BUCO) will be a Better Ball Stableford format, while Thursday (Pick n Pay), Friday (Royal St Andrews), and Saturday (GBS Mutual Bank and Build It) is an Individual Stableford format. The last three days’ Order of Merit competition, sees the player with the most accumulated Stableford points being announced the winner.
So at this stage 300 golfers have already registered for the competition and there are still a few places available. This is a big competition for us and is our main fundraiser for the year and of course selected charities will benefit,” said Harbrecht.
“We are very happy with our sponsors who are excited about Mad Hatter; we would not be able to host this tournament without their fantastic backing.
“We also have raffle draw prizes every night for lucky ticket-holders and there’s entertainment provided every night at the club.”
She said once very one had finished off their round for the day, RPAGC member Ant de Bruin will lead some fun and games on the course such as speed putting, longest drive and other surprise elements that are in store for golfers.
Former RPAGC manager, Sally Greasley, who assists Harbrecht, says the golfers are from various parts of the country.
“It’s local players … you get big groups coming down from East London … there’s a group from Gqeberha, and a big group from Kimberley. They come every year. Cape Town won’t unfortunately be coming for the second time in two years. They asked for an afternoon slot but unfortunately there were only morning slots available which they turned down. “
“If it’s not for our local business people this Mad Hatter would not be the success it is. They play a huge role in us bringing this competition together,” said Harbrecht.
The Mad Hatter tournament will not be the showpiece it is without the entertainment each night in the club’s bar area. Monday and Tuesday sees Jono taking the stage. On Wednesday and Thursday it’s Gary Ford. Friday it’s Simon Shaw Music act, with prizes for best hat on show and on Saturday, it’s the multi-talented Gino Fabbri with his one-man act.
- This article was first published in Talk of the Town, April 17, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
