Mark Nicholas, Darryl Cullinen and Greg Blewitt golf day
Legendary cricketing trio Mark Nicholas, Darryl Cullinen and Greg Blewitt swapped bat and ball for club and tee when they took on South Africa's most extreme golfing challenge.
Legend Golf & Safari Resort at the Big 5 Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the Waterberg, Limpopo, played host to the stars of the cricket world for a special golf day.
And the threesome, whose names are more synonymous with cricket, than golf joined an elite list of people who have managed to conquer the world's most amazing par 3, the Extreme 19th.
Cricket commentators Nicholas and Blewitt, and former Springbok legend Cullinen visited Africa's most talked about leisure resort to be filmed for a forthcoming TV show.
Their VIP day kicked off with a flight to the world's most extreme golf hole, the Extreme 19th, set high up on the impressive Hanglip Mountain and accessible only by helicopter.
From there the competitive trio hit their drivers to the green the shape of Africa some 400 metres below.
After hitting two practice balls Nicholas and Cullinen smashed their competition balls in great style – Nicholas managing to hit the green – before flying back down and both making par on the hole.
They were thrilled to learn that their names now join an elite list that includes Open champion Padraig Harrington and six members of the national Norwegian Youth Golf Team, as among the very few who have made par on the Extreme 19th.
TV cricket commentator Nicholas, who was holidaying at Legend Golf & Safari Resort for three days with his family, was far from lost for words when describing the experience.
He said: “It was awesome; riveting, phenomenal. It's like the end of the world up there and it's an awful lot of fun. Legend Golf & Safari Resort is a very, very special place in South Africa.”
Australian commentator Greg Blewitt was just one shot behind Nicholas and Cullinen, making a bogey 4. The TV star who plays off a handicap of two was so disappointed with his performance on the world's most extreme golf hole that he announced he will be returning to the resort to re-take the challenge in the near future.
The cricketing trio were joined by South African golf professional and TV presenter Don Gammon for a four-ball tournament on Legend Golf & Safari Resort's 18-hole Signature Course.
The legendary championship golf course designed by 18 of the world's top golfers including Thomas Bjorn, Padraig Harrington, Trevor Immelman, KJ Choi, Bernard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Justin Rose, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia is now open for play.
Test hero Darryl Cullinen was particularly impressed by the variety of the “world in one” course. He said: “This course is really challenging but it's great to be able to say 'How did you get on on the Montgomerie hole' or 'How did you do on the Garcia hole'”.
The cricketing legends are the latest in a long line of celebrities to stay at Legend Golf & Safari Resort. The venue recently hosted Blue Bulls rugby heroes and Olympic swimming sensation Roland Schoeman for a celebrity golf day. The current Miss World and her fellow 111 contestants also recently spent six inspiring days at the resort where they enjoyed an amazing programme of activities in the bushveld.
For more information about Legend Golf & Safari Resort please go to www.legendgolfsafari.com
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT VICKY RICHARDSON ON 0763929698 (South African mobile) OR EMAIL vicky@theazaleagroup.com
About the Legend Lodges Hotels & Resorts Group
The Legend portfolio encompasses the rich diversity of Southern Africa: her people, culture, breathtaking scenery and abundant bird, marine and animal life. Legend Lodges, Hotels & Resorts, with its head office based in Pretoria, features game and safari lodges, country lodges, coastal hotels & lodges, city and town hotels and cultural villages and shebeens. The group operates throughout South Africa and in Mozambique.