Vision

To be the market leader in the golf specific development, performance and educational programmes to golf enthusiasts at a provincial, national and international level with special emphasis on University of Pretoria students and staff.

Mission

► Create a stimulating environment whereby students specializing in golf specific studies can optimize their academic skill and competency in their professional careers through the integrated and holistic approach of the University;

► Provide students and staff with the optimal opportunity to participate in golf for recreation and performance purposes;

► Providing facilities and expertise that will enhance the development and performance of elite golf talent;

► Contribute to the positive marketing image of the University of Pretoria by way of the performances of participants in golf and the presentation of outstanding programmes;

► Facilitate and promote community involvement and sustainable golf development;

► Be internationally competitive by providing the best possible professional coaching, scientific and athlete support measures;

► Make use of cutting edge technology and innovation available to enhance participation, performance and competitiveness;

► Establish the University as the world leader – whereby the entire LTAD (long term athlete development)- model has been implemented that is completely integrated with formal academic training exceeding 10 years of training and development.

History

This first golf club at the University of Pretoria was established in 1929 as a result of a challenge received from Wits University. Beside the recreational nature of the initial golf establishment there was always a competitive component to every annual calendar – the clash with Wits!

Through the years the main existence of the Tuks Golf Club was at the grace of the enthusiastic staff and students. In 1950 a formal association was established with Zwartkops Country Club and received professional attention from renowned golf professional Otway Hayes from 1955 which resulted in the first students from Tukkies being selected for the South African Universities Team.

It was only in 1961 that a player from Tukkies raised to the surface when S Schewitz won the South African Universities title. In 1962 the formal association with Zwartkops Country Club was ended and an association with Wingate Park Country Club was formally established and is still active today.

In 1969 a young player, Louis Peens, made enough improvement to be selected for the Northern Transvaal team and he was also selected for the South African Universities second team.

The first internal UP Golf Championships was hosted in 1971 over 36- holes, titles for both gross and nett was awarded. The winners of this first historic event were H Brand and N Claasen respectively. The following year Louis Peens was crowned as the new champion with scores of 72 and 76.

In 1973 two young talented players, Andries Oosthuizen and Neville Sundelsohn, was selected for the South African National Team that won the World Teams Championships after beating 62 countries.

In 1979 men’s student, Louis Norval, was selected for the South African Team followed in 1980 by fellow student, Wilhelm Winsnes. The golf club continued to compete and host various student competitions promoting the game and the club at the University of Pretoria.

Highlights since then were when the two of the top amateur players in South Africa was members of this prestigious club and represented South Africa from 1998. The two players Dean Lambert and Henk Alberts was a dominating force on the national amateur circuit and also represented the South African Universities Team in the World Universities Championships. In 2000 it was the talented Pieter Botha that won the Boyd Quaich Memorial Tournament at St. Andrews, Scotland. In 2005 Louis Moolman was also selected to represent South Africa during his time as a member of the University of Pretoria Golf Club.

In 2006 TuksGolf established their own full time academy providing golf enthusiasts with the opportunity to receive parallel attention to both academic studies as well as structured golf specific training programs.

In 2009 the University of Pretoria announced that a specific piece of property on the TuksSports Campus in Hatfield, Pretoria was available for the development of a state of the art golf specific training facility.

In 2011 this facility was opened for operation as well two satellite training facilities that provide coaching service to local communities at Wingate Park Country Club and Centurion Country Club.