SA NOMADS goes INTERNATIONAL

Since the original Transvaal Nomads Golf Club was formed 50 years ago the Nomads Club has developed in many different directions. Its Constitution clearly embodies the principles of ' furtherance of golf, support of those less fortunate than ourselves and fellowship'.
In developing these facets Nomads has progressed along many different paths and philosophies over the years but with the ever-changing requirements Nomads have adopted and adapted differing policies to cope with the circumstances.

As an example of the above, for many years it was believed that with the formation of the Northern Transvaal Club in 1967 that Nomads had reached full size and that there were no further centres large enough to support a Nomads Club. Clearly with the subsequent formation of an additional 9 Clubs locally this theory was incorrect -  a tribute to the tenacity of golfers nationwide, these Clubs were often started by Nomads who had, through changing circumstances, moved to areas in which Nomads Golf was not represented. 

Another feature of Nomads is that their Members frequently migrate to different centres, whether on a permanent basis, for business or family reasons, or on a more temporary basis, such as business or holiday purposes.
Golf, being the social sport that it is, leads to frequent talk of future competition, either on an individual basis or via Inter-Club, Inter-Provincial or even International proportions. So it is not at all uncommon to find that Nomads, coming from the social fraternity that they do, who have transferred to areas in which there is no Nomadic activity, seek to establish a Nomads Club in that area to assuage the withdrawal symptoms they personally are feeling and to propagate the benefits which Nomads activities bring to the local community. 

These strong ties not only resulted in the formation of Nomads Clubs in areas previously considered unable to support a Nomads Club but have also resulted in producing other Clubs internationally with further interest being expressed in other countries.

There are currently 3 Clubs in Zimbabwe and 1 in Botswana and whilst these Clubs are technically International and have their own separate Executives and Constitutions such is the level of contact between these and their SA brothers that they are almost considered to be local Clubs.

Another Nomads Club exists in Auckland, New Zealand, formed by emigrant ex-SA Nomads. They believed that not only can New Zealand support several other Nomads Clubs but that the frequent migration of New Zealanders from NZ to Australia, either for business or residential reasons, would soon result in the formation of Nomads Clubs in major centres in Australia. They have been proven correct with the recent formation, in November 2003, of a Nomads Club in Sydney. A further Club was established in Sydney during June 2005 with the two Clubs becoming known as Sydney North and Sydney Hills respectively. Regrettably the initial burst of enthusiasm displayed by the Sydney Hills Club was not sustained and its Members were reincorporated into the Sydney North Club in December 2006. However this Club may re-appear during the latter part of 2010. An additional Club has been formed in Brisbane in July 2008 and an additional Clubs is being investigated in Perth.

A Nomads Club was inaugurated in Newbury, UK in July 2009

Currently, approaches for assistance in starting up Nomads Clubs, have been received from Malawi, Mauritius and Uruguay with Botswana actively investigating  the formation of another Club. Swaziland, Lesotho  and, locally, Limpopo are giving the matter active consideration.

The possibilities for future development, particularly internationally, are endless and whilst assistance is readily given to those wanting to form a Nomads Golf Club, the over-riding consideration for acceptance is that, allowing for modifications which are necessitated by local circumstances, the fundamental Principles of the SA Nomads Constitution are upheld - "furtherance of golf, support of those less fortunate than ourselves and fellowship".

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