GOLFORAMA ORIGINS

Cast your mind back to many years ago and ask yourself the question 
                "How did we know the Leader's scores in Major Tournaments?"

Admittedly the following at the Tournaments was not so big and presumably  only the committed, hardy types even bothered to go to the Course unless there was some special  interest factor such as a personal friend or the Club Pro playing. Undoubtedly the purse was relatively insignificant even when inflated to today's value in real terms.
The answer, in general, is that one really did not have much idea of what was going on out on the course other than with the particular group which one was following; but things began to change, slowly at first, but definitely for the better as the games rolled by - Golforama was there! 
Then in 1975 in South Africa the dawn of the Michael de Morgan and Dorian Berry era, TV, where one did not even have to go to the course to get the information, live, as it happened, ball-by-ball right there in the privacy of one's own lounge.
But how do the Hutch's of this world keep up to date with the latest scores?
Through the all important link - Golforama or to be even more specific, through the linkman, THE  control in the Golforama caravan, without whom there are no official communications across the course or to the outside world. If an official ruling is required Golforama arranges for the Tournament official to go to that specific hole, if a player "gets hot" Golforama arranges for the roving team to follow that individual and report on his progress hole-by-hole, if a member of the public is taken ill on the course or is struck by an errant golf ball Golforama is there to assist etc.
But let us take a step back and review the idea and it's evolution.

In the early days of Nomads it was realised by the powers that be, that in serving the game of golf we could be of immeasurable benefit to the officials, players and spectators by increasing the communication level, and speed, between all parties. To this end Mike Florance and a few Nomads devised a system using on-the-course walkie-talkie groups moving along with the leaders to relay scores back to the control centre. These scores, upon verification, are received simultaneously by the PGA, the media and the ICL computer station and passed on to the gallery by means of the teams of men manning the individual scoreboards around the course and to the Main Leaderboard at the 18th green. 
The CNA group, liking the initial concept and its perceived potential, provided the sponsorship for the implementation of the idea.
At one stage in the past each and every individual shot was physically recorded on a diagram of the hole and for the princely sum of sixpence, the public could purchase a photocopy of the player's positioning on that particular hole thus providing a permanent record of the game.
The coordination of an undertaking such as Golforama with its requirements of liaison with all the powers that be, i.e. the PGA, the SABC, the Press etc. is no mean feat  and for the continued success, the high standards maintained, the excellent relationships between ourselves and all parties concerned we have to thank the various Chairmen of Golforama over the past years such as Ronnie Volkwyn, Vic Glendenning, J Tugman, Pat Mc Gurk, Arthur Cox, Roel Germs, Brian Burns, Cyril Ferrar and, currently, Henry de Graeff, the leaders of all the Provincial Golforama teams around the country and those members of Nomads who, week after week, during the circuit, lasting from mid- November to late February, and during the Winter Circuit, devote their energies to informing the world of how the drama is being enacted.
With the total prize money now into the substantial millions and increasing annually, we are indeed fortunate to have the services and experience of Henry to control matters and to ensure that all parties are kept up-to-date and happy.

In line with the Nomad policy of support and furtherance of Golf throughout South Africa, Henry and his predecessors, the initiators of the Golforama system and all the many helpers throughout the years have raised our name to the topmost pinnacle. We are revered and respected by player and official alike for the professional handling of one of the vital functions of any Tournament - information.

Such as above was the way of things for a long time but with the advent of even faster requirements on sending information around the world as quickly as possible, as it happens, the involvement of the Golforama personnel has become even more intense. Scoring at least every 3rd hole played is required but more frequently, especially over the all important last 2 days of an event, players scores are recorded after each hole. For the leaders even that is not enough as they are being watched by the millions of armchair followers, so every stroke they play is recorded by personnel following them around the course. TV and websites require instant, accurate reporting.
The peak of the reporting function occurs at the Nedbank Golf Challenge more familiarly known as the "Million Dollar". Here, those reporting in are required to handle all the statistics from driving distance, to distance to the pin, greens in regulation, sand saves, number of putts and, of course, the overall score on a hole. This in addition to being directly on hand whenever a ruling is given by a rules official just so that the public knows exactly what is happening at all times. 
And should you happen to be thinking that that does not sound too difficult just cast your mind over the fact that this may not just be happening on one course at a time. Think of the Di-Data Tournament which is held over 3 courses simultaneously at Fancourt.

From humble beginnings, today GOLFORAMA is highly visible proof of Nomads involvement and contribution to Golf at the highest level in this country.
The fruit of an ingenious concept.