A chance conversation with former Madibaz student Kyle de Beer changed the course of JP van der Watt’s golfing journey, culminating in him being named Mandela University’s Sportsman of the Year last week.
The 23-year-old was named the tertiary institution’s outstanding performer for 2024, underlining his development since he struck his first golf ball in anger at the age of 11.
Yet, it could have been an entirely different story for the emerging star who grew up in the town of George on the Garden Route.
In 2020, he contemplated accepting a scholarship from an American varsity until that chat with De Beer, who has since joined the professional ranks.
“During the course of our conversation, Kyle said that I should give Madibaz golf a crack. That led to a meeting with the president of the club, Karl du Preez.”
The BCom graduate remembered himself and his parents sitting in Du Preez’s office.
“I didn’t know him and he didn’t know me, but he said that if I start doing well and got into the national rankings, he would be able to assist with funding and finding scholarships.”
Van der Watt linked up with the Gqeberha university and made his way up the SA amateur rankings over the next five years. He is currently at five and has also earned his national colours.
Golfer and BCom graduate JP van der Watt reaped the benefits of hard work by being named Sportsman of the Year at the Madibaz Sport Awards last week. Photo: Michale Sheehan
Following him being named Sportsman of the Year at the Madibaz Sport Awards, Van der Watt experienced an “overwhelming sense of gratitude” towards those who had helped transform him from a raw rookie to a player in the upper echelons of the sport.
“From the support of my parents and girlfriend, to the coaches and mentors I have had along the way, I owe a massive thanks,” he acknowledged.
“So many have invested their time in me. It hasn’t always been easy, but they have been there when it’s gone well and when I’ve struggled.”
Even though golf was now an integral part of Van der Watt’s life, he had been savvy enough to realise that academics were equally important.
“I think most people know that I’m not the biggest fan of studying because my default mode is to be out on the golf course,” Van der Watt said.
“But having to knuckle down shaped my character because you are thrown in at the deep end and either have to swim or sink.”
His strategy was to work on his golf game by day and studies by night.
“It’s not that easy to find the balance but you have to take responsibility for your career path.”
With that came the knowledge that you were going to miss out on student life to a certain extent, he said. His student experience was anyway different to the norm due to the pandemic during his first two years in 2020 and 2021.
“Managing sport and academics certainly stretches your capacity, but it also builds you as a person. There’s obviously a strong need to embrace the challenge because the hard work will eventually pay off.”
Having received his degree in April and now staring a career in golf squarely in the face, he has certainly reaped the benefits of plodding away on and off the course.
Despite his successes, he is not rushing into the pro ranks.
“The plan is to stay in the amateur game for at least another year to play some of the bigger tournaments in South Africa and internationally – then possibly look at pro golf.”