12 November 2025 – The Inland team produced a thrilling comeback performance to capture the 2025 GolfRSA Coastal Inland Challenge, defeating the Coastal side 13-7 after an impressive singles display on the final day at Langebaan Country Estate.

It was the third playing of the tournament, with both the previous editions going the way of the Coastal team.

A key figure behind the success was Inland Team Manager Francois Mulder from the Northern Cape, representing Kathu, whose calm leadership helped guide the team through high-pressure moments.

“There’s not a lot of words to describe what the feeling is at the moment,” he said. “To come and beat the coastal guys in their backyard, obviously, is a huge honour and a great result for us after twice being on the losing side.”

The GolfRSA Coastal Inland Challenge is a Ryder Cup-style golf tournament for South Africa’s top mid-amateur and senior players, pitting teams from the country’s coastal regions against inland teams. The event was introduced by GolfRSA to provide a competitive platform for players who would otherwise lack international opportunities.

“It’s an honour to represent their teams. For some of these guys, it’s the highest honour you can get,” said Nell. “There isn’t test golf for a lot of the guys. Especially for the seniors, there’s nothing. So, this is the highest level you can represent in mid-amateur and senior amateur golf.”

After trailing 5–3 following the opening foursomes and fourballs, the Inland squad rallied with determination, composure, and unity to turn the contest in their favour, showcasing the depth and fighting spirit that define inland golf.

“The coastal guys were actually praying for wind this afternoon and then they got the wind and then they got us. It’s a double whammy for them. It didn’t always go as planned, but yeah, we pulled through with an 8-0 win in the singles,” said Mulder.

Richard Nell was the Coastal Team Manager. “The guys will be disappointed, especially with the wind coming up, which we were hoping for the whole week, but we were up front until this afternoon, and we just got blown away in the final session completely,” he said.

The victory highlights the growing strength of unions across the country’s interior, including Central Gauteng, Gauteng North, Ekurhuleni, North West, Limpopo, Free State, and Mpumalanga.

“I know all these guys, we’ve played against them, and we plot to beat them all the time,” said Mulder. “And now, all of a sudden, you’ve got a team you need to win and you need to get them together to win a tournament like this. It was a real challenge, but it was nice to see everybody on the same side for a change. It’s going to be a memory forever that was made at Langebaan today.”

Their 2025 win cements the team’s status as a major force in South African amateur golf and a symbol of the spirit that continues to grow across the heartland.