Billabong Pro Golf Day

Billabong Pro Golf Day

Billabong Pro Golf Day to raise funds for Supertubes Foundation

The inaugural Billabong Pro Golf Day will be held at the Jack Nicklaus St Francis Links on Tuesday 8 July to raise funds for the Supertubes Foundation and honour former ASP World Champion Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo who retired at the end of 2007.

The fundraiser presents the opportunity for golfers from all walks of life to meet and mingle with the world’s best surfers on a five star golf course with each four-ball including a member of the ASP Top 45. The day’s action will be followed by a dinner to celebrate Occy’s career and achievements, his close association with Jeffreys Bay, Billabong SA founder Cheron Kraak and the local community over the past 25 years.

Occhilupo won the first ASP rated surfing event to be staged at Supertubes as an 18 year-old in 1984 and then bailed out of competitive surfing while ranked in the top 5 in 1988. Resurrecting his career in the mid 90’s, the Australian legend went on to stage the greatest come-back in the history of the sport, culminating in his capturing the ASP World Title in 1999 and competing at the highest level until retiring last year at the age of 42.

The evening function will incorporate an auction at which both surf and golf memorabilia will go to highest bidders to raise additional funds for the Supertubes Foundation, the Jeffreys Bay based community organisation that keeps the beaches of the town in pristine condition, rehabilitating indigenous flora from building sites and replanting it along the ocean’s edge, in the dunes and around the town.

The Jack Nicklaus St Francis Links is situated in St Francis Bay and acknowledged as one of the country’s best golf courses, receiving a ‘Five Star Golf Experience’ award from Compleat Golfer and voted ‘Best New Golf Course in South Africa’ by Golf Digest in 2007

The Golf Day and fundraiser takes place in the lead up to the Billabong Pro, the country’s most lucrative and prestigious surfing event which features the world’s top 45 ranked professional surfers and runs at Jeffreys Bay from July10-20.

At this stage the likes of 8X World Champion Kelly Slater, 3x world champ Andy Irons, current World No. 2 and 3, Joel Parkinson and Bede Durbidge, and Occy, amongst others, have confirmed their involvement in the Billabong Pro Golf Day and fundraiser.

While many of the four-balls in the tournament have been sold to corporate entities, any group wishing to participate can contact Ernest Bendeman at ernest.bendeman@billabong.co.za or 042 200 2600. All in all the, event will be a fun day with the opportunity to socialize with the top surfers, celebrate Occy’s career and hear his often hilarious anecdotes and insights while supporting a good cause.

About Supertubes Foundation
The mission of the Supertubes Foundation is to rescue endemic and endangered plants from sites being developed, to beautify Jeffreys Bay with rescued plants and to protect the coastal dune area, upgrade beach access and boardwalks as well as to co-ordinate beach cleanups.

Supertubes Foundation is a joint venture between three local surfing clubs which are entirely funded by donations and fundraising through projects initiated by the members and employees of the Foundation. The Foundation has made visual improvements in the Jeffreys Bay area since its inception in 2002.