Little did Mdantsane-born Zethu Myeki know when she was growing up that she would one day pursue a professional career as a golfer.
“I used to walk to school and see girls hitting golf balls with a guy who was coaching them.
“But I was scared to go ask what one had to do if you wanted to play,” the 30-year-old, who was in high school at the time, said.
“The following year, one of the girls I saw [playing golf on the soccer field] was in the same class as me and I asked her what I should do if I wanted to play and she invited me to join — the rest is history.
“When I started golf I knew I liked it, but I never thought about it for a living until late 2014.
“We were invited to a professional tournament, it may have been the Zambia Open.
“Some amateurs were invited. I played with some of the professionals and I played better than some of them.
“I realised then that this could be something I’d like to do.
“About then I joined the Ernie Els Foundation and started playing in all the events.
“I was already competing against the best, so I thought why not give it [playing professionally] a chance.”
Myeki realised she could pursue a career as a professional golfer in 2020, and is now ranked 14th in South Africa.
She has represented South Africa seven times on the international stage, producing a career-best top 10 in her final event, the prestigious Spirit International in the US in 2021.
“I have learnt the importance of the mind in this game.
“In the next decade, I see myself playing among the best players in the world and holding my own.
“Ideally, I want to be No 1.”
Having come from a disadvantaged background, Myeki said one of her dreams was to teach young children the sport.
“I believe if it wasn’t for the support I have received when I started, to this day I wouldn’t be where I am now.
“Having my own development programme back at home is definitely something I want to do in the future.
“For now, I still want to focus on playing and building my brand,” she said.
Speaking to the Dispatch, she shared how she balanced her career and personal life.
“I have a schedule and routines that I follow consistently.
“From Monday to Friday I play golf. And I go to the gym every morning.
“Saturday I play with members and Sunday is ‘me time’.”
She believes women are getting the recognition they deserve in the sport, but said there was still room for improvement.
“The sport needs to be showcased more so that people, especially those who are from disadvantaged backgrounds, are aware of it.
“There are development programmes that have been introduced for young girls, and I hope they will be expanded to other parts of the country too,” she said.
Her success has been recognised by the Mdantsane community, with a soon-to-be opened recreational park at Bridle Drift Dam to be named after her — the Zethu Myeki Recreational Park.
“I am honoured to be recognised and part of the history of Mdantsane.
“The park is still something that we are working on though. We want many things at the park, but we are still working on it,” she said.
Spearheading the refurbishment of the recreational park, tour guide Siseko Yelani, said:
“We appreciated Myeki’s exceptional work on the green, especially coming from an area with no sports facilities — and yet she made it.
“We as Masikhule Innovations [NPO] seek to encourage the youth to excel in sports.
“We had other names in mind for the park but we thought we can’t only honour old people, and it was decided to give honour to Zethu, a young trailblazer and a woman.”
Yelani said the immediate plan was to establish a driving range in the park, which could see more Zethu Myeki’s in future.
“We hope our government will make it possible for our children to have such facilities.
“If Zethu could pull this off, surely other children could do the same and [even more so] with the facilities and proper guidance in place,” said Yelani.
Dispatch reported in July that Mdantsane residents are on a mission to give the Bridle Drift Dam, known as Grinika, a facelift.
The group’s mission is to transform the area into a public park where families can enjoy nature.
DispatchLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.