Teboho Molapo
MASERU — Professional golfer Motlalentoa Moloi plans to take part in the Lombard Insurance Classic in Swaziland next month.
Moloi, who turned pro in 2004, competes on the prestigious Sunshine Tour — a professional men’s golf series played across the southern African region.
However Moloi has suffered from a lack of financial support and as a result has been unable to regularly participate in tour events.
A fortnight ago Moloi failed to take part in the Nashua Golf Challenge played at Sun City, South Africa.
In his most recent tournament, last month’s Investec Royal Swazi Open, Moloi failed to make the cut.
But speaking to the Sunday Express, Moloi said he hoped to get his season off the ground by playing in the Lombard Classic which starts on June 4.
“I’m preparing to play in Swaziland in June,” Moloi said. “I have started making preparations for the tournament.”
Moloi said he was struggling to improve his game without a coach.
“I need a coach to assist me with my swing,” he said. “I have been helping myself for the past year, but I am planning to go to South Africa to look for a coach.
“There are coaches in Bloemfontein and Gauteng from the PGA (Players Golf Association) who work with golfers.”
Moloi said the area of his game which had suffered the most was his putting.
“The problem which we also have is that the courses we practise on are not of a good standard,” he said.
“On them you have to hit the ball, but on others you roll it instead — the strokes are different.
“The golf courses we play on during tournaments are well looked after.
“Another thing of course is that I need to play more tournaments to get into a rhythm.”
An added concern for Moloi is to change his golf equipment as per rules set by the PGA.
Professional golfers worldwide have been ordered to ditch the u-groove clubs for v-grooves.
“I have to change my equipment,” Moloi said.
“The clubs we are using right now are going to be non-compliant by the 1st of August, so we have to change them otherwise you will not be allowed to participate in tournaments.
“If you are found using them, you will be fined or banned.”
Last year he participated in 10 of 25 Sunshine Tour events.
Moloi is also coach of Lesotho’s golf team and last month he oversaw the country’s performance at the Zone VI International Amateur Golf Team Games in Botswana.
Lesotho finished 11th — only above Mozambique — in the competition.
Moloi said the plan was to start preparations for next year’s event in Kenya as early as possible.
“We would like to start training as soon as we can,” Moloi said.
“We have already started training with players who are based in Lesotho.”
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