THE word legend is one of the most overused clichés in sporting parlance, but it aptly describes Roger Baylis — the long-serving head professional at Chapman Golf Club and national coach for the Zimbabwe Golf Association (ZGA). DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
While Baylis never reached the heights scaled by the likes of Nick Price as a player, he has dedicated his life to promoting the game of golf to youngsters, ensuring the country continues to churn out talented young golfers.
The veteran coach has been actively involved in golf for the past 30 years and is held in high esteem not only in Zimbabwe, but beyond the country’s borders.
Despite suffering from knee arthritis which makes it difficult for him to walk, Baylis has remained committed to the development of golf in the country.
During the national team’s recent assignment in Zambia where Zimbabwe won the inaugural Africa Golf Confederation President’s Cup, Baylis would only move around with the aid of a golf cart to monitor the player’s progress.
“At the moment, I can only move around the golf course using a cart because of a condition called arthritis,” Baylis told NewsDay Sport in an interview this week.
“I had one of the legs operated on without any success and I’m hoping to go to India early next year for another corrective surgery. Hopefully I will be able to move around more then,” he said.
One of his recent prodigies, Scott Vincent, is currently one of the best amateurs in world, while current PGA Tour professional Brendon de Jonge also benefitted from the 78-year-old coach’s input.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Other names that also come to mind include the likes of Mark Cayeaux, Shane Pringle, Gary Thompson, Bruce McDonald, Nyasha Mauchaza, Clive Nguru and Ray Badenhorst, to mention but a few.
“I got the job here at Chapman in 1986 after moving from Warren Hills Golf Club and I have been here ever since,” said Baylis while reflecting on his glittering coaching career.
“A lot of junior golfers followed me here, while others juniors came from Royal Harare. So Chapman became the home of junior golf and it has been like that ever since.
“In fact, if you look at the records of local team competitions in the junior competition, you will see Chapman dominating most of the times. Wingate, with Lewis Muridzo heading their junior policy there, has also been very strong.
“It has given me great joy to see some of the players I coached over the years doing well. Many of these players have received their tertiary education in some of the best colleges in the United States due to their ability as junior golfers,” Baylis said.
While at Chapman also witnessed the progression made by Price, who would later go on to become the world’s best golfer in the 90s.
“We had very top players then, obviously Nick Price heads that list, but there were others such as his brother Tim Price, Mark McNulty, Tony Johnstone. There were also the likes of Denis Watson, while David Leadbetter was a former junior at Chapman, but is now a world renowned golf instructor,” he said.
Baylis said the deterioration of the country’s economy since the turn of the millennium resulting in upsurge in emigration had adversely affected the growth of the sport.
He, however, encouraged parents to support their children to ensure they realised their full potential.
“We have lost about three million people and that’s very sad because that’s where most of our golfers would come from. We have various development programmes going, but it’s not quite the same as having a kid whose parents are keen to see him/her do well.
“This week we brought in seven kids and gave them free membership here to come once a week officially, but some of them don’t have the support from their parents,” Baylis said.
Recently, he has been working with upcoming junior players and most notably young David Amm early this year qualified for the prestigious Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open at the tender age of 14.
“David Amm has got a lot of talent. He’s only just 15 and he’s already in the top 10 in the order of merit and has already played for Zimbabwe in the juniors.
“The other one is Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa. He’s just a little boy, but he’s got the biggest heart and reminds me of Lewis Chitengwa who was a great player. The good thing about these kids is they want to be golfers and I’m sure they will be good golfers,” said Baylis, whose eldest son Mike is also the head pro at Royal Harare Golf Club.
Together with Mike, the duo recently set up the Baylis Golf Academy.
