The R&A

From tries to tees: Rugby great Habana aims to inspire in Golf Development role

The R&A

31 May 24

3 mins

As a fast-paced winger who ran in tries for club and country with remarkable regularity, Bryan Habana acted as an inspiration to others on a rugby field during a trophy-laden career. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in rugby history.

Now the golf course is his natural habitat, savouring the sport’s invigorating health, social and sense of achievement benefits since he hung up his rugby boots almost six years ago, and is determined to see others enjoy the same experiences. A legend in South Africa, having been a part of the Springboks side that defeated England in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, Habana is using his status as a R&A Development Ambassador to encourage and inspire once more. Recently, he was at Leopard Creek for the inaugural staging of the Africa Amateur Championship and Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational, as The R&A and partner organisations offer young golfers a clear pathway to the pinnacle of the sport.

Ambassador for The R&A

Habana was thrilled to be part of it all and hopes his role can also act as a catalyst for golf growth across the African continent. “I’m immensely honoured and humbled to have been approached by The R&A for this role and let people understand how incredible the game of golf is through the Development Ambassador programme,” said Habana, who joins fellow R&A Golf Development Ambassadors including Niall Horan, Gareth Bale, Michelle Wie West, Dani Hantuchova, Kevin Pietersen and Kathryn Newton to help take the sport to new audiences. “I want to promote how beneficial it is on all levels and the avenues that exist to enjoy it. It’s not an old, structured game where you have to play 18 holes, it offers so much more. I’m privileged to be part of this incredible group of ambassadors to promote the sport and I hope I can encourage more people to play this beautiful game.” Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, added, “We are delighted to welcome Bryan into our R&A Golf Development Ambassador programme. It is a group of wonderful, successful people who want to share their passion for golf, give of their free time and encourage more people to enjoy the many benefits golf brings. “Bryan will be assisting us to support and promote our pathway programmes, starting with our new golfer initiative Golf.Golf and leading through to elite amateur championships like the Africa Amateur Championship.”

Bryan Habana - R&A Global Development Ambassador

“I’m immensely honoured and humbled to have been approached by The R&A for this role and let people understand how incredible the game of golf is through the Development Ambassador programme.”

Love of sport

Habana’s own journey into rugby came when as a 12-year-old he watched on in awe as Nelson Mandela shook hands with Francois Pienaar and handed him the 1995 Rugby World Cup after South Africa’s victory over New Zealand. He knows golf can stir the emotions and offer similar pathways. The 40-year-old added, “The R&A and all the national associations involved brought something spectacular to Leopard Creek, one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The players got a taste of what playing at the highest level is like and what that pressure means. It will be a stepping stone for so many. And with the exemptions, including into The 152^ndOpen at Royal Troon, it was pretty special.” It was Habana’s rugby career – he scored an incredible 335 points in 124 Tests for South Africa and sits second among the all-time test try scorers with 67 tries – that ultimately developed his love for striking a smaller white ball. “I probably got into golf at the age of 17 or 18 years old towards my final years at school,” he explained. “I went with a mate to a driving range and we just had an absolute blast. It felt really cool. I was an honest hacker, but just being able to socialise and have fun, it was a really enjoyable introduction to the sport. “As the years developed and I got into rugby, there was a really great golfing environment within the rugby circle. Most off days would be spent with three or four-balls looking for courses around the world to play. That journey of over 20 years of playing rugby meant I got to travel the world and get to some absolutely incredible courses. It was a switch off from the intense effort that is professional sport, particularly rugby, and to get out into nature, have fun and test yourself in a different environment.”

Golf benefits

Now a successful businessman – the Co-Founder and Chief Client Officer at fintech firm Paymenow Group – his priorities have changed, especially with two young boys to run around after. But, again, golf is acting a bond between them already. “Playing golf after retiring, the competitive edge is not as needed,” said Habana, who played for sides including the Bulls, Stormers and Toulon in his decorated club career. “I think the fact I’ve now got two little boys, we enjoy hitting a ball around and having family bonding time, father-and-son bonding time. The ability to go and putt, play a par-3 course or getting into a VR studio playing golf on a digital screen, the ability to just have the ease of access to so many options in golf is really cool. “I don’t need the competitive edge now, so it’s very much a continual relaxation environment, getting into nature, breathing in fresh air and walking six to seven kilometres on a golf course is pretty cool. There are a lot of real tangible good things about the sport that I love. Yes, you can compete against yourself on every shot, every time you go back to the course, but it is about enjoying all the incredible things golf has to offer.” With a handicap of “around 16 or 17,” Habana likes nothing more than knocking some balls around with his sons on the little artificial putting green he has installed in his garden. Golf has been so important for him and he is passionate about sharing its various benefits with others.

Habana was at Leopard Creek for the inaugural staging of the Africa Amateur Championship and Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational, as The R&A and partner organisations offer young golfers a clear pathway to the pinnacle of the sport.

To the future

“The transition period for any professional athlete is really difficult,” recalls Habana, whose eight tries in the 2007 Rugby World Cup equaled the record for a single tournament set by Jonah Lomu in 1999. “You go from all you have ever known into the unknown. It’s scary, daunting and a lot of professional athletes actually struggle. I’ll never forget announcing my retirement on social media. I got home and my wife was seven months pregnant with our second boy and my eldest was just turning four. I’ll never forget opening the door and just bursting into tears, knowing that chapter had come to a close. “The uncertainty of what was to come really got to me. Having support structures became very important. I realised I needed to find a new purpose in that transition period and golf has been really great, not only post my rugby career but actually during it. “I’ve been very fortunate to make connections on the golf course that has led to really good friendships, almost mentorships, in the business environment which has slowly helped me understand what is needed to make a success of this next chapter. “For example, the ability to go to golf days and have an impact to raise money for various charities around the world. Forming relationships are among the benefits golf brings, as well as the socialising and the exhilaration of hitting an incredible golf shot. I absolutely love the game of golf.”

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