The Scullard family’s enduring love affair with Barberton

For the Scullard family, the Barberton Daisy Golf Tournament has never been just another date on the golfing calendar. It has been an annual family reunion, a celebration of friendships spanning generations and a tradition woven into their lives for more than four decades.

It all began 42 years ago, when Michael Scullard was just 16 years old and still at school in Natal. While home on holiday, he was invited to participate in the Daisy by the late Frenchie Roos, whose company sponsored the Thursday competition. Michael’s father, Bunny, and Frenchie were both keen golfers at Nelspruit Golf Club, and that invitation marked the beginning of a remarkable family tradition.

Michael still remembers his first Daisy prize: an olive-green, 16-piece dinner set from one of the local shops. He returned home proudly showing off his winnings, only to discover that some of the pieces had chips and cracks. Four decades later, the incident still brings a smile to his face, a reminder that the best tournament memories are not necessarily about the prizes.

Three years later, the family moved from Nelspruit to Johannesburg, but the annual pilgrimage to Barberton continued. What began as a father-and-son golfing experience grew into a much larger gathering, with Michael and his family recruiting relatives and close friends to join them for the week. At times, their group numbered as many as 20 golfers.

In those days, the Daisy was a week-long affair, beginning with Saturday’s four-ball better-ball competition, followed by Sunday’s 36-hole open medal event. From Tuesday to Saturday, golfers competed in individual point-stableford (IPS) events, with the Grand Prix decided on the best accumulated points over the five days.

Accommodation became part of the adventure. Through family friend Flippie Roets, who worked in the correctional services, the group gained access to four three-bedroom houses at the prison. Many a memorable evening was spent there, sharing stories and laughter after a day on the course. Other years saw the Scullards and their friends staying with the Rautenbachs, at Grace Farms, African Rest and Annamarie Keys at 28 on Andrew, depending on the size of their travelling party.

Although Michael cannot recall exactly when the tournament changed to its current four-day format, one thing has remained constant: the warm welcome and hospitality of the Barberton community.

His mother, Pat, affectionately referred to the locals as the “Barbertonians”, and their friendliness left a lasting impression on the family. In the early years, visiting golfers often outnumbered the local players. Members such as the Strydom family, Hannes Boshoff, Dave Croxton, Eben Van Zyl, and Thomas and Gerda, who worked in the club office, all contributed to making the Scullards and their travelling companions feel at home.

For a young Michael, these familiar faces became part of the Daisy experience. So, too, did watching the next generation grow up around the club. Stephen Lee, for example, was once a little boy running around in nappies in the bunker beside the ninth hole after the golfers had finished playing. Today, those same youngsters have grown up to become established members of Barberton Golf Club, illustrating how the tournament has connected generations of golfers.

The Daisy of earlier years was also famous for its lively social programme. Prize givings attracted strong support, with live entertainment and parties that continued late into the night. The tournament even had an official opening on the Friday evening, when the Lexington sponsor day culminated in the mayor formally welcoming visitors to Barberton.

But for all the golf, celebrations and amusing stories, Michael’s reflections also carry a deeper meaning. Over 42 years, family members and close friends who once walked the fairways alongside them have passed away, leaving behind memories that remain an important part of the family’s annual return.

His father, Bunny, played in the Daisy for approximately 30 years, with Pat faithfully watching every shot. Even after Bunny passed away in 2017, Pat continued visiting the tournament for another two years, until her own passing. Bunny was also fortunate enough to share the Daisy experience with three generations of his family, as Michael and his brother, Gavin, joined the tournament alongside him. Other family members have added their own chapters to the story. Michael’s brother Shane and uncle Tom have been regular participants, with Tom earning a particularly impressive place in Daisy history. The eldest of the brothers recorded 52 IPS points, a score Michael recalls as the highest ever achieved at the tournament.

His uncle Ralph also experienced the special privilege of playing alongside three generations of his family in one four-ball, together with his son Derick, son-in-law Chane and grandson Dylan. Michael’s father-in-law, Frik Balanco, and uncle Joe Viljoen were among the family members who also shared in the tradition. Close friend Thinus de Beer remains part of the wider Daisy circle, while his father, Bok, continues to play regularly in the tournament.

Golfing achievements have naturally featured along the way. Both Bunny and Derick have won the Daisy Grand Prix, while the family members have all enjoyed daily competition victories over the years. Derick, a low-handicap golfer, has also equalled the course’s lowest gross record. He remains a popular visitor who is always willing to help local golfers with club changes, grips and practical advice.

Another familiar part of the Daisy experience was the annual contribution of Hennie Coetzee from Badplaas, who sponsored the tournament for years with his paintings. His artwork became a sought-after prize, although Bunny seemed to have little luck winning one. After numerous unsuccessful attempts, Bunny jokingly told Hennie that if he failed to win a painting that year, Hennie would have to paint one for him, which he would buy before the family returned to Johannesburg. Bunny duly missed out on the prize, but the following year he finally won his first painting. It was a small victory that became another treasured family story.

Perhaps the most poignant reminder of the Scullards’ connection to Barberton Golf Club is the bench at the third hole, placed there by the family after Bunny’s death in 2017. During his final years, Bunny was diagnosed with bone cancer and needed a walker to get around. Determined to play the Daisy one last time, he attempted to take part using the walker, managing two holes with one hand before teeing off at the third. Michael eventually persuaded his father to stop, concerned that he might injure himself. That moment has never been forgotten.

The third hole became the natural place to honour Bunny and the many other golfers who are no longer able to join their friends on the course.

Every year after the tournament, as the sun begins to set, family members and friends gather at the bench to pay their respects. It is a quiet tradition that acknowledges those who helped shape their Daisy memories and whose absence is still felt. The family believes these former golfers are looking down on them as they continue the tradition they loved. 

The club itself has changed considerably since Michael first arrived. What was once a small bar and lounge has developed into a much larger clubhouse, while the concrete area outside, where chairs sometimes collapsed in the heat and caused plenty of near misses and laughter, has given way to an enclosed lapa with comfortable seating for a good kuier. Yet, despite the changes, the spirit of the Daisy remains what it has always been: a combination of golf, hospitality, camaraderie and a shared love for a tournament that brings people back year after year.

For Michael, the continuation of the Daisy depends on the loyalty of the club members, the support of visiting golfers and the willingness of younger generations to carry the tradition forward. He is particularly grateful to those family members and friends who still make the effort to participate, ensuring that the tournament remains a fixture on their annual calendars.

He also has a message for the local golfing community: “Keep working together, maintain the positive spirit and protect the tournaments that have become such an important part of Barberton’s golfing heritage.”

The third generation of Scullards still has a long way to go before matching the 42-year record, but Michael is determined to do his part as the successor to his father, Bunny, keeping the family tradition alive for as long as he can walk the fairways of Barberton Golf Club. After all, some traditions are measured in years, others in trophies, and a few in the friendships and memories that endure long after the final putt has dropped. For the Scullard family, the Daisy is all three.