Michelle de Vries - The woman driving Border golf development

Michelle de Vries is one of the few women in South African golf who is making an impact at every level of the game. Most notably, she is excelling in her role as the head coach of the South African Golf Development Board's (SAGDB) Border Region.

The former touring professional and current president of the Women's Professional Golf Association of South Africa is deeply passionate about her sport, and relishes the challenge of growing the game in her region.

"Abraham Lincoln once said, 'In the end, it's not the years in your life that counts, but the life in your years'. I love watching the kids grow and develop. At my end, I want to be remembered for introducing children to golf and giving them the ability to get pleasure, exercise and social interaction out of playing the sport. I dream of seeing some of my former students perform well on the world stage one day," says De Vries.

Her experience and history in the game also makes her perfectly suited to her development role.

A former provincial hockey player, De Vries first became interested in golf after a chance meeting with legendary South African golfer Sally Little in 1985.

Within a year after taking up the game, De Vries was down to a scratch handicap. Armed with her golf clubs, a small suitcase and buckets of enthusiasm, she boarded a plane to the United States where she took up a three-month golf scholarship at the University of Miami.

"I was pretty much broke and couldn't afford to stay in the USA. I spent the next couple of years playing the Ladies European Tour and Futures Tour, financing the trips by coaching, but I never earned enough to play full time. "

"I think that's why I have such empathy with my students. I know what it's like to have nothing and to work for everything; what it's like to go two steps forward and five steps back. As the saying goes, 'I've been there and got the T-shirts'."

In 1997, De Vries visited East London on holiday, fell in love with the region and put in place a process that saw her take over the Pro Shop at East London Golf Club that same year. Two years later she joined the SAGDB.

"I realised that teaching is my calling and the South African Golf Development Board afforded me an opportunity not only to give back to golf, but to shape the future of so many children. This game offers so much more than just something to pass the time for these children."

"Yes, it gets them off the street and out of harm's way, but golf teaches them to be self-reliant, to test themselves; it teaches them social skills and although not everyone will be the next Tiger Woods, they learn that there are many jobs in the golf industry and if they work hard enough, the world is their oyster."

De Vries and Millie Zim-Dondashe, the manager of the Border Region, work with six coaches in developing golf in the area. They also have a close relationship with the South African Junior Golf Foundation. A few of their students have already graduated to the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation in George.

Ken Viljoen, the Managing Executive of the SAGDB, is delighted with the progress being made by De Vries and her team. "Michelle has been a very successful coach and her 30-plus years in the industry have given her a remarkable ability to help aspiring young players develop. All young players need someone like Michelle, whose approach to coaching drives her students to be the best they can be."

And rather than just providing a handout, De Vries does everything she can to empower her students.

"If you don't stand on your own feet, no-one else will do it for you."