The Ben and Solly Show in King William’s Town

Solly and Ben Jonas delivered a family one-two at the King William's Town club championships

Ben Jonas may be a well-known figure in Eastern Cape golf circles, but his tenure as the best golfer in his house is starting to look shaky. The South African Golf Development Board coach was pushed by his son all the way in the recent King Williams Town Club Championships.

“He shot a first round of 69, and second round 76 to finish just a shot behind me,” said Ben on his son Solly's performance. Jonas Senior matched Solly’s first round 69 but went one better in the final round to win his ninth Clubs Championships.

“It was touch and go,” explained Ben. “We were even through 15 in the second round, but he dropped a shot at 16 and I managed to hold on for the win. The way he is playing, though, that might have been the last time.”

Solly admitted Ben’s experience forced his hand down the home stretch.

“I started thinking I could win,” the 17-year-old explained. “I made a stupid mistake at the 16th and gave him the edge. My dad’s experience carried him through. I was happy for him to win, but he will have to fight me for number 10 next year.”

Sports have always been a shared bond between father and son. Fathers have often taught their sons how to catch a rugby ball or swing a club and it isn’t surprising that many sons have followed their fathers into professional sports. But father and son relationships in sport can be tricky.

“I guess there are some fathers who tasted success and want their sons to follow in their footsteps and there are others, who failed in their youth and want to live through their children,” said Ben. “That puts a lot of strain on the relationship. I never pressured Solly to take up golf but lucky for me, he took it up six years ago; lucky for me, because it gave us a reason to spend time together.

“I’m the fortunate one because he picked a sport I happened to be good at and could teach him.”

Solly didn’t warm to golf until he turned 11.

“I used to hack around the yard at home with my dad’s clubs, but I thought golf was an old man’s sport,” explained Solly, a grade 10 learner at Tembo Labuntu High School. “It was only when my dad became the SAGDB coach for the Border region in 2002, that I changed my mind.

“I used to tag along to the coaching sessions. There were loads of kids my age learning to play golf and they loved it. I enrolled in 2004 and I haven’t looked back.

“It’s really a great programme, because it teaches the basics of golf and it teaches the values of the game like honesty, integrity, sportsmanship and patience.... a lot of patience.”

Under Ben’s guidance and coaching expertise, Solly has grown into a competent golfer.

The four-handicapper recently won three junior competitions held at Queenstown, Westbank and Gonubie Golf Clubs and has caught the attention of the Border Amateur Golf Union.

“A lot of my father’s former students have advanced to the SA Junior Golf Foundation,” said Solly. “My goal this year is to qualify for the U-18 interprovincial side.”

Like most fathers and sons, the Jonas duo get along on the golf course, but away from the fairways, Ben admitted they butt heads regularly.

“By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong,” he said. “My dad was set on me getting an education, but I followed my own head and it took me years to realise he was right all along. Now Solly wants to play pro golf. I won’t stand in his way, but I am adamant that he has to further his education.”

Although Solly has his heart set on taking golf to the next level, he does admit that his father might have a point.

“A couple of years ago my dad started the Ben Jonas Foundation for kids that have to leave the SAGBD’s programme when they turn 18,” he explained. “One of the guys in the Foundation, Odwa Ngwane, is a great golfer. He could easily have turned pro, but he got five distinctions in matric and decided to study first. He is doing a B.Com at Rhodes University now. I guess I have to think about that, too. I’m more technically inclined, so I might do a course in electricity or something at the Technical College. But then I’ll definitely go back to golf.”

And it’s not only education that has the Jonas duo butting heads.

“I cheer for guys like Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, but Solly roots for the young punks,” said Ben. “He goes for guys like Rory McIlroy, Ryo Ishikawa and Camillio Villegas and Anthony Kim. You know, power over skill. But he is young, he will learn.”

As dads go, Solly has this last word. “I never had a chance to choose the man to be my dad, but I thank my lucky stars for the taste my mom had.”