SAGDB more than just charity for Maritz

Martin Maritz wil be shipping used equipment to the SAGDB from the USA (pic: Luke Walker; Sunshine Tour)

Although Pretoria professional Martin Maritz has been based in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the United States since 1996, his heart has never left South Africa. The lanky golfer returns home every summer to campaign on the Sunshine Tour and it was his recent visit in November that inspired Maritz to throw his weight behind golf development.

"I've always been a staunch supporter of golf development." said Maritz. "I feel every professional should do his bit to support the growth of the game and give back to a sport that gives us so much."

"I already raise money for two charities - the Folds of Honour Foundation in Tulsa and the HeartFelt Project in Makapanstad in South Africa - but I felt I wanted to do more for golf development."

Maritz said all his enquiries led him to the SAGDB.

"The SAGDB really do incredible work in taking golf to the previously disadvantages areas of South Africa," said Maritz. "They have grown exponentially in the last few years, but one of their biggest problems is equipment shortage. That's how I found a way to get involved."

Maritz and his partner Jeff Jones run a Tulsa-based company called Saving Green Recycling that repurposes a vast array of recyclable materials including office document shredding and recycling programs to full truck load shipments of cardboard, plastic and aluminium.

"We also have a division called Greener Fairways that caters to all the recycling needs of the private and public golf courses, golf retail stores and driving ranges," Maritz explained. "We recycle their paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass bottles, golf balls and used clubs."

"Although we are involved with The First Tee golf development project in Tulsa, I firmly believe charity starts at home. To support the SAGDB's programme, we aim to host a charity golf tournament once a year to raise the funds to ship over one filled container full of the balls and clubs to the SAGDB. This will hopefully go a long way in alleviating their equipment shortages."

Maritz also hopes to use his position as a TaylorMade representative to encourage his fellow professionals to donate all their used or discarded clubs.

"At the start of every new season, all professionals receive new clubs," he said. "My aim is to appeal to all of the pros using TaylorMade to ship their old clubs to me in the box their new clubs arrive. That should make a great addition to our stockpile for the SAGDB."

Maritz said Bill Solomon, the owner of Vacuworx International, the world leader in vacuum lifting equipment, and also his sponsor, has shown him that a successful business man can also have a great big heart.

"I'm not a businessman as such, but golf has given me a career, both at home and in the United States and in return, I want to help grow the game at grass roots level," he said. "Supporting the SAGDB is about much more than just charity for me, though."

"The SAGDB, like The First Tee programme, starts with the basics and take their learners through several stages of development. They also teach the students the values that are an intricate part of golf, like honesty, integrity, respect, responsibility and sportsmanship and during this process the children learn self discipline, perseverance and responsibility."

"That kind of empowerment is the biggest gift one can give children who would not have had the opportunity otherwise."

"Through the Saving Green Recycling programme I have no doubt that we will grow this project and be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of hundreds of aspirant golfers in South Africa."

SADGB managing director Ken Viljoen lauded Maritz's initiative.

"We were delighted by Martin's proposal and I hope other professionals will be inspired by his initiative and follow his example so we can reach even more children," he said. "This type of support enhances the growth of the current programme and I hope Martin's peers will also embrace the opportunity to help the youth of today enter their ranks one day."