NATIONAL NEWS - The revitalisation of a bankrupt clothing factory in Durban would not seem to have any obvious links to South African golfing legend Ernie Els. However, such is the scope of the four-time Major champion’s commitments these days that he can take part of the credit for the Royal Green Clothing Company now being a thriving concern.
While the South African clothing industry has been ravaged by cheap overseas imports, Royal Green makes 2 000 garments a day for the Ernie Els Collection, which is run by Global Golf .
Els launched a new distribution deal this week with Barron, who describe themselves as “the largest and most trusted corporate and promotional brand in Africa”.
Els’ involvement in his range of golf attire extends to the designs, with “The Big Easy” saying he wants the shirts to be “as comfortable when you’re swinging a golf club as when you’re drinking a beer”.
The 49-year-old is also involved in the wine industry and course design business, and is also the current President’s Cup captain, preparing for their biennial contest with the United States in Melbourne in a year’s time.
He devotes plenty of his time to the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation to assist young golfers, and the Els for Autism charity which he started in the wake of his son, Ben, being diagnosed with the condition.
And the father of two is also still playing regular top-level golf and is inside the top-30 as the prestigious South African Open heads into the weekend at Randpark Golf Club.
So how does Els juggle all these commitments?
“It’s fun and I still love the game we play. It has never felt like a job to me, whether I’m six-putting a green or being a champion 70 times around the world.
“I’ve forged some nice partnerships and friendships through golf and these other commitments are just an extension of my golf.
“I’ve forged friendships around the world but I always wanted to do something with South Africans.
“This clothing factory, Royal Green, is the perfect way to do that.
“I first met Langley Perrins of Global Golf when we spent my 21st birthday together in a foreign city when we were both young golfers trying to make it.
“I met my wife, Liezl, at a wine farm and for nearly 20 years we’ve been making wine out of Stellenbosch.
“Autism touched my family and Liezl has been the driving force of that work, she’s made it very prominent,” Els said.
The fact that The Big Easy is able to combine such a laid-back demeanour with an undiluted passion for the game is probably what makes him so popular with the public, even after all these years.
