THE current Road to SA Golf Challenge events promoted by Bard Santner, a fast-growing Zimbabwean financial services institution, offer a unique combination of networking opportunities, brand visibility, client entertainment, community engagement and social capital, making them an attractive option for corporates to achieve key business objectives, a local company executive behind the initiative says.
Bard Santner director in charge of wealth management Tatenda Hungwe says his company's ongoing golf tournaments widen and open new business horizons for individuals and corporates to network and leverage those relationships for ideas, investment and growth.
The tournament creates social capital; the value of relationships and networks that help people and companies achieve their goals, he said.
"The Bard Santner Race to SA Golf Challenge has become a feature of Harare’s golfing and business calendar.
“Held monthly at the Royal Harare Golf Club, this event goes beyond the fairways, serving as a dynamic platform for networking, forging relationships, celebrating clients and community engagement," Hungwe said.
"It is more than just a tournament; it is a statement of the company’s forward-thinking approach and commitment to creating value for its clients and community.
“By bridging the worlds of business and golf, Bard Santner is building a legacy that resonates far beyond the greens, positioning itself as a progressive, community-oriented institution."
Hungwe further explained: "In other words, this creates social capital, which is basically the sum of resources, actual or virtual, that accrue to individuals or companies by virtue of forging viable networks of more or less institutionalised relationships of mutual cooperation and benefit.
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“It's a rewarding by-product of interpersonal relationships and social networks."
He added: "As Bard Santner, we believe in transformational ideas, technology, and people.
“Every chief executive or manager out there knows that business runs much better and smoother when people within specific business circles know and trust one another — deals and transactions move faster and more smoothly.
“In the corporate world, strong, reliable and effective relationships and networks, most executives will agree, are the oil or grease of companies and business transactions.
“Business gets done, and gets done better, faster and more productively where social capital has accrued.
“That's why we invest in social capital in its various forms; from linking, bridging to bonding aspects."
Bard Santner is an emerging local financial institution which specialises in asset management, corporate finance, wealth management, treasury services and remittances.
It has established itself in a short space of time as a reliable business partner for high-profile executives in Zimbabwe and elsewhere.
In a bid to build a sustainable clientele base and sense of community, while also ensuring its corporate social responsibility role, Bard launched the Road to SA Golf Challenge.
The tournament was initiated in October last year.
It introduced an innovative Medal Stableford format, combining elements of stroke play and Stableford scoring to ensure fairness and inclusivity.
This unique approach enables golfers of all skills sets and levels to compete on an even playing field, fostering relationships and mutual benefit among participants.
Prizes on offer heighten competition and prestige of the tournament, making it a high-stakes game.
Winners earn all-expenses-paid trips to South Africa’s premier golfing events: the Investec SA Open in Durban and Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, a luxury resort and casino hub in the North West.
Eligibility for these exclusive rewards hinges on consistent participation and skill, with specific criteria designed to encourage sustained engagement throughout the season.
Bard aims to take its golf initiatives across the region, with South Africa providing a gateway to other countries.
Following the recent brief holiday break during the festive season, the tournament resumed on January 18 2025, with renewed energy, enthusiasm and hope among participants.
As the next round approaches on February 8, 2025, vitality, anticipation and adrenaline are rising for another day of spirited competition, networking and socialising.
Whether it is a seasoned golfer or a business professional seeking new opportunities, participants always find themselves immersed in a worthwhile experience where sport meets strategy and relationships are forged on fairways.
Hungwe noted: "This tournament is primarily Bard’s way of celebrating its high-value clients and relationships they have built.
“By bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals, the tournament reinforces the company's commitment to nurturing relationships that extend well beyond deals and financial transactions."
On corporate social responsibility, he said: "Bard's commitment to social capital extends beyond financial services and business relationships.
“Through this golf initiative, the company is contributing to the growth of golf in Zimbabwe, using sport to unite communities and social integration.
“That is why plans to launch corporate social responsibility initiatives focused on nurturing young talent, expanding access to the sport and empowering youths in the process."
Golf tournaments offer numerous benefits for corporates, including networking and building relationships, establishing new business connections, increasing brand visibility and awareness, enhancing corporate image, fostering teamwork, rewarding loyalty and entertaining clients, while supporting charity causes and empowering communities.
