* This holiday season, the Cape Argus in partnership with Cape Town Tourism is introducing some of the fascinating characters of tourism every week, in their own voices.
‘Ozzie’ Osman is a fortunate man. As owner and guide at Ozzies Golf Guide he gets to combine his passion with his career and even gets to play golf on the job.
This is his story...
I am Ebrahim Osman. Everyone knows me as Ozzie. I've always had a love for the game of golf, and it was while I was on the committee at Rondebosch Golf Club that I noticed something: hotels needed someone to provide their guests with the opportunity to have a round or two while visiting.
I know all the managers at golf courses around Cape Town, so I set up tee times, transportation and equipment and offer my guests the whole golfing experience. I have what I call my “emergency kit”, which contains everything from snacks to sunscreen.
What I love about golf is that it is healthy and social – and I like to say that everything tastes nice after a hot day in the sun.
Cape Town’s golf courses have slightly different customs compared with international ones in terms of dress codes or requirements on the courses, so I explain that to guests, as well as telling them about all the attractions Cape Town has to offer.
I am extremely busy during the holiday season, which lasts until March, but in some European countries like Germany, their entire golf season only lasts about three months.
Here in Cape Town you can play all year round, so the international guests take advantage of our good weather. I work every day in season; my wife calls me a “golf salesman”.
There are so many courses around Cape Town that I can find space for guests, even at the last minute. I don’t just drop guests off and pick them up.
The mountain isn’t going to talk to them, the blue sky isn’t going to talk to them – I talk to them, so I stick around, maybe play a round with them and chat. I have built up a big selection of clubs and all the equipment my guests may need.
Many are returning visitors, so I get to know their preferences. Then you get the businessman or woman here for five days and he or she wants to sneak in a round – that’s when their hotel calls me up.
I may only get a call the night before to set up a round for as many as eight people for the following day, but I still manage to do that. You have to provide a service with class, so the details all count: punctuality is everything, I am never late.
We get to know each other as a golfing community. Out there on the greens we chat about our personal experiences and we become friends – so much so that I have invited guests to my house on occasion, but my wife hates that.
My business has been growing, and I now have two guys working for me. They are passionate about what they do – it’s all about the passion.
I have made sure that my guys actually experience attractions like Table Mountain so that they can be authentic when they tell visitors about those things.
The guests are like family to me; out there on the course, you can get away with saying all sorts of things to each other… All we need while playing is a few highlights to create lifelong memories. It’s a lekker golfing experience.
Cape Argus