Papwa

This is the story of Papwa Sewgolum, who rose from humble beginnings to challenge the might of the golfing titans on an equal footing.” Papwa Sewgolum, against all odds, won the Dutch Open playing in only his second ‘white’ tournament, and a total of three times in four attempts. Then, after being allowed to play in the Natal Open, he demolished a top field but was presented with his trophy in the rain.

 At the same time, the other players watched from the clubhouse, igniting a worldwide backlash leading to South Africa being banned from the Olympics, whilst Papwa became the symbol of the anti-apartheid sport movement. Again allowed to play in the Natal Open, he beat the world number 1, Gary Player, head-to-head, only for the apartheid government, after a failed assassination attempt, to ban him from all tournaments in South Africa, and then withhold his passport to prevent him from playing abroad.

 This book is written in a popular, conversational style. It’s easily understood by those who don’t know much about golf, yet the book’s message is one of hope and perseverance, and in so doing, it creates a black golfing hero to inspire the youth.