Retief Waltman

Retief Waltman (born 1938–39)[1] is a former South African professional golfer and is a Christian missionary.

Retief Waltman
Personal information
Born1938–39 (age 81–83)
Nationality South Africa
Career
StatusProfessional
Former tour(s)South African Tour
Professional wins6
Number of wins by tour
European Tour1
Sunshine Tour5
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentCUT: 1959, 1964
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipDNP

Golf career

Waltman started his career as an assistant professional Pretoria Country Club.[2] He showed promise as a teenager and, at the age of 18, beat Bobby Locke in the first round of the 1957 South African Professional Match Play Championship. His victory was referred to as "one of the greatest surprises in South African golf for several years."[2] Waltman was an unknown teenager and Locke was considered one of the best golfers in the world and would go on to win the British Open four months later.

Waltman won his first big tournament, the 1961 South African Open, by an extraordinary eight shots.[3] Two years later he would win the event again by shot over colored golfer Sewsunker Sewgolum.[4] In addition to these triumphs he won multiple other events on the South African circuit and the 1963 Dutch Open.

Missionary work

Waltman was considered a "potential superstar" but abruptly quit golf at the age of 25 after completing the 1964 Masters Tournament.[1] Waltman stated, "I wanted a purpose for my life. I was devoting my whole life to a game. Being so involved in golf limited me. Man is his own biggest enemy."[5] The golf commentator Henry Longhurst elaborated, "Gradually the sheer materialism of this form of life and the unceasing emphasis on money began to sicken him, as it must have done so many before him. The difference was that he did not threaten to give it up. He just gave it up."[5] He became a Christian missionary. As of 2006, he was still a missionary. He survived three knife attacks during his work.[1]

Trivia

Retief Goosen is named after Waltman.[1]

Professional wins

South African circuit wins (5)

European circuit win (1)

Team appearances

References
  1. Reason, Mark (6 May 2006). "Meaning of life lay in Bible, not birdies". Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  2. "A.D. Locke Beaten". The Glasgow Herald. 8 March 1957. p. 4.
  3. "South African Open, Golf Tournament". where2golf.
  4. Vlismas, Michael (2012). The Extraordinary Book of South African Golf. Penguin UK. ISBN 9780143529729.
  5. "Reason: Money is not everything, even in sport". Stuff. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
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