Wallie Coetsee

Background

Wallie was encouraged to take up the game of golf by his father, Ockert, a tomato farmer in Tzaneen.

Career

Upon turning professional in 1992, he struggled to make an impression on the Tour. He convinced his father to allow him three more years on the Tour, and promised that if he didn"t make it he would join him working on the family farm. He improved slightly and again begged his father for another year.

Finishing 11th in the Société Anonyme Open in 1999.

In June 2012, Wallie and his family decided to relocate to Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape where he would focus more seriously on his golf and it would also give him quality time with his family. Coetsee turned professional in 1992 and plays on the Sunshine Tour.

He has two tour victories the 1997 FNB Namibia Open and the 2014 Mopani Copper Mines Zambia Open. Sunshine Tour wins (2).

Achievements

• He played very little competitive golf as an amateur and won only a few small tournaments. The result was his maiden professional victory in the 1997 FNB Namibia Open - a win which sparked off one of his most successful years on the Tour.