GLITZ and glamour graced the links of Humewood Golf Club yesterday as the Vodacom Business Origins of Golf tour rolled into Port Elizabeth.

The first round of the 54-hole tournament was played in perfect golfing weather yesterday, with some of the country’s leading television personalities and sportsmen teaming up with fellow amateurs and professionals.

The Pro-Am concludes today, with professionals fighting it out for top honours in the final round tomorrow.

Included in the field and adding some beauty among the beasts were Liezel van der Westhuizen, of Idols fame, and Vanessa Haywood, who featured in the hit South African-made movie District 9.

Scandal actor and former Isidingo star Emmanuel Castis was also strutting his stuff while former Springbok rugby players Breyton Paulse and Werner Greeff managed to escape yellow cards as they did battle on one of the most famous traditional golf courses in the country.

“It was fantastic to play on the beautiful Humewood Golf Course today. I did my best but I hope tomorrow I will do better,” said Castis, a 15 handicap.

Apart from playing the beautiful game, he said he was happy to be in the Friendly City to visit some of his relatives.

“My uncle owns a restaurant in the city, so whenever I’m here I make sure that I visit him,” he said.

It was not a good day for beginner Van der Westhuizen, but she hopes she will improve today.

“Despite playing badly, I had loads of fun. Everyone was patient with me because I am a beginner. I started playing golf last year and am a 36 handicap,” she said.

There are a total of 138 players contesting the Pro-Am with 72 professional and 66 amateurs.

There was great competition between fourballs, each trying to outdo the other in the birdie count.

The Vodacom Foundation has a programme called Birdies for Kids. With every birdie scored by amateurs and professionals, R500 is donated to the charity – R400 up from previous years.

The Eastern Cape leg at Humewood is one of six such tournaments that are held around the country during the winter months, including the grand finale at Oubaai Golf Estate in Southern Cape later this year. Additional reporting by Khanyi Ndabeni