Stellenbosch, South Africa — Ascot Tours marked its 30th birthday in style on Tuesday, throwing the biggest party the company has seen yet.
The Chris ‘Fridge’ McAlpine Trophy touched down at De Zalze Golf Club for the very first time on South African soil, pitting a touring group of New Zealand golfers against a fired up gathering of South African golfers, golf club directors and friends of the company. “Springbok versus All Black” bragging rights were on the line, and by the end of the night, nobody in the room was sitting down.
Eighteen holes of Beerball Stableford later, the two nations were locked at just two points apart, a scoreline tight enough to keep both sides arguing about the front nine for years to come. The course was kept firing all day thanks to hole sponsors Sun International, Village & Life, Savour Coffee and George Brewery, who made sure spirits stayed high and cups stayed full between shots.
The second the last putt dropped, both teams marched straight to Vredenheim Wine Farm in their team shirts and caps, no showers, just straight into the celebration with a trophy still waiting to be decided.
Celebrations at Vredenheim Wine Farm
Grant Edkins, brother of Ascot Tours founder and CEO Scott Edkins, grabbed the microphone and ran the show for the night, milking every opportunity to rib his brother in his absence. Lica Blomerus stepped up to deliver the evening’s main address, and she did not disappoint. She thanked the sponsors, venues and travel partners behind the day, brought the entire Ascot Tours team to their feet for a thunderous round of applause, and gave a huge welcome to the New Zealand contingent and the three agencies who made the trip possible, Smith Tour Company, Elite Golf Experience and PaR NZ Golfing Holidays.
She then took the room back thirty years, sharing the story of how Scott started Ascot Tours single-handedly with nothing but a mini-van. Ascot Tours did not simply join South Africa’s golf travel industry, she reminded everyone, because we started it and there are another thirty years still to come.
Before the trophy could be settled, Mike Steyn took the floor to hand out the good, the bad and the ugly shooters, a highlight reel of the day’s best and worst golfing moments dished out shot for shot to plenty of laughter.
Grant then handed over to Tony Reynish, who told the story behind the Chris ‘Fridge’ McAlpine Trophy, a well loved New Zealand tradition making its first ever appearance on South African soil, before the scores were finally read out, 28 points to one team and 26 to the other. But golf was only half the battle. The real verdict sat waiting inside the fridge itself, where a single surviving beer would name the winner. The fridge door swung open, and there it was, a lone Steinlager.
New Zealand had won!
The room erupted as the Kiwi contingent charged the front, belted out their national anthem at full volume, then launched straight into an impromptu haka that brought the whole crowd roaring to its feet.
Once the dust settled, the night was not done yet. Graeme Smith stepped up to run a charity auction for Golfing For Change, turning up the heat one more time with four serious lots up for grabs, including a Jeroboam signed by Ernie Els and signed jerseys from both the All Blacks and the Springboks. Then local band 50 Shades of Grey took over the dance floor and kept everyone moving until the party finally wound down at around 23:30.
Judging by the noise on the night, this will not be the last time the Chris ‘Fridge’ McAlpine Trophy makes the trip south. Good golf and good company clearly travel well between South Africa and New Zealand, whichever way the fridge goes.
Scott was dearly missed on the night, and the whole Ascot Tours team is already looking back on the evening as one to cherish for a long time. Everyone who showed up, told a story, handed out a shooter, sang an anthem or danced until the lights came on played a part in making it so special. As the New Zealand travelers head off to continue their tour, taking in the Garden Route and Sun City, Ascot Tours wishes them a wonderful rest of the journey.
About Ascot Tours
Ascot Tours is a South African golf tour operator founded and led by Scott Edkins, marking 30 years in business in 2026. The company works exclusively with travel agents around the world to deliver golf touring experiences across South Africa.
