Cairns keeping it in the family

Sport
FEW professional golfers have spare time to compose music.

FEW professional golfers have spare time to compose music.

Report by Albert Marufu

However, Ryan Cairns, the local Sunshine Tour golfer not only entertains with his golf club, but with the microphone as well.

Ryan is the front runner for the forthcoming Golden Pilsner Zimbabwe Golf Open tournament, yet he has time for music.

Leading the band, Jaded Aces, which is into contemporary music, the 29 year-old musician-cum-professional golfer is becoming a hit with fans who invite his band to play at events.

“I use music to relax and have played at awards ceremonies in the past. Only recently the band played at the Compleat Golfer awards ceremony. We play contemporary music and are getting a number of bookings from the people who watch us play,” he said.

“I enjoy my golf but would not want to take it too seriously, as I am aware that there are great days as much as there are terrible days. This is when I use my music to relieve pressure. Our band is made up of four members and is based in South Africa.”

The ever smiling Cairns added that music does not distract him from his chosen profession of golf and remains resolute to compete at the American tour, the US Professional Golfers Association (PGA).

“My dream is to play in America and I hope to get sponsorship soon,” he said.

Cairns, who last year won on the Big Easy Tour, which is a rung below the Sunshine Tour before winning on the Sunshine Tour by claiming the Vodacom Origins of Golf Tour, said he had set his sights on winning this month’s Golden Pilsner Zimbabwe Golf Open tournament.

The R1,65million Golden Pilsner Zimbabwe Open will take place at Royal Harare Golf Club from April 18-21.

“Last year I finished on position 25 in this competition, but I hope to win it this year. I have done all the necessary preparations and I’m confident I will win it,” said Cairns who finished as the highest placed local after last year’s tournament.

The golfer, who currently leads the Zambezi Tour Order of Merit standings after consecutive wins at the Pre-Open Classic and the Chairman’s Cup, however admitted that winning the event will not be easy.

“There are a number of brilliant golfers coming from South Africa and they are likely to present us with a number of problems. Also the pressure of playing at home might work to our disadvantage. There is more pressure when playing at home because expectations are very high,” he said.

He added that his father Terry, also a former golfer, will coach him at the tournament as part of ensuring that he wins the tournament.

“My father Terry will be coaching me and he will also caddy for me in this tournament. I hope his knowledge of Royal Harare Golf Club will help me. He has been coaching me since the age of six and we have a good understanding of each other,” he said.

Cairns added he would cherish playing his music for the crowd at the end of the event.

“I haven’t looked at the possibility of performing after the tournament, but given a chance I would consider the offer. It would be good to perform after I win the tournament,” he said.

Cairns said that apart from his father who coaches him, he also gets a lot of help from his girlfriend Tammy Birkett who is his manager. “My girlfriend organises everything for me ranging from which tours to take and bookings as well. This puts pressure off me,” he said.

His father Terry, who carried his bag when he won his first professional tournament — The 2011 Econet Joshua Nkomo Memorial — at Royal Harare Golf Club said he is looking forward to caddying for his son.

“It is going to be his own work, but I will make sure that my club selection is right. I think his chances of winning the tournament are bright and he does not have to try too hard.

“I think my knowledge of the course will help him, as I have played on it for the past 10 years,” he said.

Related Topics