SEIFSA’s Golf Day Finds the Human Side of Industry
A R100,000 hole-in-one is the kind of moment that can steal the show at any golf day. But at the 2026 SEIFSA Annual Golf & Padel Day, the bigger story was what happened between the swings, serves and celebrations.
Held at Randpark Club on Friday, 21 August, the event delivered a record turnout, bringing together members, industry leaders, clients and partners from across South Africa’s metals and engineering ecosystem.
With 74 fourballs spread across the Bushwillow and Firethorn courses and 35 competitors taking part in padel, the day reflected a sector increasingly looking for new ways to connect beyond traditional boardrooms.
When Business Leaves the Boardroom
For SEIFSA CEO Tafadzwa Chibanguza, the value of the event goes beyond competition.
The Golf & Padel Day created an informal environment where conversations could happen naturally — an important ingredient in an industry where relationships, collaboration and trust can influence everything from partnerships to future opportunities.
That human element is particularly relevant in a fast-changing business landscape. Professional networks are no longer built exclusively through meetings and conferences. Sometimes, they are built over a golf swing, beside a watering hole or during a padel match.
This year, SEIFSA’s affiliated associations also became more visible through sponsored watering holes and fourballs, creating opportunities to showcase their offerings while engaging directly with potential members and industry stakeholders.
Padel Brings a New Energy
The continued inclusion of padel added another layer to the event.
Now firmly established as one of South Africa’s fastest-growing social sports, padel brings a younger, more energetic feel to corporate networking. Its second consecutive appearance at the SEIFSA event suggests that traditional industry gatherings can evolve without losing their professional purpose.
Juexin Fire Engineering claimed the padel title, with Industrial Water Cooling finishing second and Howden Africa taking third.
The event also recognised the importance of atmosphere, with Industrial Water Cooling’s Iva Msolozi and Carol Figueiredo receiving the Best Vibe/Gees Award.
A R100,000 Moment
Then came the headline-grabbing sporting moment.
A player landed a hole-in-one on the SEIFSA-sponsored 17th hole of the Firethorn course, walking away with a R100,000 prize.
On the competitive side, ARMCO Superlite emerged as the overall golf winner with 107 points, while Coleus Packaging topped the Bushwillow course with 97 points.
Beyond the leaderboards, activations, refreshments and complimentary health screenings added lifestyle and wellness elements to the day.
More Than a Corporate Golf Day
What makes the event interesting is its evolution.
SEIFSA’s Golf & Padel Day is becoming less about simply hosting a corporate sporting event and more about creating a shared space for an industry to exchange ideas, build relationships and discover new possibilities.
In a sector built around engineering, manufacturing and infrastructure, the most valuable connections may sometimes happen far away from the machinery — on a golf course, across a padel net or over an unexpected conversation.
And judging by the record turnout, people are clearly making the time for it.
