Golf legend has also achieved as a family man, vintner, and… braaier
Does anyone call you by your birth name, Theodore?
Ernie Els: Not really. I’m Theodore Ernest and come from a long line of Theodore Ernests. We go under Ernie or Ernest – that’s what my grandfather did, so we all followed suit.
On a lighter note, my close friends, after a couple of drinks, start calling me Theo or Theodore. My wife, Liezl, calls me Theodore when I don’t behave or do something she doesn’t like. My daughter also. It’s kind of a warning sign that I’ve overstepped.
Where are you currently based, and how often do you visit South Africa?
We are based in Jupiter, Florida. This is where the Els Centre of Excellence is situated and where our 21-year-old son, Ben, goes to school. The kids were born in Wentworth, London, and we still have a home there. We also have a home in South Africa, and we love coming home for the December holidays.
It’s been 40 years since you won your first golf championship at the age of 14. Can you share your favourite highlights of your career?
It’s tough to do 40 years in a minute because so much has happened. I was fortunate to win quite a few tournaments around the world. The four major championships are highlights, as are the seven World Matchplay Championships at Wentworth, where we lived, so it felt like a home game. Five South African Opens, too – the first one at Houghton in 1992 set me up for a lot of international golf. Starting in Europe and playing there; playing in the US and abroad was incredible. Winning three Heineken championships in Melbourne. Winning all over the world has just been fantastic. Playing eight President’s Cups, then captaining the side in 2019. And getting inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at a very early age was both a surprise and an honour.
Apart from golf, do you have any secret hidden talents you’d like to share?
As South Africans, aren’t we all the greatest braaiers? If you ask my friend Piet Pieters or my father, they’re all the greatest braaiers. But maybe I am the greatest braaier you’ve ever seen.
What type of music do you enjoy?
I like Afrikaans music, especially Bok van Blerk’s music. I also enjoy listening to older acts, like the Rolling Stones and Cat Stevens.
Are you a petrolhead, or have you been bitten by the EV bug?
I’m an absolute petrolhead, and my wife is more of an EV supporter.
You design golf courses around the world. Talk us through the process.
It can be complicated and greatly depends on what type of land you get. If you’re in a desert area where it doesn’t rain a lot, you don’t have to worry too much about drainage. Sand is brilliant to work with – such as creating a natural dune.
We’ve been doing a lot of residential development with golf courses, so you have to work closely with the developer to get it right for the golf course and the property being developed.
What was the idea behind Ernie Els wines?
My wife, Liezl, is from Stellenbosch, and while courting her, I spent a lot of time there. Being from Germiston in Johannesburg, Stellenbosch was a new environment for me, and I loved it. A good friend of ours talked us into buying a piece of land up on the Helderberg Mountain. We purchased 75ha, which is now the home of Ernie Els wines. Our first vintage was in 2000, and it’s been an amazing experience.
You created the NPO Els For Autism Foundation for your son, Ben, who is on the autism spectrum. What has the platform achieved in terms of awareness and management of this condition?
Certain kids are born with autism. At first, as a young parent with an autistic child, you are very shocked and quite confused, but throughout his 21 years of life, we’ve managed to find our way and learnt a lot from experts in the field. Ben is the most wonderful kid you can ever meet. We are so blessed to have him.
We wanted to create the best facility for Ben and his friends to go to a purposely built centre where we have educated staff and people who can manage kids with autism. So, we created a huge facility where we can teach 300 kids in the age range of three to 21, and we’ve expanded it beyond that with an adult services centre. We’ve seen such a positive change in Ben since attending the school. He used to despise leaving the house; now he runs out to the car with his suitcase and can’t wait to go to the centre – it’s been a life-changing experience.
Your daughter Samantha made her debut in the South African women’s national rugby team in 2023. That must have been a proud moment for you and Liezl. What tips can you share with her about a career in sport?
She’s always been a sporty girl. Samantha is a real trooper, and when we relocated from London to America for Ben’s benefit, she never complained, despite having to start at a new school in a different country. When she attended the University of Stanford on the West Coast in San Francisco, she developed a great skill for contact sport and started playing rugby there. I see the passion in her, and when she got the call from Louis Koen, the SA Women’s Rugby Director, she jumped at the chance. She’s a true South African at heart – it’s in her blood. We’re very proud of her and are behind her all the way.
Exciting projects on the horizon?
We recently announced the Zimbali Lakes Project, which will contribute to a lot of growth in the Ballito area. We currently have 11 projects in places like Portugal, Cabos San Lucas, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, and Austin, Texas, on the go.
Text | Heléne Ramackers
Photography | Courtesy of Ernie Els
For more information, visit ernieels.com
