For the ninth year in succession Dan Nicholl will MC the $5 million Alfred Dunhill Links golf championship in Scotland this week.
The popular, internationally renowned prime-time talk show host and prolific MC has, this year alone, been on stage at numerous events in South Africa but also in such places as New York and the Yankee Stadium, Philadelphia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Mauritius, Berlin, Bangkok and Beijing.
But for him "by some distance the jewel in the crown" each year is being MC at the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews in Scotland.
We asked him why?
Q: What is it that is so special about the ADL?
Dan Nicholl( DN): For a start, it's the charm and the heritage of the Home of Golf which is St Andrews. The golf is very competitive but there's also a relaxed, feel good atmosphere about the week. And the camaraderie is fantastic.
Q: Expand on this camaraderie
DN: well, you might come across Ian Botham and Allan Lamb having a drink together at a pub, or Ruud Gillitt and Johan Cruyff chatting over coffee, or Ernie Els and Lee Westwood walking up to the High Street together to do a little shopping. It's just great.
Q:What are your duties during the week?
DN: Well, I host the Welcoming Party, which is a lot of fun, on the Tuesday evening where the pros are paired with the amateur celebrities. This year I'm also doing some TV work, from the the famous Jigger Inn pub right next door to the Old Course Hotel.
Q: And the main function on the Saturday night?
DN: Yes, I MC that too and run the auction. It's always a memorable evening where the entertainment is fantastic with people like Huey Lewis, Tico Torres, Andy Garcia, Ronan Keating and Bill Murray up on stage, as well as surfing legend Kelly Slater (he's a pretty talented musician and a golf fanatic who sports an impressive two handicap) and big Schalk Burger Sen (the former rugby Springbok), who sings superbly and plays his guitar which looks like a little banjo in his enormous, baseball mit hands.
Q: No doubt you've met some high profile personalities at the ADL over the years?
DN: For sure - Michael Douglas, Samuel L Jackson and Michael Phleps among them, and Hugh Grant's a regular here.
Q: Tell us about Johann Rupert (the driving force and benefactor of this prestigious European Tour event)?
DN: You know, it's staggering what Mr Rupert has done for golf not only in South Africa but all over the world. I can't think of anyone else who has contributed so much to this great game. And he's a lot of fun too.
Q: How did you get this job (MC at the Alfred Dunhill)?
DN: Well, it's again due to Johann Rupert. Nine years ago at Richard Sterne's wedding - there were two groomsmen and 13 bridesmaids! - and the photographs were taking for ever. So to kill time Mr Rupert invited a few of us over to have a drink with him and I rather cheekily said to him, could I be the MC at St Andrews? He didn't hesitate in agreeing, and I'm forever grateful to him for believing in me and giving me the chance to step onto the international stage.
Q: How did you get into being an MC and presenter, in which you have built such a successful brand?
DN: I used to work for Cape Talk Radio doing various things but 10 years ago I decided to resign and try what I'm doing now, much to my Mom's horror as she said I was making a terrible mistake! But, hey, it's gone well.
Q: Do you play golf yourself?
DN: Yes, and I love the game. I'm off a 14 handicap and sometimes I can play quite well but I'm more into the camaraderie which is so much part of golf, as well as discovering new courses around the world and having a crack at playing them.
*Born in Belfast but brought up in Zimbabwe, Nicholl has an English Literature honours degree from the University of Cape Town and is now resident in Johannesburg.
*He won the 2012 PICA Magazine Columnist of the Year award and now serves as an ambassador for the Laureus Sport For Good Foundation (the official charity partner of The Dan Nicholl Show), and works with a number of other South African charities.
*Dan is married to Dimitra, a Greek lawyer who, he says, has never lost an argument with him, and they have a beautiful baby daughter, Erin, who, Dan says, is "not allowed to talk to boys until she’s at least 40.
@dannicholl
@dunhilllinks
Independent Media