This Spring, Wimberley golfers and tennis players linked hands with the Mulanje Sports Club in Malawi, Africa to transfer equipment for new sports leagues.
The request for golf clubs, tennis racquets and gear came from Wimberley resident Jordan Scofield Price who owns the safari company, MySafari. org. Price, who owns a 25-acre farm in Malawi, lived in Lesotho and Malawi and has explored 14 other countries on the African continent. In 2017, Malawi’s Ambassador to the U. S. asked him to serve Malawi as Honorary Consul for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Both organizations approached the challenge with vigor,” said Price.
Patrick Mele and John Poe of the Woodcreek Men’s Golf Association reached out to their members to gauge their interest in donating golf clubs and other equipment.
“The response was overwhelming,” said Mele, who toured Malawi with his wife Maureen in 2023 on one of Price’s safaris.
With the help of members and the pro at Double J Golf Ranch Club, the association was able to piece together four complete sets of golf clubs, as well as bags, golf shoes and new golf balls.
“If Jordan had had the capacity to take over more than four sets, we would have been able to provide twice that,” said Mele. “We have a waiting list of golfers who want to donate more equipment when it can be transported.”
The Wimberley Community Tennis Association was also approached. “I met Jordan through my husband, Mario, who works in the Limestone Terrace Vineyard,” said Amanda Perez, who teaches tennis and plays regularly.
“During Jordan’s visits to the tasting room he told Mario many exciting and heartfelt stories of the African safaris that he leads. He had an idea to help the Malawians establish tennis programs at two different tea estates. Jordan asked if I could help gather equipment to help start the programs. I reached out to our amazing Wimberley Community Tennis Association and they collected 18 lightly-used tennis racquets, 200 tennis balls, clothes and bags.”
Jordan also asked Perez if she could gather a group to help teach the Malawis how to play. She agreed.
“I’m looking forward to traveling to Malawi in 2026 with several tennis friends to teach and play at the club.”
Malawi is one of the poorest countries on earth. Urgently lacking many basic necessities, such as clean water, healthcare and food security, 85 percent of the country is engaged in agriculture and they are particularly known for growing tea.
“I’m just thrilled with Wimberley’s thoughtfulness,” said Price. “Sports equipment rarely makes its way to Malawi and when we presented the golf and tennis equipment to the Mulanje Sports Club in April, they were thrilled. Everything will be cherished.”
Wimberley photographer Kara Buse, who joined the tour as the official photographer, documented the handover.
Through his extensive travels in rural Africa, Price learned that Dr. Livingstone, of “Dr. Livingstone, I presume” fame, was Scottish. Livingstone’s African adventures inspired a wave of hardy Scots to set off and carve farms out of the untamed wilds of Africa.
According to Price, “The former Scots, who missed the comforts of home, built golf courses on their remote farms, and followed them with tennis courts. Today, nearly all the family- owned farms have disappeared, but remarkably, the tennis courts and a few golf courses remain.”
Members of the Wimberley Community Tennis Association and local tennis and pickleball players will be traveling to Malawi on a Tennis Safari, led by Price, in October 2026. Not only will they see Africa’s stunning wildlife, they will also provide mentorship and coaching to young athletes at the Mulanje Sports Club. Their participation in the sports diplomacy mission will ensure that more kids in Malawi have the chance to develop their skills and passion for the game.
