DoS moved by progress of golf in Guyana

… Regions 3 & 4 to benefit as millions are donated for schools’ golf programme

The Director of Sport at the National Sports Commission, Steve Ninvalle, has said he is enthused by the progress golf has been making in Guyana.
Last Friday, as he attended a handing over ceremony of several million dollars’ worth of equipment designated for youth and schools’ programmes in Guyana, Ninvalle expressed delight at the rapid growth of golf in Guyana by stating, “My goal is to ensure that every Guyanese has access to sports, something that has been a challenge with COVID-19. Golf, however, is the perfect answer to restrictions, as its characteristics allow for play with little modifications. And now, with schools adopting it as a physical education subject at CXC/CAPE level, we must move quickly to support its development.
“I must say that Aleem has done a commendable job of bringing the sport to its current level, and the results that have been accomplished in a short period (are) remarkable,” he added.
“A conversation with Melissa Dow-Richardson from the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports a few years ago led to dialogue with the Ministry of Education’s Allied Arts Unit, Secondary Schools Division, and Permanent Secretary Alfred King to develop a syllabus for teaching golf to students as a PE sport elective in CXC/CAPE.
“Dr. Joaan Deo has emphasised that the goal for Guyana to compete in golf at the next Olympics starts now. This is why we are so focused on camps to find the talent that we can develop into a national team,” Ninvalle explained.
Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) has benefited from the equipment donated, as Regional Education Officer Devendra Persaud, Regional Executive Officer Jainarine Somwar, and Regional Vice Chairman Omesh Satayann, and Sports Coordinator Charles and various teachers were present at the Vreed-en-Hoop headquarters to receive their supplies.
REO Persaud has said, “Golf is one of the few fully compliant COVID sports, and as we reopen schools, our focus will be on physical education, discipline and competitiveness, all of which this sport provides. We are excited about this venture, and grateful to all those who made this possible.”
Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Golf Academy, Guy Griffith, has commented thus, “The main reason for the growth (of golf in Guyana) is the vision of the GGA to make golf an inclusive, and not exclusive, sport. The results over the past year and the sheer numbers that have responded, breaking age, cultural and religious barriers, are a testament to the hard work (put in) by our team.”
And with support now being shown by dozens of major companies, such as Assuria General Insurance; Copa Airlines; Blue Life Waters; Trophy Stall; Ansa McAl; Toolsie Persaud; Kanuku Suites & Apartments; Service Guyana HVAC; Kanuku Tours; Angel Seafood Restaurant & Bar; Sunshine Snacks; Ram & McRae; Puran Brothers; Ramchand’s Auto; Panko Steel Construction; H. Nauth & Sons; A&R Printery; Bissessar Shipping Company; CS World Cargo & Logistics; Sterling Products; Caliper Drones; PasCargo; Shafura Hussain Foundation; Gtt; New Trend Auto; Maraiko Bay Resorts; Nexgen Global Group and many others, it is evident that the sport is catching on, and is expected to grow even faster than ever in the months ahead.
Partnerships with various sporting disciplines, such as Table Tennis, Badminton, Archery and Football have fuelled interest in golf, and there are plans for a variety of competitions, such as Putting, Chipping, Long Drive and Helicopter Ball Drop, along with Foot Golf that is under way.