GGA, MoE host inaugural National Junior Golf Championships from August 10
The Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) are collaborating to host the inaugural DDL Savannah Milk Guyana Regional and National Junior Golf Championships, commencing on August 10.
Winners of the regional competitions will travel to Georgetown to participate in the National Junior Golf Championship, which will be held on August 19 at the Nexgen Golf Academy, located at the Scout Association Ground on Woolford Avenue.
According to Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain, “The Ministry of Education granted permission to the Guyana Golf Association to host this inaugural golf event, and notified all Regional Education Heads and Head Teachers to inform teachers and students.
“This is a continuation of the activities which the Ministry of Education, through the Unit of Allied Arts, has collaborated with the Guyana Golf Association to implement golf, not just at the CSEC level, but with the intent to introduce the sport to all levels of interested secondary school learners in the months ahead.”
No entrance fee is being charged, and the contest will feature players in various age and skill categories: 10-13, 14-17 and 18-22. Prizes will be offered to those placing 1-5 in either the male or female category in every division. Regional competitions will be hosted at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary ground on August 10; Westside Golf Course in Vreed-en-Hoop on August 11; Nexgen Golf Academy in Georgetown on August 12; Blairmont Estate Ground on August 11; and Albion Sports Complex on August 11.
GGA President Aleem Hussain has said, “The first-ever National Junior Chip, Putt and Drive Competition has been made possible through the efforts of the GGA in just two years. (This is) an amazing fact, considering that the sport had been in existence in Guyana for over 50 years but was never made accessible to the average Guyanese. The national team that will represent Guyana in the future will be selected from the top players drawn from each region, and they will receive free training and coaching from the best coaches in Guyana, Barbados, Texas, and Orlando Florida under a range of partnership agreements that have been established by the Guyana Golf Association.”
Nicholas Fraser, Head of the Unit of Allied Arts, has said, “The Ministry of Education is extremely pleased with the collaboration between the Unit of Allied Arts, Nexgen Golf Academy and the Guyana Golf Association, which began in 2021, leading to over 400 learners taking Golf as a PE elective at the CSEC examinations. 155 PE Teachers have been trained to teach golf in 8/10 Regions around the country, and millions of dollars of equipment and balls (have been) distributed to various schools. This effectively dovetails with the MoE’s drive to ensure that all learners leave the school system having engaged in a sport.”
Registration for the tournament can be done at the various Education Departments in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6; or with the official GGA-affiliated Golf Clubs in Berbice, Essequibo, Rosignol, Georgetown, Leonora and Bladen Hall, by calling 706-5965 or Whatsapp to 645-0944.