Year-end review with GGA and NexGen Golf Academy President, Aleem Hussain
By Timothy Jaikarran
2020 was probably the strangest year for Guyana and the world, and sports struggled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and our elections’ confusion. Yet, seemingly, one sports discipline has thrived during the worst year in recent history, and that sport is the game of Golf. 
The Guyana Golf Association and NexGen Golf Academy continued to push the envelope when it came to innovative ways to increase public awareness of the sport, seizing upon the opportunity that permitted golf, a socially distanced sport, to flourish under tough conditions.
When asked about the year in retrospect, President of the GGA, Aleem Hussain, said it was phenomenal – a word not used by any of the other heads of sporting organisations in Guyana.
“Despite the challenges faced in 2020, we were able to do things that were planned, and exceeded our goals set for the year. And it will only get better in 2021,” Hussain disclosed.
Of course we wanted to know what to expect, and posed the question; to which he rattled off a list of plans and goals.
“Guyana will be home to no less than 5 golf courses in the next few years, and will become a golf tourism destination, one of the highest sports tourism revenue generators.
“Maraiko Bay Golf & Country Club in Mahaica is expected to lead the way and be the first full length 18-hole PGA-standard golf course in the region (7,800-yard course is being built).
Additional courses are planned for Soesdyke, Linden, Essequibo and West Coast Demerara regions, and will be available for play as early as August 2021.
“Additionally, after years of pushing for golf to be an official sport on the CSEC/CAPE syllabus, we are now starting to teach in 8 pilot secondary schools – Georgetown, Berbice, Essequibo, Linden and East Coast – a programme brought to life by the hard work of Nicholas Fraser, head of the Allied Arts Division of the Ministry of Education and Al Junior Wilson, a Physical Education teacher on the East Coast.
“This project will expand in 2021, and we expect that 6,000 students will be exposed to the game in a single year,” Hussain explained.
The NexGen Golf Academy is expected to improve its facilities with a putting green, sand bunkers, and short game practice area ready by early 2021, and continues to be the catalyst for development of new players due to its central location in Georgetown.
Hussain said there were no plans to increase fees for players (as low as G$500/hour) and more teaching professionals will be added to support the growth.
“When you consider that we have over 450 new players in less than 6 months, the majority of which are women, one has to be extremely happy with our current position,” he said.
The Guyana Golf Association was formed in February 2020 and has led the way in promoting the sport as a healthy, COVID-compliant activity for all ages. But, more importantly, it has brought a new energy and direction to the use of sports as a fundraising avenue for a variety of charities and organisations, from cancer awareness to orphans.
The GGA president feels there is still work to be done, but he is extremely grateful to the golfing community and his extraordinarily large list of supporters who are always ready to help with just a phone call.
What big plans can be expected in 2021? NexGen Golf Academy recently signed a major marketing deal with Copa Airlines, the region’s largest and one of the largest airlines in the world, to brand and promote the sport in Guyana, especially to women and children.
This will take the form of tournaments, contests and giveaways throughout the year, with the first promotion expected to be a Hole-in-One Challenge that will give the winner a round-trip ticket to any destination Copa Airlines flies (restrictions do apply).
Hussain thanks the sponsors, players and staff who have worked hard to fulfill the aggressive goals in 2020, and promises that 2021 would bring much more excitement, fun and players to the sport than ever before.
“The attention that the sport attracts worldwide allows us to plan for events and tournaments that, if televised, can help to market Guyana, its opportunities and resources to an audience that spends the most in terms of travel. So, it will boost tourism in ways beyond our imagination,” he said.
For more information on trying the sport, signing up for lessons, or hosting an event at the Academy, contact them on Facebook or call 645-0944.
