Latest update November 29th, 2024 1:00 AM
The Rise of a Sports Industry
The Guyana Golf Association welcomes the announcement of the new PGA-standard golf course, one of two that is scheduled to be built in the Maraiko Bay megaresort in Mahaica.
Aleem Hussain
“This will put Guyana in the enviable position of having two world class designed golf courses that will host international competitions and provide local and expats with top quality facilities to play on,” said Aleem Hussain, President of the Guyana Golf Association.
To put things in context, Saudi Arabia is spending over US$1 BILLION to construct 13 golf courses …in the desert! The revenues generated from golf tourism and local play is far more than traditional tourism and with more than 58 million golfers close by in the USA, Guyana must take its rightful place as a contender for that segment of business.
“The television broadcast rights and advertising opportunities for a developing country are amongst some of the interesting factors that golf will bring to Guyana,” according to Hussain. “We will be able to showcase our natural resources, business and investment opportunities, and eco-tourism beauty to millions of viewers who tune in to watch tournaments.”
The Maraiko Bay Golf & Country Club will set the standard for other developers and ensure that Guyana is recognized as a top golf destination in the region. Smaller countries such as Barbados and Trinidad have a combined 13 golf courses and Guyana, despite its size for many years has had only a small 9-hole course.
Over the past three years, golf has increased in visibility and popularity and the Guyana Golf Association has been the driving force for the development of the sport, focusing on new players (more than 300 new players, mostly women and children) have taken up the game at the Nexgen Golf Academy & Driving Range on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown in the past two months.
Partnerships with the Scouts Association of Guyana and the Guyana Teachers Union, along with the planned introduction of the sport to the schools around the country have helped to drive its rise in popularity. The ultimate goal is the formation of an Olympic team to represent Guyana.
Currently, the Academy is offering free training camps to students ages 4-15 (sponsored by Guyana Beverages, Nand Persaud, CIMGRO, New Trend Auto, Assuria General, AR Printery) and low cost sessions for all persons with weekday specials that include free breakfast or lunch with minimum one hour play.
For more information: call 645 0944 or visit their Facebook page Nexgen Golf Academy.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Fastest growing economy and an empty stadium
…Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- It’s a classic Guyanese tale, really. You live in the fastest growing economy in the... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
