GGA Nexgen Golf Academy Becomes Guyana’s First LPGA/USGA Girl’s Site

Oct 26, 2025 Sports

…Young players receive gifts from the LPGA

Kaieteur Sports – In a historic milestone for women’s sports in Guyana, Nexgen Golf Academy has been officially designated as the country’s first and only LPGA/USGA Girl’s Site.

GGA Nexgen Golf Academy Becomes Guyana’s First LPGA/USGA Girl’s Site

Site Director Philip Haynes presents ADOS Melissa Dow-Richardson with LPGA Welcome package.

This prestigious recognition marks a major step forward in the development of golf for young women, empowering them to use the sport as a platform to build courage, integrity, leadership, and lifelong opportunities — including pathways to college scholarships and even careers on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.

Assistant Director of Sports, Ms. Dow-Richardson, praised the rapid progress of the initiative, stating: “It pleases me to see the growth of this golf programme in such a short time, especially given that there was virtually no foundation to start with. To see the expansion across regions in Guyana — and more importantly, that over 60% of our 20,000+ new players are female — is astounding. I am proud to recognize the efforts of everyone involved and must give special credit to Mr. Hussain for his exceptional dedication and contributions.”

Since 2023, the Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and Nexgen Golf Academy have collaborated with several international organizations to expand and promote the sport locally, making golf one of the fastest-growing activities among youth in Guyana. The launch featured students from Westminster Secondary School, Diamond Secondary and Westside High School along with fashion designer Ms. Sonia Noel and One Communications Ms. Andrea King.

ADOS Melissa Dow-Richardson with National Junior Player Hema Devi Lall (Westminster Secondary)

According to GGA President, Aleem Hussain, “A chance conversation with Assistant Director of Sports, Melissa Dow-Richardson, in 2019 — when she informed me that golf was an elective for PE in schools — was the catalyst for this amazing program we’ve developed to date.”

Hussain expressed gratitude to the LPGA for welcoming Nexgen Golf Academy into its global family, Regional Director Cherise Irving’s Academy, local Site Director Philip Haynes, and acknowledged the several women who helped make the achievement possible — Ms. Dow-Richardson, the late Shafura BaghKhan-Hussain, Aleena Knight, Saleema Jack, and Azeema Budhram.

He also extended appreciation to the sponsors and supporters whose continued partnership made this accomplishment possible, including: Guyana Tourism Authority, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Ministry of Education, Sterling Products Ltd., Shangri-La Gardens, GNIC, Toolsie Persaud Ltd, Trophy Stall, Guyana Beverages Inc., Praetorian Executive Security Services, Comfort Sleep, Fixit Hardware Depot, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre Centre, Monnaf Arjune Construction, ER Small Engines, Pegasus Hotel and Suites, TriStone Auto, Sunshine Snacks, Darthan Investment Investments, ExxonMobil Guyana, Puran Bros, Roger Jiwanram, Steve Mohitram, Kevon Jawahir , Bill Knight, and Al Junior Wilson.

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GGA/Nexgen Golf Academy, Guyana Golf, LPGA/USGA Girl’s Site

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