Nigeria Content Online

The future looks
bright for golf in Nigeria going by the performance of young golfers,
who took part in the Children’s Clinic and Competition of the ongoing
Nigeria Cup Golf Tournament at the Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos.

The annual event
put together by the golf section of the recreation club, came up on
Saturday and had no fewer than 50 kids in attendance.

The golf clinic and
tournament is part of a weeklong programme of events leading up to
Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations on October 1.

The children
sauntered in as early as noon at the driving range of the all-green
18-hole course to practise their swings before the commencement of the
tournament under the guidance of top Nigerian golfer, Jacob Omoruah,
who led the kids through the rudiments of the game.

Chief executive
officer of the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria (PGAN),
Olusola Lawson, who was at the event accompanied by his kids,
nine-year-old Anjola and six-year-old Bolu, said he was happy to see
more children turning up for the tournament. He was excited to see
children six years-old and below playing three holes, while those in
the age 8-13 years bracket tried their hands on six holes.

Children between the age of 14 and 18 were also not left out as they showed their golfing skills over nine holes.

Omoruah, whose son also took part in the tournament, was equally impressed by the turnout of kids at the event.

Getting better and better

“The tournament is
getting better by the year and I am happy that the exercise is being
taken seriously by respective Nigeria Cup organisers,” said Omoruah,
who was also full of praises for Ebi Pinnick, a club member, who
initiated the exercise a couple of years back.

“I have to laud Ebi
Pinnick because he is the brain behind this and thank God that all the
captains that we have had took up the brilliant idea and I can tell you
that it is flourishing.”

He added that the tournament has yielded positive results.

“We have gotten
tremendous success from this exercise. Players like Tokunbo Pedro, Paul
and Mathew Coker and Adegboyega Toriola are product of this competition
and doing well for themselves in and outside the country. As we talk
Tokunbo is in the United States playing,” he said.

Chairman of the
Nigeria Cup Organising Committee, Frank Gboneme, said he was happy to
see a large assemblage of would-be Tiger Woods.

“We would not stop this because the future of the game is in the youth,” said Gboneme.

Winners in all the
age brackets also went home with impressive gifts given out at an
elaborate prize-giving ceremony later in the evening.

Today, caddies will
take to the golf course as the week-long competition enters the second
day with no fewer than 50 caddies playing 18 holes on the par 71.

The Nigeria Cup which is now in its 14th year, has served as a
breeding ground for future stars. This year’s edition is backed by
notable brands in the country, including UBA, Diamond Bank, Oando
Petroleum and Nigeria Breweries, makers of Heineken in Nigeria.