All set for President’s Cup golf tourney

By Avenash Ramzan

All systems are in place for this weekend’s inaugural President’s Cup golf tournament, set for Sunday at the Lusignan Golf Course, East Coast Demerara.
This was the assurance given by president of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC), Jerome Khan, who, along with Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth Haralsingh, updated media operatives yesterday on the preparations for the competition.
With respect to ground preparation, Khan said the LGC has been working assiduously to get the course in top shape ever since the government announced its intention to host the tournament.

“All the roughs are cut, the fairways are cut, the greens are being soaked every night to make sure the dry season does not affect the putting green. So in terms of the ground preparation, we have that under control,” Khan asserted.
Apart from the playing area and club house, the environs have also received a facelift.
The LGC boss said approximately 40 golfers have already signed up for the tourney, while the club has seen a rise in its membership ever since the competition was launched.
“We have received a lot of enquiries from the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, the UK and lots of local players. So there is a keen interest in golf, and perhaps it’s a direct function of the involvement of the Guyana Tourism Authority, and I want to commend them for that,” Khan related.
Khan, who is also a golfer, indicated that the tournament can only grow from strength to strength, since persons in the diaspora have already signaled their intentions to compete in next year’s competition.
The LGC top brass also issued an invitation to the general public to witness the event. He assured patrons that there will be adequate security and parking.
Haralsingh posited that the competition is geared at promoting sport tourism, and marketing Guyana as the ultimate tourist destination.
He said the response from golfers at the local, regional and international level has been encouraging, and can only envisage the tournament growing in magnitude over the coming years. Haralsingh revealed that already several private investors have indicated their interest in constructing golf courses in Guyana, which will act as center pieces for attracting even more tourists.
At the official launch of the competition last month, Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali said this initiative can be used as a platform to market the country as a golfing destination, on par with other Caribbean destinations like Barbados.
“This will form part of our re-Discover Home campaign, and we are working closely with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to also bring International 20/ 20 cricket in Guyana. Sports tourism is something we are working on aggressively, we have the land space, environment, improved air transportation,” he said at the launch.
The Lusignan Golf Course is a nine whole, par 70 course, but the competition will be 18 holes Strokeplay, with tee off being at 09: 30 hours. It is expected that president Donald Ramotar will officially declare the tournament open.
Golfers still interested in participating can contact the club on 220-5660 to register for the event. The registration fee is Gy$ 4,000.