Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Charles Ramson, Jr. is no stranger to golf, being himself an avid player at times when he has had less responsibilities.
However, he vowed to find time to re-engage the sport, and has promised to start playing at the Academy on a regular basis and declare it open when the official launch is scheduled.
The minister met with president of the Guyana Golf Association (GGA) Aleem Hussain on Monday to discuss various aspects of the sport and the opportunities it offers as a socially distanced activity, especially during the current COVID crisis.
According to a release from the Academy, Minister Ramson Jr., indicated that he was extremely pleased at the interest being generated by the new golf academy on Woolford Avenue, partnering with the Scouts Association of Guyana and Guyana Teachers Union since it was reaching a demographic of women, children and inner city players, persons who normally have been unable to access the sport.
“The number of new players participating in a socially distanced programme is exciting and shows that we, as Guyanese, can adapt to finding ways to live with the COVID virus, something that may be a part of our lives in the foreseeable future,” said the Minister.
“Being responsible for both Youth and Sports, it is important that the ministry find ways to support the development of the game, and the rapid growth of golf through your efforts shows that many Guyanese are interested in the sport,” he added
Over the past few years, under the influence of Hussain, the sport has seen outreach programmes developed with the University of Guyana, ATC, Queen’s College, Bishops’ and Rose’s High schools and even at the Giftland Mall, courtesy of Roy Beepat.
“Contributions to the Academy by seasoned players Colin Ming, Brian Hackett and Anwar Shaffie, along with several overseas players, the Shafura Hussain Foundation, New York (William and Aleena Knight), Maxim Mangra and many others, has allowed us to ensure that we can provide equipment and balls to kids either at a very low cost or in many cases, at no charge,” stated the GGA President.
With worldwide interest being focused on Guyana’s development of new PGA-standard courses in Mahaica, this is the time for the sport to take its place amongst traditional activities such as cricket and football.
“Our current goal is to meet a target of 3,000 new players by the end of 2021, persons who may have never touched a golf club or ball in their lives,” said Hussain.
The ultimate goal of the Guyana Golf Association and the NexGen Golf Academy is to find and mold talented players so that Guyana can compete at the future Olympic Games, Hussain said.
Anyone who has an interest in learning about the incredible opportunities that golf offers (in education and sports), should contact them at 645 0944 or Facebook NexGen Golf Academy as soon as possible, said Hussain.
