The Nexgen Golf Academy yesterday hosted 30 students from Rosignol Secondary School to prepare them for their historic venture in becoming part of the first group of learners to take golf as a PE (Physical Education) elective at CSEC examinations this year.
The students, accompanied by teachers, Rameshwari Dharamdat and Kevon Jawahir, spent 4 hours going through driving, chipping and putting drills before engaging in a fierce chipping and putting competition that produced the following results after multiple playoffs to determine a winner.
In the boys’ category of the Chipping competition, 1st place went to Akadian Andrews, while Veer Farhad took 2nd place. For the girls, Alecia Fraser came out on top with 2nd place going to Kayla Joseph. In the Putting competition, Kieanna Mc Almont came first followed by Odel Fordyce.
Members of the media were on hand to report on this activity that has been a part of the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit program since January 2021.
President of the Nexgen Golf Academy, Aleem Hussain, and Coach Al Wilson took the time to work with each student individually and ensured that each one had the opportunity to hit dozens of practice balls before the competition.
Jawahir spoke about the feeling he had when first invited to participate in the program by Administrator, Lorraine Barker-King and Physical Education Officer, Kurt Braithwaite, both of the Allied Arts Unit. “I never imagined that I would be hooked on a game so quickly and immediately wanted to ensure that my school would be an active participant. With the response demonstrated here today, it is almost certain that this will be a main PE activity in our school and at CSEC level for many years to come.”
Under the collaboration between Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit and Nexgen Golf Academy, the sport has sparked the keen interest of thousands of students and their families in just over a year, who have taken full advantage of its Covid-19-compliant status.
According to Barker-King, “The unique teaching methods of Mr. Hussain guarantees that anyone can learn to hit the ball properly in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea!” While Braithwaite added, “This has been demonstrated time and time again to the hundreds of new players who flock to the sport each time we do an outreach.”
According to estimates, the number of learners who will select golf as their CSEC examination PE elective this year will exceed expectations and that number is expected to be in the thousands next year as more secondary schools join the program. Currently, 82 schools are participating and 28 more from Georgetown district are set to come on board in March.
The government has allocated extraordinary resources to sport and education in the 2022 budget and with emphasis on new golf courses such as Maraiko Bay Resorts and Ashmin’s Fun Park and other golf facilities, it is almost certain that Guyana will become a golf destination in the near future.
For more information on how you can learn the game or sharpen your skills, contact the Nexgen Golf Academy via Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp 645-0944 or visit them at the Scouts Association Ground on Woolford Avenue, Non Pareil Park, Georgetown.
