As 2023 draws to a close, golf continues to make great strides, with the Ministry of Education Unit of the Allied Arts Priority Programme and Nexgen Golf Academy pushing to advance the sport as one of the Five Priority Areas in Regions 3, 6, 7, and 10.
Master Coach Aleem Hussain was in Region Six on Thursday to train coaches, and several senior members of the Education Department took advantage of his presence to learn the game.
In what has been a successful year for golf in Guyana, it became even better in October when the programme was rolled out in Regions 2, 4, 5, and Georgetown, thereby giving thousands of students access to golf on a weekly basis during scheduled PE classes.
According to Saeed Zameen, who heads up the Priority Programme, “The response emanating from all schools and districts in which we implemented golf has surprised me in a pleasant way.” He added, “We are on track to have golf as a sport offered in over 70 schools by the end of next term, thanks to the incredible efforts and support from Mr. Hussain and the Nexgen Golf Academy team.”
Golf has also caught the attention of the Regional Education District Officers, Head Teachers, and faculties all around the country, and challenges have been issued by various regions to determine the top schools in 2024.
Hussain, who is also president of the Guyana Golf Association and designer/builder of the Westside Golf Course in Vreed-en-hoop, which will open to the public fully in January, said, “Golf is no longer the unknown sport, inaccessible to the average Guyanese—we’ve changed that. Our mission is that every person will have access to play the game without worrying about equipment or membership fees.”
With hundreds of students set to take golf as a PE elective at CSEC in 2024, Guyana continues to lead the region in several key categories, and Hussain hopes that this will translate into success at junior international tournaments in 2024.
The Nexgen Golf Academy on Woolford Avenue is the nation’s only golf driving range and is certified as an LPGA/USGA Girls Site, which allows young women to access training, cash grants, and scholarships to top universities worldwide.
