Golf
SPORTS MINISTER, DARE, TEES OFF GOLF TOURNEY MARKING NIGERIA’S 59TH INDEPENDENT ANNIVERSARY
Nigeria’s sports ministry under Sunday Dare has pledged to extend support to golf.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development reiterated this commitment on Saturday at the ceremonial Tee-off of the 59th Independence ceremony of the IBB International Golf Club in Abuja.
As the Grand Patron of the club, President Muhammadu, represented by the Minister performed the tee-off, and made this assertion at the IBB International Golf Course Abuja.
Sunday Dare, in a goodwill message on behalf of the president, stated that the leadership of the country has progressed within these 59 years of Independence.
He said this current leadership is concerned with building structures for the development of the country and that the Administration is interested in sports development in a way that goes beyond sporting activities.
He said the Ministry has been collaborating and exploring ways to strengthen some of these supports. He also stressed that he is aware of that golf needs funding like other sports.
The Minister disclosed that he has a novel initiative that includes “adopt an athlete, adoption a sport, adopt a pitch for stadium upgrade, and adopt a sport centre” that are all geared towards encouraging private sector participation in sports.
The minister confirmed that he is already soliciting support from the Federal Capital territory to also add the golf course under the ambit of its Ministry.
Earlier, the Captain of the Golf club, Shola Awoyungbo briefed the Minister on the effort the club has made to bring back the restore the glory of the golf course. He said they have adopted the Public, Private Partnership such that members of the public can have access to the course.
Speaking further, Awoyungbo gave a picture of the Golf club as having a natural environment that the United Nations (UN) has come to survey to ascertain the kind of animals that will be suitable for the environment, nevertheless ecological problem has remained the biggest challenge confronting the club.
The inaugural edition of the Nigeria Maritime Golf Challenge will tee off on Thursday at the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Course, bringing together 81 golfers from across the country in celebration of World Maritime Day.
Organised by QUBES LLC, the one-day tournament is designed to commemorate the annual global observance on September 25 under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.”
Chief Executive Officer of QUBES LLC, Lanre Bayewu, told journalists ahead of the event that the competition aims to showcase Nigeria’s maritime industry through sport while fostering greater networking opportunities within the sector.
“The tournament structure accommodates golfers of various skill levels and ensures broad participation from both maritime industry professionals and the wider golfing community,” Bayewu said.
The championship will feature seven competitive categories, including Longest Drive, Nearest Pin (male and female), Female Winners, Veterans, General Category Winner Net, Maritime Category Winner, and Overall Best Gross. Winners will go home with trophies and cash prizes.
Top executives and senior management of Nigeria’s leading maritime agencies, including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, are expected to attend as special guests.
According to Bayewu, the event represents a strategic initiative to project the Nigerian maritime industry onto both global and sporting stages, while also strengthening professional relationships across the community.
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Tiger Woods announced Friday that he underwent surgery to repair a nerve impingement in his lower back.
Woods, 48, has not played competitive golf since missing the cut at the Open Championship in July.
“The surgery went smoothly, and I’m hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season,” the 15-time major champion wrote in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.”
Per Woods, Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Fla. performed the surgery.
Woods made his first start of the season in February at the Genesis Invitational, his foundation’s tournament, but had to withdraw early in his second round due to illness.
Woods made the cut at the Masters — for a record-breaking 24th straight start — but finished last among the 60 golfers who played the weekend. Then came missed cuts at the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open, where he never shot a round of par or better.
-Reuters
Golf and Country Club, Africa’s most prestigious golf destination is taking the golf in Nigeria to a higher level by rolling out the IBB Golf Classic, a new premium tournament.
In a show of commitment to promoting the sport of golf and fostering community engagement, the Executive Committee of the IBB Golf Club paid a special visit to General Ibrahim Babangida, former Nigerian President and Life Patron of the Club.
General Ibrahim Babangida applauded the superb management of IBB Golf Club, the relentless pursuit of golfing excellence and its demonstrable commitment to boosting Nigeria’s profile through golf.
During the visit, the Exco members pledged to host the prestigious Ibb Golf Tournament Classic, marking a significant step in the club’s efforts to elevate the profile of golf in the region.
The visit was led by the President of the Golf Club, Ibrahim Babayo, Vice Captain Dr. James Agbonhese, and the female Captain Dame Julie Donli.
The Exco members expressed their dedication to organizing the IBB Golf Classic, a world-class golf tournament that would foster community comradeship and attract participants and spectators from far and wide.
The Club Captain Ibrahim Babayo emphasized the club’s determination to showcase the talent and passion for golf within the region. He commended General Ibrahim Babangida for his visionary leadership, strategic thinking and nationalistic foresight in establishing the IBB Golf Club in 1987.
IBB International Golf and Country Club course is an 18-hole course covering about 101 Hectares (1,000,740m2) of land, located at the choice Aso drive area of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.
Within the course is a driving range, putting green and practice bunkers with a handful of professional golfers and trainers at the service of the members.
The EXCO pledged to uphold the high standards of the Club and stated that: “At IBB International Golf and Country Club, we take pride in providing the luxury and ambiance deserving of our distinguished members. We are also determined to take the game of golf to the grassroots so the game is accessible to more Nigerians.”
General Ibrahim Babangida commended the IBB Golf Club for its proactive approach to promoting golf and expressed his support for the upcoming tournament. He emphasized the positive impact of such events on the local community, stating, “The IBB Golf Tournament Classic will not only elevate the status of the sport in our region but also contribute to the overall growth and development of our community.”
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