Hardship: Enugu Sports Club urges Nigerians to embrace golf game

The Enugu Sports Club has urged Nigerians to embrace golf game for their mental abilities and development and cushion the effects of the current economic hardship.

Mr Augustine Onah, the Captain of the Golf Section of Enugu Sports Club, made the call during the event titled “Captain’s Valedictory Eclectic Invitational Golf Tournament” organised in his honour on Sunday in Enugu.

He said that golf game had benefit of challenging ones mental capacity, physical ability and coordination as well as molding participant’s character.

According to him, golf is the most misunderstood game as it is often seen as elite game which is not but teaches those engaged in it how to be patient and mold their character.

The captain said the valedictory game was organised by him, members of the section and other sponsors as a way of thanking members of the section for their support for the past two years he had been captain.

“It is organised in a very special format and on March 17, my two year tenure will be over. It is one year renewable and this is my second tenure. I am happy that I served and gave in my best.

“Aside our members, we have about 30 golfers from Asaba, 20 each from Aba and Abakaliki respectively, 15 from Owerri and others from Calabar because it is an invitational competition.

“Winners from the tournament will go home with different gifts including trophies,” Onah said.

He appealed for Enugu State Government’s assistance to develop and upgrade the club’s golf facilities to promote golf game in the state.

Also, the Secretary of the Golf Section, Dr Humphrey Obiefule, disclosed that it was the first time they were having eclectic competition in the golf section, saying it was introduced by Onah.

On how golf game is played, Obiefule explained that a standard golf course had 18 holes which every player must finish in a tournament, adding that players with lesser score emerged winner after the game

“It has three to four paired players in a set and for you to participate in the game, you must have an interest and be a member of the golf section,” he said.

He called on government to assist in improving the game, stressing that golf was a game where people come to interact.

The Chairman of Enugu Sports Club, Chief Nnanna Atuonwu, described Onah as a transformer who built many facilities and improved the golf section.

Atuonwu said, “It is a thing of joy that he came and did wonders. I wish him well. It is my expectation that the incoming captain will improve on what Onah did to move the golf section forward”.

A former Captain, Mr Ben Etiaba, called for establishment of more golf courses in the state, noting that what kept golf course going was not its members but activities it organised.

“It was a wonderful valedictory tournament and it is the best I have experienced in the last 15 years,” he said.

Mrs Nkiru Agbogu, a female golfer, added that the tournament offered them with new experiences, describing the challenge accompanied it as ‘wonderful’

“The outgoing captain is a wonderful man with humility, very explicit, coach driven and focused,” he stressed.

The highlight of the event include awarding of prizes and trophies to the winners of the tournament.(NAN)