Guyana Golf Magazine 2012

ISSUE 2

GUYANA

COMPLIMENTARY

MAGAZINE

2012 I T ’ S T E E T I M E I N T H E L A N D O F M A N Y WA T E R S

1-on-1 with the President of LGC Jerome Khan The Inaugural President’s Cup Golf Tournament Golf 101 A Beginner’s Guide

Exclusive Veteran of the Fairway Dr. Ram Singh

Queen of the Green Christine Sukhram

Open your world

Distributed by

GUYANA

MAGAZINE

2012

IN THIS ISSUE Welcome to Guyana - Quick Facts

6

1-on-1 with the President of LGC Jerome Khan

The Launch of the President’s Cup Golf Tournament

8

The Inaugural President’s Cup Golf Tournament 30

Local Golf Gets a Boost

10

No Putt Intended - Golf Jokes

33

Lusignan Golf Course View

12

Golf 101: A Beginner’s Guide

34

Queen of the Green, Christine Sukhram

14

The 2011 Guyana Open Cocktail Reception

16

Arnold Palmer’s 10 Rules for Good Golf Etiquette

36

Any Given Day @ Lusignan Golf Club

18

Veteran of the Fairway - Dr. Ram Singh

38

About Lusignan Golf Club

23

A Brief Look at the 2012 Golf Season

40

R1 Vodka 2011 Guyana Open Golf Tournament

Tournaments / Sponsors / Winners

42

24

A Moment in Golf

44

Cover Credit: Christine Sukhram Photo was taken by Simeon Corbin

4

Golf Guyana 2012

28

2012 Guyana Golf

5

GUYANA

MAGAZINE

2012

The Publisher of the 2012 Guyana Golf Magazine thanks the Lusignan Golf Club, sponsors, contributors and supporters for your valuable input to help make this publication possible.

The Guyana Golf Magazine is an annual publication done in collaboration with the Lusignan Golf Club. GGM is available at the end of October each year.

Publisher: Simeon L Corbin

Reproduction or use of the editorial or graphic content of this magazine in any manner, without permission from the Publisher is prohibited.

Managing Editor: Coretta Corbin-Rival Administrative Manager: Tiya Peterkin Layout: Mark James Sales / Marketing: Tiya Peterkin and Sophia Ramphal Writers: Colin Ming, Salima Bachus-Hinds, Troy Peters, George Gooding, William Henry, GTA and Adrian David Photography: Simeon Corbin, Carl Croker, LGC, Jerome Khan, GTA, GINA, Kaieteur Newspaper Acknowledgement: Jerome Khan, Guyana Chronicle Newspaper, Lusignan Golf Club, Dr. Ram Singh, Harriram Manniram and Elizabeth Rampersaud

6

Golf Guyana 2012

Corbin Media Group 48 Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, Guyana P: 226.0540, 225.1738 E: sales@corbinmediagroup.com W: www.corbinmediagroup.com Copyright Š 2012 CORBIN MEDIA GROUP

GUYANA

Quick Facts

Name: Co-operative Republic of Guyana Motto: “One people, one nation, one destiny” Anthem: Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains Capital: (and the largest city) Georgetown Official language: English Government: Republic President: Donald Ramotar Prime Minister: Samuel Hinds Republic status: February 23, 1972 Area: Total 214,970 km² / 83,000 sq mi Currency: Guyanese dollar (GYD) Time zone: (UTC-4) Internet TLD: .gy Calling code: 011592 Capital population: 230,000 Country population: (2009) 777,000.

8

Golf Guyana 2012

Hours of operation: Operating hours for stores, banks, markets, museums, restaurants and other entities vary by location, day of the week and even time of the year. It is always best to contact the establishment before visiting. Below are some guidelines to follow.

Banks: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. weekdays (closed weekends) Supermarkets: 8:30 am – 8:00 p.m. weekdays, 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturdays and 10:00 am – 2:00 p.m. Sundays.

Museums: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays; 9:00 a.m. – Noon Saturdays Public gardens: 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday - Saturday

Markets: 24/7 General stores: 8 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Bars / restaurants: noon Nightclubs: 8:00 p.m.

Roads Over the years much has been done to provide access roads to some areas, but potholes are still widespread. Buckle-up, drive on the left, proceed with caution and look out for pedestrians, farm animals, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Credit Card Credit cards and travelers’ cheques are accepted by most hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, car rental agencies and tour operators. Cards with Visa, CIRRUS or PLUS logos can be used at some bank ATM machines.

Buying local: Beer, vodka, rum, pastries, juices, water, crafts, wine, clothing, foods, music, art, jewellery, furniture, fruits and vegetables.

The Future is

WOW!

Vision Quality Consistency CMG is a multimedia company that specializes in producing high quality glossy consumer and custom magazines.

We handle the entire production process, from conceptualization to planning, layout, printing and the delivery of the finished product.

48 Sandy Babb Street | Kitty | G/town | Guyana Phone: 226-0540, 225-1738, 624-2751 Email: sales@corbinmediagroup.com W: www.corbinmediagroup.com

2012 Guyana Golf

9

1-on-1 with the President of LGC, Jerome Khan A

By Salima Bacchus-Hinds

ttorney-at-Law, Jerome Khan was elected President of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) in June 2012.

Guyana Golf magazine met with Khan to discuss the future of the Golf Club and of the development of golf in general.

Khan said that he hopes that during the term of his presidency to see a growth in the number of persons playing golf in Guyana.

He believes that golf can evolve as a primary sport in the nation much like cricket and football, but need support from the government in the same way as cricket and soccer is supported.

Khan since elected, said that his committee has embarked on a program through the media, highlighting the Club Tournaments and activities at the LGC, this has resulted in an increase in membership as well as corporate sponsorship.

He said, he is grateful to Ansal McAl, D.D.L., Courts (Guyana) Inc., United Auto, Tony’s Auto Spares, Ray’s auto Spares, Digicel, Macorp, United Insurance, Citizen Bank and Banks DIH for their continued support and sponsorship.

In particular, Khan said that he

10

Golf Guyana 2012

Khan (centre) poses with other players

was particularly pleased with His Excellence, President Donald Ramotar, who for the first time sponsored a golf tournament under his name and through the Guyana Tourism Authority.

The tournament which was played September 16, 2012, attracted over 40 players and a large turnout of fans and supporters.

According to Khan, there are plans to reintroduce a junior programme, to encourage new and young players (boys and girls) to play golf. The Club will actively promote the sport in high schools and among university students, and will be offering Golf lessons free of charge, along with the needed equipment. This initiative would serve as an introduction to the sport, and as persons become further interested in Golf, they will then make their own investments to play the game.

Moreover, members and the public will see improvements in the golf club facilities and its environs to make the golf course and the club

house more attractive to potential golfers.

For example, there is an urgent need for the repair and upkeep of the access roads from the Lusignan junction to the Club grounds. Khan hopes that the club can receive government support for this particular issue. The upgrades so far have received positive feedback from the Club’s members, sponsors and the general public that come out to watch the tournament.

Altogether, over the next five years, Khan envision an increase in membership to over one hundred playing persons, plus a sizeable increase in –playing Club members. He foresees golf as an inclusive sport, to all men, women and youth. To realize this goal, he hopes to receive more government cooperation and continued corporate support in promoting golf. He encourages everyone to visit the Lusignan Golf Course, participate, try the game and enjoy the facilities.

2012 Guyana Golf

11

Local Golf Gets a Boost I

By Colin Ming

t was Sunday 16th September at approximately 9:45 am that His Excellency President Donald Ramotar teed off from the first tee box to start the inaugural ‘President’s Cup’ Golf Tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club. This brainchild of new President, Jerome Khan and the committee, was accomplished with the cooperation of Minister Irfaan Ali as a ‘pilot project’ of his Ministry’s plan to promote Sport Tourism in Guyana.

Minister Ali stated at the launching “We are working from different angles in terms of developing and expanding our tourism product.

Golf has a special appeal to an upper class and middle class market in the Caribbean; it has a targeted market. We want to use this opportunity to work with the local golf association in creating a space for Guyana within the golf market, that will not only promote the sport here but will also advance our tourism product.”

As to the role that Golfing will play in attracting visitors, the Tourism Minister revealed that already, several private investors are interested in constructing golf courses in Guyana, which will act as center pieces for attracting even more tourists.

This is certainly the opening of what could and should be the beginning of golf development in Guyana. For quite some time, golf was not looked favorably upon, by our governments, as it is considered a “rich man’s sport”. It is a welcome change that we have come to accept the upper and middle classes as part of our society that should be included in development plans. Recognizing there is a niche market here has been long in coming to our tourism sector.

He further explained, “Instead of giving leeway to Barbados to host a regional tournament we are trying to start a program where we can be the host of a major gold tournament. That is why we are attaching the President’s name to this tournament and we are seeking to bring in as much regional participants as possible.”

We have a far way toward achieving the hosting of a major gold tournament or being on par with Barbados, where there are five eighteen hole courses, but we can certainly start with government facilitating by providing the land at subsidized prices along with favorable concessions on equipment to private investors.

Some negotiated considerations, inclusive of some kind of grant, should be worked out for the Lusignan Golf Club to expand the course from nine to eighteen holes and upgrade the facilities as an eighteen hole course would be a perquisite to hosting a major gold tournament.

He informed that the President’s Cup Tournament will be added to the Tourism Ministry’s calendar of events, which will be further developed and

With proper planning, golf courses can be profitable and sustainable. Major return on investment can be got from the sale of top class

He noted too that such initiatives can be used as a platform to market the country as a golfing destination, on par with other Caribbean destinations like Barbados.

12

enhanced along the way.

Golf Guyana 2012

homes on the course. Membership and green fees from tourists and non-members along with profits from clubhouse dining and the pro-shop can provide the income for sustainability and pay employees. The target niche golf tourist market will then have another place to go, especially during their winter months, with their cash and credit/debit cards.

enjoyed by many middle aged and older folks.

Many business executives play golf and carry on business discussions during play. Executives regularly invite their counterparts to lunch and a round of golf to commence and develop business relationships. It is amazing what is learned about people’s character while playing a round of golf with them.

As a game, golf is somewhat different. It is the golfer versus the course and the best net score wins. For the serious player, it is quite demanding mentally, as evident on the male/ female pro-circuit seen on television. It is not a physically fast paced game and some play just for the enjoyment of being on the course.

Attributes such as hand to eye coordination and self and course management, decide whether the ardent player becomes a decent golfer.

The game has enjoyed a growth surge among the young since players such as Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie, Lorena Ochoa and Rory McIlroy have been hitting the headlines. Programs such as the First Tee have been using golf to teach young people the morals, honesty and discipline that the game requires. That the better players can make quite a decent living as a professional has added to attract the young wannabees.

Hopefully, with youth programs, we may be able to cheer for one of our own in a PGA or WPGA event.

Some level of fitness is required to complete 18 holes when walking the course. The game can be quite addictive because of the challenge it presents in golfing a stationary ball from the tee box and getting it into the cup on the green in the prescribed number of strokes or less.

According to the United States Golf Association, a handicap of 18 is achieved by just under 68% of amateur players while just around 25% get to a single digit handicap of 9. This challenge drives the golf enthusiast to improve. The great shot/s achieved today bring/s you back tomorrow.

Since the advent of golf carts, golf is played and

Outside of all of this, try this one late afternoon.

Go look out from the balcony, of a golf clubhouse, overlooking the golf course. You would be drawn by the serenity and beauty of the lay of the land and the peace of mind that it brings.

There is something fascinatingly beautiful about golf courses. It is like flower gardens, it is not necessary to have them to sustain one’s life but it sure makes the passage beautiful and memorable. We look forward to our first eighteen hole golf club.

2012 Guyana Golf

13

Lusignan Golf Course View

14

Golf Guyana 2011 2012

2012 Guyana Golf 2011

15

Christine Sukhram “At age 23, she is at the top of her game... Golfing fans can expect a lot more from her in the future... “

Sukhram takes a swing

16

Golf Guyana 2012

F

resh off a best net score at the Agostini Insurance tournament in Trinidad and Tobago and a best overall gross in the Paramaribo Invitational Open Golf tournament in Suriname, Guyana’s leading female golfer Christine Sukhram has her sights set on winning another title at the annual Guyana Open Golf championship on November 3 and 4, 2012.

sport. By age six, she started playing by learning the basics of the game.

This soft spoken golfer is no push over on the golf course, as she has won numerous prestigious tournaments in Guyana and the Caribbean, including the annual Guyana Open tournament which she has won a record six times.

Sukhram’s growing love of the sport, coupled with the convenience of the course’s location, proved very valuable for her, as she was able to practice regularly and improve on the skills she had acquired while in Grenada.

Sukhram was first introduced to sport at age six by her now deceased father Basil Sukhram, himself an avid player, coach and her mentor.

In 2004 at age 15, Sukhram won her first international junior title at the Pepsi Junior Golf Tournament in Barbados. In 2006, she won the Trinidad Carnation Ladies Golf Open in the twin island republic.

Sukhram was born in Guyana, but soon after, her family migrated to Grenada and lived there.

While in Grenada, her father was an individual golf coach for players on the island. Sukhram recalled that being around him during his coaching sessions, tweaked her interest in the

At age eight, Sukhram and her family returned to Guyana and took up residence in Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara. This village incidentally is the home of the Lusignan golf course.

Sukhram was selected by Soca Soft Drinks to benefit from its sponsorship programme for talented young Guyanese.

Winning takes lots of hard work and dedication emphasized Sukhram. She also took the opportunity to acknowledge her sponsor Banks DIH Limited who has been her main corporate supporter for many years.

At age 23, Sukhram is at the top of her game. She encourages young people, especially women to take up the sport.

Away from the golf course, Sukhram is also quite busy, as she spends her time studying for a career in business management.

Sukhram poses with some of the hardware from her growing collection

Golfing fans can expect a lot more from Sukhram in the future, as she tries to maintain her position as the “Queen of the Green.”

2012 Guyana Golf

17

The 2011 Guyana Open Cocktail Reception

The night before the tee-off of the 2011 Guyana Open Golf Tournament, players and special guests were treated to cocktails by sponsor Banks DIH Limited at the Oasis CafĂŠ on Carmichael Street in Georgetown.

18

Golf Guyana 2012

2012 Guyana Golf

19

Any Given Day @ Lusignan Golf Club

20

Golf Guyana 2012

2012 Guyana Golf

21

Any Given Day @ Lusignan Golf Club

22

Golf Guyana 2012

2012 Guyana Golf

23

Any Given Day @ Lusignan Golf Club

24

Golf Guyana 2012

ABOUT L.G.C. 2012 / 2013 EXECUTIVES

President: Attorney-at-law Jerome Khan Vice-President: Kishun Bacchus Secretary: Dave Mohamed Treasurer: Mark Lashley Assistant Secretary / Treasurer: Mike Gayadin Ground Superintendent: Chatterpaul Deo Club Captain: Rawle Moore Public Relations Officer: Troy Peters Holes: 9 Par: 70 Length: 6,800 yards Members: Approximately 50

Annual membership fee: G$120,000 (US$600) Green Fee: $1,500 Special discount: Residents of Lusignan Short-term membership: 3, 6 or 9 months Annual closing: Open year round Lusignan Golf Club Lusignan East Coast Demerara Guyana, South America.

Tel: 011592-220-5660

2012 Guyana Golf

25

R1 Vodka 2011 Guyana Open Golf Tournament

By George Gooding

L-r: LGC Club Captain Brian Glasford, LGC President Brian Hackett, Ladies’ champ Christine Sukhram, Men’s champ Papo Haniff and Banks DIH Executive Carlton Joao pose with other prize winners and Banks DIH officials

O

n October 22 and 23, 2011, over sixty male and female golfers from Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Canada and the USA, converged on the Lusignan golf course to compete in R1 Vodka sponsored two-day Guyana Open Golf championships, played under the sanction of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC).

Playing in great weather and on well manicured greens and fairways, Trinidad and Tobago based Papo Haniff and female defending champion Christine Sukhram emerged as the top men’s and ladies’ champion.

Haniff with a 0 handicap, recorded an overall gross of 148 after shooting 71 on day one and 76 on day two. In the 0-9 Flight, Haniff also won both Best Gross and Net for the first day.

26

Golf Guyana 2012

Placing second was Mohanlall ‘Santo’ Dinnanauth with a gross of 153 (81 and 72) over the two days. Dinanauth also won the Best Gross on Day 2. Placing third was Sookram Deosarran with 156 (81 and 75).

In the ladies category, Sukhram playing off a 12 handicap, won the Best Overall Gross (164), Best Gross on day one and day two (82 and 82), and Best Overall Net (140).

Surinamese Petra Beems with a gross of 185 and an 18 handicap had a net of 149. Joann Deo placed third with a gross of 196 off a 22 handicap and a net of 152.

Other prize winners were Chatterpaul Deo

French Guiana players pose with William Walker (2nd from right)

winning the overall men’s net with 138 and Best Net on day two with 67.

In the 10-18 category, Jerome Khan won the Best Net Overall, while in the 19-28 Flight, Mark Lashley won the Best Net overall. Clifford Reis received the Best Net and Gross prizes.

Carlton Joao starts the tournament

The two-day competition was preceded by a cocktail reception the previous evening at the Oasis CafĂŠ in Georgetown. At this event, players and fans were introduced to Guyana Golf a new glossy magazine published by the Corbin Media Group. This publication, LGC plans to use to help promote the sport locally, regionally and internationally.

2012 Guyana Golf

27

R1 Vodka 2011 Guyana Open Golf Tournament Avinash Persaud

Mark Lashley

Brian Hackett (in red polo) and Papo Haniff (in blue jacket) pose with players from Suriname

28

Golf Guyana 2012

Alfred Mentore

Clifford Reis

List of Guyana Open Golf Tournament winners since 1999

MEN M. Dinanauth M. Dinanauth Mr. Han A. Mentore A. Mentore N. Abino M. Mangal A. Persaud J. Seenanan I. Khan A. Persaud A. Persaud P. Haniff

YEAR 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

WOMEN C. Sukhram C. Sukhram C. Sukhram C. Sukhram C. Sukhram 2012 Guyana Golf

29

President’s Cup Golf

Tournament Launched… Golfing in Guyana to be Resuscitated By guyana-tourism.com

GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh (L) hands over the championship trophy to LGC president Jerome Khan at the tournament launch

G

olfers from across the country and the wider Caribbean will descend on the Lusignan Golf Course , on the East Coast of Demerara , come September 16th for the inaugural ‘President’s Cup’ Golf Tournament.

This amateur event, which promises to attract renewed attention to the sport of golf, was launched on Tuesday, August 14th, by the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali, in the boardroom of the Tourism Ministry on South Road.

According to Minister Ali, this ‘pilot project’ forms part of the Ministry’s plan to promote Sport Tourism in Guyana.

“We are working from different angles in terms of developing and expanding our tourism product.

Golf has a special appeal to an upper class and

30

Golf Guyana 2012

middle class market in the Caribbean; it has a targeted market. We want to use this opportunity to work with the local golf association in creating a space for Guyana within the golf market, that will not only promote the sport here but will also advance our tourism product,” he said.

He noted too that such initiatives can be used as a platform to market the country as a golfing destination, on par with other Caribbean destinations like Barbados.

Ali explained, “Instead of giving lee way to Barbados to host a regional tournament we are trying to start a programme where we can be the host of a major gold tournament. That is why we are attaching the President’s name to this tournament and we are seeking to bring in as much regional participants as possible.”

Advertisements for the upcoming game will be broadcasted across the Caribbean in an effort to attract a wide cross section of participants.

It will also be a perfect opportunity to develop packages to offer participants and link it with various tourism facilities, airlines, and hotels, the Minister added.

In addition, he informed that the President’s Cup Tournament will be added to the Tourism Ministry’s calendar of events, which will be further developed and enhanced along the way.

As to the role that golfing will play in attracting visitors, the Tourism Minister revealed that already, several private investors are interested in constructing golf courses in Guyana, which will act as center pieces for attracting even more tourists.

will be 18 holes Stroke-play, with the tee off occurring at 9:30 hours; this will be done by the Head of State, President Donald Ramotar , and will signal the official opening of the activity.

Mr. Khan extended the invitation to all interested golfers to contact the golf club on 220-5660 to register for the event; registration fee will be $4000.

He assured that the inaugural event will be fun and exciting, and is already attracting participants from Suriname and French Guiana, bringing new dimension to the sport.

All members of the Diplomatic Corps, Business Community, Golf Clubs, the Guyana Police Force and the Army, among others are invited to register for this inaugural tournament.

“This will form part of our Re-discover Home campaign, and we are working closely with the Ministry of Culture , Youth and Sport to also bring International 20/20 cricket in Guyana.

Sports tourism is something we are working on aggressively, we have the land space, environment, improved air transportation,” Minister Ali stated.

In closing, he pledged that all efforts will be made to promote events for the development of the Tourism Sector.

The Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh also pledged that the Authority will work closely with stakeholders, and the Culture ,Youth and Sport Ministry for the development and promotion of sports tourism in Guyana, including cycling, volleyball and cricket.

He explained too that persons interested in participating in the Golf tournament can register via the GTA website at www.guyana-tourism. com or call 219-0094-6 for more information.

Advising on the technical components of the game, the President of the Lusignan Gold Club, Mr. Jerome Khan explained that the Golf Course is a nine (9) whole, par 70 course, but the game 2012 Guyana Golf

31

The Inaugural President’s Cup Golf Tournament

By George Gooding

President Donald Ramotar (in blue jeans) poses with LGC president Jerome Khan (fourth from right) and other executives and players.

G

olfer Kishan Bacchus maneuvered his way ahead of 40 other golfers to cop the President’s Cup inaugural golf tournament held at the Lusignan Golf Course, East Coast Demerara.

Bacchus finished with a net of 64 points after completing 18 holes in the Strokeplay competition. His name will be the first to be inscribed on the trophy. He also received a book, another trophy and a set of golf clubs.

Other players that took home prizes were Ayube Suban with a net of 65 points, Mike Mangal and M. Dinanauth finished with similar nets of 68 points, but Mangal was awarded third place as he had the better rate on the last nine holes.

32

Golf Guyana 2012

Coming in fifth was Gavin Todd with a net of 69 points.

Prizes were also handed out to Avenash Persaud who won the Longest Drive, Imran Khan, Nearest to the Pin, and M. Dinanauth with the Best Gross Points.

On-hand to present the various prizes to the winners were Executive Director of the GTA Indranauth Haralsingh and his staff and representatives from the different sponsors.

Sponsors for the event were Ansa McAl Trading, Banks DIH Limited, Demerara Distillers Limited, National Milling Company, Impression’s, Brian Tiwari, CIDI, Beepat’s and Mr. Natram.

Clifford Reis

Hemraj Kissoon

GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh (left), tournament winner Kishun Bacchus (3rd from left) and LGC president Jerome Khan (right) pose with the other tournament winners

2012 Guyana Golf

33

The Inaugural President’s Cup Golf Tournament

34

Troy Cadogan

Joaan Deo

U.S. Ambassador D. Brent Hardt

Alfred Mentore

Golf Guyana 2012

No Putt Intended Gol f Joke s!

Family Men

The Devil And The Golfer

Three men are in a bar, all very drunk, and talking to each other, bragging about their families.

A golfer is in a competitive match with a friend, who is ahead by a couple of strokes. The golfer says to himself, “I’d give anything to sink this next putt.”

The first guy says, “I have four sons. One more and I’ll have a basketball team.”

The second guy says, “That’s nothin’. I have eleven sons. One more and I’ll have a football team.”

The third guy, the drunkest of them all replies “You guys haven’t found true happiness. I have seventeen wives. One more and I’ll have a golf course.”

Golf Gun Two Mexican detectives were investigating the murder of Juan Gonzalez.

“How was he killed?”, asked the first detective.

“He was shot with a golf gun,” replied the other.

“A golf gun? What’s a golf gun?”

“I don’t know, but it sure made a hole in Juan.”

Fatherly Advice.

A father spoke to his son, “It’s time we had a little talk, my son.

Soon, you will have urges and feelings you’ve never had before.

Your heart will pound and your hands will sweat.

You’ll be pre-occupied and won’t be able to think of anything else.”

A stranger walks up to him and whispers, “Would you give up a fourth of your sex life” The golfer thinks the man is crazy and that his answer will be meaningless but also that perhaps this is a good omen and will put him in the right frame of mind to make the difficult putt and says, “OK.” And sinks the putt.

Two holes later he mumbles to himself, “Boy, if I could only get an eagle on this hole.”

The same stranger moves to his side and says, “Would it be worth another fourth of your sex life” The golfer shrugs and says, “Sure.” And he makes an eagle.

Down to the final hole. The golfer needs yet another eagle to win. Though he says nothing, the stranger moves to his side and says, “Would you be willing to give up the rest of your sex life to win this match” The golfer says, “Certainly.” And makes the eagle.

As the golfer walks to the club house, the stranger walks alongside and says, ”You know, I’ve really not been fair with you because you don’t know who I am. I’m the devil and from now on you will have no sex life.”

“Nice to meet you,” says the golfer. “My name’s Father O’Malley.”

He added, “But don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal... it’s called golf.”

2012 Guyana Golf

35

Golf 101 A Beginner’s Guide

By William Henry

A golf club is used in the sport of golf to hit a golf ball. Each club is composed of a shaft with a lance (grip) and a clubhead. Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; irons, the most versatile class, are used for a variety of shots; putters are used mainly on the green to roll the ball into the cup.

One of the first things you need to learn when picking up the game of golf is what all those golf clubs are used for. Many new golfers have a tough time deciding which club to hit from a particular distance. This brief description of the different clubs will help you decide which one to use.

Most beginning golfers should spend their money on a set of golf clubs that has one driver, a 3 wood, 5 wood, 3 hybrid, 4 hybrid, 5 through 9 irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge and putter. You don’t need one of those high-priced golf sets. Spend that extra money on lessons and learn how to hit each club, before moving to the more expensive game-improvement clubs.

Putter The putter is the club you will use the most during a round of golf. It comes in different lengths and has different size heads, either mallet or blade.

The standard size putter is either 35-inches in length or 34-inches in length, depending on the brand of clubs you buy. However, there are other styles of putters, such as the belly putter and long-handled putter.

Wedges Wedges are the shortest clubs in your golf bag.

Beginners start carrying the sand wedge, because this club is designed to help you hit balls out of the sand bunkers surrounding the green. Most sand wedges have a 56-degree loft and can be used for distances of between 60 and 80 yards, as well as out of the sand bunkers close to the green. As you gain experience, you will find the need to carry other wedges with you. Most wedges are available in 2-degree increments, from 48-degrees to 64-degrees. The higher the degree, the less distance you will get out of each wedge.

36

Golf Guyana 2012

Pitching Wedge The pitching wedge is another club you will use a lot during a round of golf. It is part of the wedge family, but almost every golfer carries one of these golf clubs. It is the second shortest club in your bag and can be hit an average distance of 80 to 110 yards.

However, you will find yourself using this club to pitch or chip the golf ball on to the green.

Irons The irons are the clubs commonly used off the fairway and are easier to control than the woods. These golf clubs have three different categories: short irons, mid-irons and long irons. However, a beginning golfer should only carry short irons and mid-irons in their bag. Each iron has a number to identify the loft and length of the iron. The 8 and 9 irons are considered the short irons and are used to hit the ball anywhere from 90 yards to 130 yards,

on average. The mid-irons are numbered 5, 6 and 7. These irons can be used to hit the ball from 110 yards to 160 yards, on average. Some golfers choose to carry the long irons, which are numbered 3 and 4, but these irons are hard to hit for a beginner. Most beginning golfer should carry the 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 irons in their bag.

Hybrids Hybrid golf clubs are becoming very popular, even for professional golfers.

These clubs give you the control of an iron, but have the distance of a wood.

Most beginning golfers should replace their 3 and 4 iron with hybrid golf clubs. Some golfers even choose to replace all their irons with hybrid clubs. Each iron has a hybrid golf club that is equal in length and loft.

However, most golfer carry these hybrid clubs because they are easier to hit than the long irons. The heads look like a smaller version of the woods. The 4 hybrid can be hit by an average golfer a distance of between 140 and 170 yards.

The 3 hybrid can generally be hit a distance of between 150 and 180 yards.

Fairway Woods The fairway woods provide the beginning golfer the clubs required to hit the ball longer distances off the fairway. Most golfers carry a 3 wood and

a 5 wood in their bag when they first start golfing. The 3 wood commonly has a loft of 15 degrees, but can vary between manufacturer. The 5 wood generally has an 18 degree loft on the club. Remember, the more loft the less distance. These two clubs are good for hitting the golf ball longer, but you lose a little control, because of their length.

Driver The driver is the longest club in your bag. Many beginners picture themselves hitting the ball a great distance with this club, but find the driver hard to control. This club is not used that often during a round of golf. It is typically only hit off the tee box and that only occurs about 14 times, because of the shorter holes, called Par 3s, on the course. The drivers also have the largest head on the end of the club, than any other golf club in your bag.

These clubs come in lofts between 8.5 degrees to 12 degrees, in increments of .5 degrees. Most beginning golfers should use a driver with either a 10.5 degree loft or more. The lower the loft, the harder this club will be to hit.

2012 Guyana Golf

37

Arnold Palmer’s 10 Rules for Good Golf Etiquette I.

Don’t be the slowest player In my casual games at Bay Hill, we get around in under four hours -- and that’s in fivesomes. Evaluate your pace of play honestly and often, and if you’re consistently the slowest one in your group, you’re a slow player, period. Encourage everyone to move quickly enough so you find yourself right behind the group in front several times, both early and late in the round.

Remember the old staples of getting around in good time: Play “ready golf” (hit when ready, even if you aren’t away) until you reach the green, be prepared to play when it’s your turn on the tee and green, and never search for a lost ball for more than five minutes.

II. Keep your temper under control

In the final of the Western Pennsylvania Junior when I was 17, I let my putter fly over the gallery after missing a short putt.

I won the match, but when I got in the car with my parents for the ride home, there were no congratulations, just dead silence.

Eventually my father said, “If I ever see you throw a club again, you will never play in another golf tournament.” That wake-up call stayed with me. I haven’t thrown a club since.

38

Throwing clubs, sulking and barking profanity make everyone uneasy. We all have our moments of frustration, but the trick is to vent in an inoffensive way.

For example, I often follow a bad hole by

Golf Guyana 2012

hitting the next tee shot a little harder -- for better or worse.

III. Respect other people’s time Because time is our most valuable commodity, there are few good reasons for breaking a golf date. Deciding last-minute to clean the garage on Saturday, or getting a call that the auto-repair shop can move up your appointment by a day, just doesn’t cut it.

Always make your tee times, and show up for your lesson with the pro a little early.

Social functions are no exception.

IV. Repair the ground you play on

I have a penknife that’s my pet tool for fixing ball marks, but a tee or one of those two-pronged devices is fine. As for divots, replace them or use the seed mix packed on the side of your cart.

Rake bunkers like you mean it. Ever notice that the worse the bunker shot, the poorer the job a guy does raking the sand? Make the area nice and smooth -- don’t leave deep furrows from the rake. Before you exit the bunker, ask yourself, Would I be upset if I had to play from that spot?

V. Be a silent partner

During one of my last tour events as a player, I noticed another pro making practice swings in my field of vision as I was getting ready to hit a shot. I stopped, walked over and reminded him (maybe too sternly) that it was my turn to play. The

point is, stand still from the time a player sets himself until the ball has left the club.

Even with the advent of spikeless shoes, the etiquette rule of never walking in someone’s line of play on the putting green is an absolute. The area around the hole in particular is sacred ground. The first thing to note when you walk onto a green is the location of every ball in your group, then steer clear of their lines to the hole.

Know where to stand and when to keep quiet. Position yourself directly across or at a diagonal from a player setting up. Never stand on the line of play, either beyond the hole or directly behind the ball. When a player is about to hit a shot, think of the fairway as a cathedral, the green a library.

VI. Make your golf cart ‘invisible’

Carts are very much a part of the modern game. Think about it: They’re mentioned on the backs of scorecards, discussed in the Decisions on the Rules of Golf, bags and other items are designed specifically for them, and they’re used at most courses.

The sheer pervasiveness of them makes cart etiquette vitally important.

Your goal when driving a cart should be to leave no trace you were there. Because we tend to look where we’re going and not where we’ve been, it’s easy to damage the turf and not realize it. Avoid wet areas and spots that are getting beaten up from traffic.

Golfers tend to play “follow the leader” and drive in single file out to the fairway before branching off. It’s usually better to “scatter” -- everyone take a different route -- so cart traffic is spread out.

VII. Always look your best

From Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen to Ben Hogan and Sam Snead to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the best players have been meticulous about their appearance.

Their clothing has been sharp, and not one of them has shown up on the first tee with his cap backward, mud caked on his shoes, or his shirttail hanging out. (My shirt often

came untucked, but it was my swing that did it. I started with it tucked in!)

Your appearance speaks volumes about you as a person, and the neatly appointed golfer, like a businessman or someone headed to church, gives the impression he thinks the golf course and the people there are special.

VIII. Turn off the cell phone

Nobody knows less about technology than I do. But I know enough to recognize a cell phone when it rings in my backswing. If I had my way, cell phones would be turned off at all times on the course, but most clubs have given in to the fact that people are going to use them. I don’t know all the gadgets and settings on those phones, but do whatever you have to do to keep it quiet. And if you absolutely have to make a call, move away from the other players.

And keep the call so brief that they don’t even know you made it.

IX. Lend a hand when you can

It’s easy to help out your fellow players, if you just pay attention. One obvious way is looking for lost balls -- better yet, watching errant shots so they don’t turn into lost balls. Pick up that extra club left on the fringe or the headcover dropped next to the tee, and return it to its owner after saying, “Nice shot!” And if you see a cart out of position or a provisional ball that needs picking up, don’t just walk by.

X. Learn the little things

There are a hundred bits of etiquette I haven’t mentioned, like laying the flagstick down carefully, tamping down spike marks when you’re walking off a green, letting faster groups play through, and so on. All of these things are learned by observing, with a sharp eye and a considerate heart.

Just know that golf has a way of returning favors, and every piece of etiquette you practice will be repaid tenfold.

2012 Guyana Golf

39

Veteran of the Fairway Dr. Ram Singh

By Salima Bacchus-Hinds

two of his friends encouraged him to try the sport. Initially, he was not very impressed and did not pick up a golf club again. However, in 1973, he tried golfing again and has been playing religiously ever since. That year, after some training and coaching, the doctor participated in his first tournament at the LGC, and won. At that time, his handicap was eighteen, which rapidly decreased as he progressed in the sport.

When his handicap was down to five, he placed second in the Guyana Open in 1975.

D

r. Ram Singh is an avid golfer, dedicated to the game for close to three decades and as such, he is a well recognised member of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC). Dr. Ram Singh was born on 31 March, 1937 and grew up in Vreed-en-Hoop in a family of rice farmers. He is a former student of the Indian Education Trust and Richard Ishmael Secondary School. Every day, to get to school, he would walk a mile to take the ferry to Georgetown, and back again in the afternoons. His post-graduate education took him to India and the United Kingdom, and upon the completion of his medical studies, the doctor returned to Guyana. He was working at the Georgetown Public Hospital as a recognised Orthopaedic Surgeon, when he first got involved in golf.

Dr. Singh first took a swing at golf in 1972, when

40

Golf Guyana 2012

He soon became the captain of the club from 1975 to 1977, and again in 2005 to 2006. He also served as the captain on two Suriname tours in 1975 and 1976. His playing friends during this time included Rex McKay, Sydney Cummings, Morris Chee-a-tow, Ivan Mickie and Bhaya Eastman (Slim). Overall, the doctor has played in over fifty golf tournaments, and will continue to participate in upcoming golf events, such as the Guyana Open.

In 1979, he had migrated to the United States of America where he practiced medicine in New York and Virginia and continued to dedicate his time to golf. He even lived near a golf course in Virginia. He returned to Guyana and the LGC in 2002. He is currently, the most senior member of the LGC and still plays in tours in other territories such as Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados. The doctor indicated that the St. Andrew’s golf course in Trinidad was the most difficult course for him to play.

His wealth of golf knowledge and experience makes him an excellent advisor to some of the

Dr. Singh tees off

golfers at the Club. Furthermore, he has made it his duty to encourage the sport among the youth. Notably,Dr. Singh would take a young person under his wing as his caddy, so that he/ she may have a start in golf. For example, golf champion Avinash Persaud started playing golf as Dr. Singh’s caddy.

community to be near the golf course. He

The doctor has demonstrated such a love for the sport that he moved to the Good Hope

definitive “Never!”The doctor believes that golf

plays about three times a week and finds golf to be an excellent form of relaxation, mentally and physically, and it promoted honesty and reflection. When asked if he had any plans to retire from the sport, Dr. Singh responded with a is a great sport for all ages, men and women.

2012 Guyana Golf

41

A Brief Look at the 2012 Golf Season

By Troy Peters

T

he inaugural President’s Cup golf tournament has created a new horizon for the sport locally as golfers, tourism officials and the Guyanese public at large look forward with great anticipation to its future growth.

The tournament initiated by the Ministry of Tourism under the patronage of His Excellency Donald Ramotar, President of Guyana has been plugged as a sports-tourism initiative, similar to major golf tours held around the world.

Minister of Tourism the Hon. Irfaan Ali at the launch disclosed that the event was being used as a platform to market the country as a golfing destination, on par with other Caribbean destinations.

The mission of the Ministry of Tourism is clear, to bring together many of the leading amateur players from around the world who will come to play and enjoy all that Guyana has to offer as a tourism destination.

There are similar tournaments in the region such as the Jamaica Invitational Pro-Am, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago opens just to name a few.

Golfing in Guyana has had its fair share of the spotlight as Guyanese residing in United States and Canada as well as golfers from Suriname and French Guiana travel here annually for the Banks DIH Limited sponsored Guyana Open normally held close to the end of the year.

42

major sporting events including motor racing, regatta, cricket and football.

The Lusignan Golf Club is a nine-hole course unlike many venues worldwide where there are 18 holes courses,but the Lusignan course is superb in the picturesque community of Lusignan Village on the East Coast of Demerara, seven miles east of Georgetown.

First-time visitors to the Course are amazed at its beauty and coupled with the warm hospitality of members of the Club these two attributes are surely important drawing cards for golf locally.

There are indications that golfers from as far as the United Kingdom and North America will join their Caribbean counterparts for the 2013 President’s Cup so the tournament is keenly awaited.

Apart from this new initiative, members of the Lusignan Golf Club enjoy a very active annual programme with tournaments being played almost every weekend as the local business community sponsors these events.

These sponsors include banks, beverage companies, auto dealerships, telecommunication providers, insurance among others.

These golfers look forward to this pilgrimage as they take the opportunity to visit friends and relatives, socialize and play a round of golf.

The premier Guyana Open continues to attracts players from USA, Canada, Suriname, French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago over two days of competition with a minimum of 70 players registering to compete annually and organisers anticipate an increase in participation when the two-day championships take place on November 3-4.

Guyana is fast becoming a major sports tourism hub as visitors sample some of the country’s

The 2011 winner was Trinidad-based Guyanese “Papo”Haniff who played superbly to turn back

Golf Guyana 2012

a strong challenge from Mohanlall Dinnanauth, Sookram Deosarran, Vijay Deo and Avinda Kishore while three-time winner Avenash Persaud struggled to maintain his prowess against the strong field.

Ladies champion Christine Sukhram continued to show impeccable form over the years but lacked the competition to extend her game.

Telephone giants Digicel also host a two-day Classic the weekend preceding the Guyana Open and that tournament also attracts overseas participation.

Last year, Canadian-based Guyanese Roger Rajkumar and Sukhram captured the men’s and ladies titles respectively and the opportunity to wear Digicel’s red jackets.

Andre Cummings copped the second annual Players Cup sponsored by Citizens Bank while MACORP Managing Director Jorge Medina has won the biggest prize of $325,000 for charity when he won the annual Scotia Bank tournament recently.

As golfers prepare for the 2012 Guyana Open there are some players to watch following their show of form over the past few months. These players include Kishun Bacchus who secured the first lien on the prestigious President’s Cup, Chatterpaul Deo who won back to back tournaments when he claimed the Carib Beer and Tony Auto Sales titles.

There have also been remarkable wins for Dave Mohamed who won the Courts Guyana Inc. 19th Anniversary competition and Brian Hackett the Trophy Stall Classic.

Carlos Adams carted off the El Dorado Cup, George Bulkan the Stag Beer tournament and Alfred Mentore - Ray’s Auto Sales event.

Seasoned campaigners AvenashPersaud, Dinnanauth, Mentore, Mike Mangal and Imran Khan all previous Guyana Open winners will have their eyes on the top prizes in November and will lead their country’s challenge against foreign invasion as the 2012 local golf season reaches its climax.

2012 Guyana Golf

43

Tournaments /Sponsors / Winners L-r: Mark Lashley, Dave Mohamed and Managing Director of Courts Guyana Clyde de Haas at the launching of the Courts Tournament

Kishun Bacchus (right) accepts the Crystal Ball from LGC president Jerome Khan after he shot a rare hole- in -one of 205 yards at the Courts Guyana Inc. 19th Anniversary Golf Tournament

From Left, Club Captain Rawle Moore, S. Deosarran, Carlos Adams (winner), Maria Munroe (DDL), Brian Hackett, and Kishun Bacchus.

Administrative Manager, Gail Robinson, 3rd from right, and other representatives of United Insurance pose with the winners of the tournament.

44

Golf Guyana 2012

Tournaments/Sponsors/Winners October 2011 - October 2012

10. Scotia Bank

9. Continental- Torginal Paint

8. Woodlands Hospital

7. Ansa Mcal- Stag Beer

6. Club Tournamnet

5. United Insurance

4. Macorp Golf Tournament

3. Citizen's Bank Golf Tournament

2. Golf Open - Sponsored By Banks R1 Vodka

1. Digicel Golf Tournament

26-May-12

5-May-12

28-Apr-12

21-Apr-12

7-Apr-12

Mar-12

25-Feb-12

19-Nov-2011

29-Oct-11

26-Oct-11

22nd - 23rd Oct 2011

15-Oct-11

Chatterpaul Deo

Brian Hackett

M. Arjune

J. Medina

Clifford Reis

Patrick Prashad

George Bulkan

Mike Mangal

Mike Mangal

Andre Cummings

Papo Haniff

Roger Rajkumar

net 68 from a gross 82 playing off 14 Handicap

net 65 from a gross 91 playing off 26 handicap.

best gross 72

net 66 from gross 94 playing off 28 handicap

impressive 87, off a handicap of 21, for a winning net 66.

best gross 75 and best net 68.

net 67

net 67 also scroing the lowest gross of 77

net 63 also scoring the lowest gross of 73

net 68

……….

………

WINNERS (FEMALE)

11. Farewell Tournament 21-Jul-12

Christine Sukhram

12. Demerara Mutual & Life 11-Aug-12

net 69 from a gross 78 playing off 9 Handicap

STATS

13. Trophy Stall

Alfred Mentore

net 63 from a gross 76 playing off 13 handicap

WINNERS (Male)

14. Tony Auto Sales Medal Play Golf Tourney 18-Aug-12

Chatterpaul Deo

DATE

15. Ray's Auto Sales Medal Play Golf Tourney

25-Aug-12

Sponsors

16. Carib Beer

1-Sep-12

Joanna Deo

Esha Shamshadeen

Christine Sukhram

17. Unique Group Auto Dealer

net 63 from a gross 84 playing off a handicap of 21

net 66 from a 93 gross playing off 27 handicap

net 66 from a gross 76 playing off a handicap of 13

net 64 Dave Mohamed

net 68 from a gross 92 playing off a 24 handicap

Kishun Bacchus Colin Ming

Carlos Adams 22-Sep-12

Robert Hanoman

16-Sep-12 6-Oct-12

8-Sep-12

20. Courts

13-Oct-12

18. DDL

21. United Insurance

19. President's Cup

22. Kings Jewellery

STATS

total for the day Net 37

Net 69

45

2012 Guyana Golf

A Moment in Golf The 1939 Amateur Golf Championship of British Guiana (Chronicle Newspaper April, 1939)

46

Golf Guyana 2012