Captain, Tiger Golf Club (TGC), Dr John Dongo, in this chat with OLAWALE OLANIYAN, speaks on the club’s readiness to stage the 21st Tiger Amateur Open scheduled to hold this weekend. Excerpts:
Tiger Golf Club will be hosting a number of golfers this weekend for the 21st Tiger Amateur Open, what should people expect?
I must thank members of the committee who, despite a short notice have put logistics in place towards making this tournament a success. Special reference to our new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Chukwunedum Martins Abraham who came on board recently. This is the 21st edition of the Tiger Open and we have the exposure and experience of Tiger to put up a good show because the 21st is a remarkable edition and we have a very rich tradition. So, we are ready to showcase our experience having organised this tournament in the last 20 years.
What are the prizes before the golfers coming for the tournament?
Tiger Open amateur is really one of the biggest events in golfing calendar in Nigeria. Winners are always in over 20 categories. I don’t think any golf club has ever done that in this country and that is a great motivation. It is always an avenue for people, especially the Army officers who are golfers who have played in the past to relax and network and this year is not going to be an exception. The prizes are up for grabs and we are looking forward to having a hitch-free and robust tournament. We have put our course in good condition and standard and everybody would enjoy it. Tiger Golf Club has signature holes that are very attractive.
(…Cuts in), Are you saying Tiger Golf Club now has 18 holes all green?
Well, we have over 13 holes green, we have the construction of five holes currently brown planning to turn them into green but we must give kudos to the sponsors who have made it possible for us to do five holes on the touch.
Since you assumed office as captain of Tiger Golf Club, what has been your experience?
Captaincy is a continuum and it is requires collaborative efforts for success to be achieved. So, it is about more of a team work. I must acknowledge those who have served in the past who have moved this club forward. Starting from Mallam Aburime, Chief Akin Oke, Chief Tunji Aderoju, Mr Dayo Osho and officers like Colonel Ogbaje, Colonel Akintade and Colonel Maisarawa. These are gentlemen who have always helped this club. I didn’t stop at that as we have also tried to do things to move the club to the next stage. We have commissioned our new set of charlets and they are functional. We have improved our car parking space, we have provided one or two greens within a short time and we have bought equipment to maintain the course. We have organised a number of tournaments, Inaugural Tournament, Ladies Open and these are things that have made members to enjoy their investment in the club. We are doing everything everyday to make sure we belong to the cream of notable golf clubs in the country and in the West African sub-region.
Are pro golfers coming for this year’s Tiger Open?
Well, this is particularly an amateur Open. Actually, we have in the past organised a Pro-Am tournament which attracted professional golfers too and very soon, we would invite pros for a tournament so that they too can feel and see the stuff our course is made of. I must say that golf is not for the elite or the rich as many people believe. It is a game anybody can play at leisure. Golf as scientifically proved improves the totality of one’s physical and mental status and I will enjoin everybody to embrace the game. It enhances a healthy living.
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