Olawale Ajimotokan
18 December 2011
A passionate plea has been made to President Goodluck Jonathan to start playing the game of golf.
The message was relayed by the president of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) Olagunsoye Oyinlola, during the Ceremonial Tee off on Friday, at IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja to formerly declare the President Cup open.
Oyinlola conveyed the come and play message through the Senate President, David Mark, who stood in for the president, proposing that efforts should be made to make a golfer out of Jonathan.
Jonathan was unavoidably absent at the official declaration of the tournament which comes to an end Sunday after a week of play by professional and amateur golfers.
The timing of Oyinlola’s invitation could not have been better as many have wondered why the president of Nigeria is not walking a course and following the glowing American traditions where golf is a lifestyle for any US President.
Current US President Barack Obama is a golfer. But before him were Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and FDR Roosevelt.
In fact, 15 of the last 18 occupants of the ‘White House’ are said to have incurable passion for hitting the dimple ball.
Jonathan should take advantage of the location of the IBB Golf course which is just a walk across the road from the seat of government and play a round.
Those who saw the president’s swing on hole 10 during the official tee off of Nigeria@ 50 Golf Tournament last year, came to the conclusion that he will a good golfer if he decides to play the game.
At least his effort, a drive that crossed the pond and nestled more than 150 metres in the middle of the fairway, was a much better performance than President Olusegun Obasanjo’s endurance at Ilorin at the 14th President Cup several years ago.
Edet Umoh on Friday became the winner of the President Cup after a nervy display on the last hole.
Umoh saved par on the 18th to run away with a stroke victory, leaving Kabir H. Mohammed who birdied three of the last holes disappointed.
Mohammed, who was in the penultimate group, watched anxiously from among the crowd for a slip as Umoh recovered after flirting with trouble from his first two shots on the last hole.
Umoh’s tee shot went into the shrub on the left, while the approach overshot the green by more than 20 metres. But he managed the situation perfectly, as he chipped to within one foot from an uphill lie for the easiest of a par putt.
He won at five over par 293 while Ghanaian, Emos Korblah who shot a final round 75, tied with Mohammed for the second place at six over par 294, while Gift Willy finished fourth at 295.
Another Ghanaian, Vincent Torgah finished fifth at nine over par 297.
Meanwhile, Globacom has reiterated its desire to partner with the NGF over long term as the official sponsor of the President Cup.
The company’s Director Events and Sponsorship, Bode Opeseitan said that it was committed to the game and would return as the sponsor of the President Cup next year.
AllAfrica – All the Time