Nigerian golf set for revolution

Olusegun Runsewe, the President of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) has promised to rejuvenate the game of golf in the country.

Runsewe spoke on the sidelines of the 1st Nigeria Golf Federation Summit for Captains with delegates from over 70 clubs across the country.

The three-day summit, which was declared open by Simon Lalong, the Governor of Plateau, also had as Guest of honour, Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development.

The NGF president said he was working assiduously to ensure that the game of golf wears a new look in the country.

“Let me first and foremost thank the two great personalities for honoring our invitation to come for this very important summit. Both of them being here today is a very big statement and most especially their commitment to give us the much needed support which will take our Federation to the top is a moral booster.

“Golf indeed is a great game but most people have not come to understand fully what it is all about.

“So, today is a testament of the fact that golf has the support and followership of both the government and private sector as well the good people of Nigeria.

“For me, I feel fulfilled and extremely happy that this summit has gone so well and look forward to Nigeria building on it,” he said.

He noted that the game of golf was a big business, adding that other countries made a lot of money from it but it was unfortunate that it was being looked at as leisure in Nigeria.

He added that one of the purposes of the summit was to create an opportunity for golfers in the country to network and acquaint themselves with the process of the World Handicap System (WHS).

He explained that the WHS is a universal ranking software which could be accessed by players globally.

The WHS is initiated by the Runsewe led Board in partnership with the Royal and Ancient (R&A) and when it is finalised, is expected to ease the development of golf in the country.