Participants at the just concluded Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) Summit say it is a new dawn for the game of golf in the country.

The maiden three-day NGF summit for captains, which began on Wednesday, ended on Friday in Abuja with no fewer than 70 golf clubs in the country taking part.

A cross-section of stakeholders, who spoke to journalists at the end of the summit, said the event would usher in a new wave of development in the game of golf in Nigeria.

Ekanem Ekwueme, the only certified female World Handicap System (WHS) Course rater in Nigeria, said it was a new phase, adding that the WHS concept would change the perception of golf in Nigeria.

“It’s a new dawn in golf in Nigeria. I can assure you that golf is wearing a new face in the country,” she said.

Bello Suleiman, the North-East zonal representative on the NGF Board, said the summit was indeed a good thing which has happened to the development of golf in the country.

“I think this is a good thing that has happened to golf development in Nigeria,” he said.

Tony Philmore, the executive director of the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria, said the summit was a new dawn and has helped to make things easier for a professional body such as the PGA of Nigeria.

“This is a wonderful development and has really gone a long way to make it easier for professional bodies like ours to scout and source for tournaments,” he said.

Juliet Monyei-Inyere, the president, Ladies Golfers Association of Nigeria (LGAN), praised the organisers of the summit, adding that it has helped her to network and acquaint herself with the process of the WHS concept.

M.B. Bello, the grand patron of Parkland Golf Resort Club, Abuja, said the summit was a fantastic outing and a really good development of golfing in Nigeria.

“The summit has laid the foundation for sustainable development and we as stakeholders hope to key into that,” he said.

Ogechi Osuagwu, captain of Arsenal Golf and Country Club, said the summit would help golf’s growth in Nigeria.

Ahmed Sabo, the captain of Calabar Golf Club, said the summit was a commendable development which has gone a long way to show that NGF was really interested in coordinating the affairs of golf in Nigeria.

“The massive participation of the various club captains was proof that the NGF enjoys the full support of all stakeholders and will have no problem in coordinating the affairs of golf in the country,” he said.

Anthony Oboh, golf captain, Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos, said, “It’s the synergy we are looking at as one tree cannot make a forest. Yes, we are numero uno because of our proximity, age and membership strength.”

Jacob Tsado, the captain of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, said the summit was an epochal event in the history of golf in Nigeria.

(NAN)