Notable veteran golfers and several others make up the field of 64 players expected at the opening event of the inaugural GolfSixes Nigeria holding this Saturday and Sunday in Abuja.
The event’s Chief Organiser, Ekanem Ekwueme, disclosed on Wednesday in Abuja that the golf competition will hold at the TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club (IGRCC).
She said the competition which is for players aged 55 and above will see veteran players consisting of notable Nigerians, members of the diplomatic corps and former captains of golf clubs.
”Some of those in this group include Olusegun Runsewe, the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture ((NCAC), Adamu Emozozo and Hassan Mohammed, who are both former ambassadors.
”We will also have the likes of Ahmed Oseni, the immediate-past captain of IBB International Golf and Country Club, and Bello Arabi, a past captain of Kaduna Golf Club,” Ekwueme said.
She explained that the Abuja event of GolfSixes Nigeria 2021, which is in four parts, will see the 64 senior players placed in 16 teams and involved in match play.
”After every six holes of play, a winner emerges, and at the end of the opening day the winners advance to the final on Sunday, when we will have other entertaining activities such as the Valentine Day Special, presentation of trophies and an evening of music,” the former President of the Lady Golfers Association of Nigeria (LGAN) said.
Ekwueme said GolfSixes Nigeria was a very unique event now being introduced in Nigeria to add versatility to the game in the country.
”It is an event full of fun and it is an easy game, especially for the seniors, and we are looking forward to seeing many of our seniors getting involved.”
She said the event’s introduction was also part of the quest to recognise the country’s senior golfing citizens, “who we believe still have a lot to teach the rest of us.”
Ekwueme added that the senior golfers have a lot to offer the upcoming golfers in so many ways.
”They have the right attitude, and the younger ones have a lot to learn from them.”
The event’s Chief Organiser also explained the choice of the TYB IGRCC inAbuja for the opening event.
”The club offers a lot of hospitality and has several senior citizens, especially the retired military officers, and it is right for us to start here,” she said.
Ekwueme disclosed that the other three events of the inaugural GolfSixes Nigeria will hold in Port Harcourt in March, Aba in August and Ikeja in September.
”Our plans for these events are ongoing, and this is all part of the larger effort to ensure this competition holds every year,” he said.