Oil exploration firm, Tullow Ghana Limited has handed over a $3 million refurbished Course to the Achimota Golf Club.
The renovation of the 18-hole Golf Course to an internationally accepted standard means it is now ready to host PGA tournaments after it was upgraded with sponsorship from the Oil giants.
The renovation exercise lasted twelve months.
Speaking at an inspection tour, the Communications and Investor Relations Manager of Tullow, Bernice Natue said the sponsorship was inspired by the desire to re-invest in society.
“Sponsoring or partnering with Achimota Golf Club to do this is just one of the means by which we bring the vision to create shared prosperity wherever Tullow goes”.
“It’s looking significantly different and it is beautiful,” she added.
Meanwhile, Paul Kelly the Grow-in Manager of the Paul Mcginley Golf Design who undertook the reconstruction confirmed that it was the first of its standard in West Africa and the first in Ghana.
“I have been working on Courses for over 17 years now and this every bit as good as any I have worked on. All tee boxes have been built to USGA specifications,” he told Joy Sports the tour.
According to Kelly, a type of Riviera Bermuda grass from Spain was planted on the tees and fairways, while the roughs have another strain of Bermuda from the US.
“They are all warm season grasses and obviously because of the warm climate in Africa we also had to get drought tolerant grasses.” He added
The contractor also confirmed that he and three other greenkeepers are training the local groundsmen of the Achimota Golf Course in the processes and practices in maintenance of the course.
With this, Achimota Golf Club is set to attract at least one PGA tournament by next year.
Tullow-handover-to-AGC-image.jpg
Tullow Oil PLC as part of its shared value agenda to develop sports and its infrastructure in Ghana has successfully completed the reconstruction of the Achimota Golf course and has also officially been handed over to the Achimota Golf Club.
The Achimota Golf Course, has now been refurbished to a Professional Golfers Association (PGA) standard turf being the first in West Africa, can now host any top international golf event.
It was was designed by the celebrated captain of the 2014 Europe Ryder Cup team Paul McGinley.
At a ceremony in Accra which was held at the Achimota Golf Club and graced by his Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, he commended the entire management of Tullow Oil Ghana PLC for the big facelift it has given the game of Golf in Ghana and urged other institutions to do same in supporting the sports of Golf.
“I am passionate about golf because in addition to all benefits derivable from all sports, golf instils integrity, perseverance and leadership beyond any other sport. Authorities must help us to drive the game of Golf forward and I am confident golf will help drive Ghana to greater heights…and thank Tullow Oil for the gesture and therefore urge other corporate organizations to also show interest in the development of sporting discipline and not just football.
The handing over ceremony brought together staff of Tullow Oil Ghana PLC, other members of corporate Ghana and Golfers of the Achimota Golf Club. According to Otumfuo, in promoting golf, gateways to bigger opportunities open for the Ghanaian youth and the Ghanaian economy at large.
He said the challenge for the sport therefore, was to create the right conditions for sensible collaboration and provide the right incentives for Golfers.
“I want to use this ceremony to call for new direction and for a new commitment to the development of sports in Ghana. We should use sports and physical recreation to build a strong and physically, mentally fit and alert community able to fight off many disease afflicting us such as hypertension and heart attacks most of which can be prevented by simple physical exercises,” the Asantehene emphasised.
He went on to add that there were other lucrative sports as important as football which brings brighter prospects for the active Ghanaian youth.
“Doing this will require that we restore the equilibrium between physical and academic education and ensure that our schools become, in consonance with best practices in all enlightened countries, the bedrocks on which sports development proceeds,” the Asantehene indicated.
DATE
28 November 2015 /General News