Growing Golf in the Caribbean Islands
One of the difficulties with golf in the Caribbean is that it’s just not cricket. However, backed by The R&A and the PGAs of Europe, there are signs that the small white ball is to be introduced to more and more youngsters in Trinidad & Tobago as an added attraction to the larger red one.
Following a visit to the islands by Tony Bennett, the association’s Director of Education, under the auspices of the Golf Development Programme, consideration is being given to sending out a consultant/tutor to help with the progress of a junior coaching scheme there.
The R&A have already agreed to fund such a project, from Open Championship income surpluses, and all that remains is for a suitable junior coach to be selected and given the assignment. This is the latest of such projects to be operated on a global basis in the joint development initiative.
This move to provide support in the Caribbean follows an approach to The R&A from the Trinidad and Tobago Golf Association. Although there is a TTPGA, none of its members so far have recognised qualifications. There are currently some 20 ‘professionals’ and 20 ‘non-professionals’ currently teaching golf in T&T.
Meetings have taken place recently between the TTGA, (now housed in offices at St Andrew’s GC located in the hills North of Port of Spain), and the TTPGA with a view to developing their sport in a more structured manner and Tony Bennett has tabled recommendations designed to help in this regard.
A lead in the West Indies has been set by the PGA of Jamaica who have joined the PGAs of Europe as International Members and who are making excellent headway in growing the game there.
