Golf News of Monday, 10 September 2012

Source: Prince Dornu-Leiku / 90 MINUTES

Torgah demands more tournaments for golfers

One of Ghana’s leading golfers Vincent Torgah is demanding more competitions for professional golfers in the country because that is what can keep the level of the game up and also help golfers improve.

Torgah says the nation abounds in several golfers with the potential to become world beaters but their talents are not utilized enough because of the lack of tournaments enough to keep up their competitiveness. “There are not enough tournaments for professional players and it doesn’t help us at all. The level of professional golf is too level in Ghana. We always win when we go outside the country to play which means we have the potential to be very good but there are no tournaments for us to play and it is no good,” Torgah explained in an exclusive interview.

He added: “So we are appealing to corporate bodies to come on board and sponsor more tournaments for professionals in Ghana because we have a lot of good players and competing with another can only make us stronger so we can get to the international level to make Ghana proud.

“Because of the respect we have outside. Whenever we go we are few in numbers but we are mighty in play. They also want to come to Ghana see what makes us strong but because of the low prizes, they don’t come. The money is too low in our tournaments.”

The man who has won the Asaba Governor’s Cup in Nigeria, Gabon Open and Abuja Open already this year, finished runner-up to veteran Emos Korblah in the 2012 Tigo Tema Open which’s professional competition concluded on Friday at the Tema country Golf Club. He obviously is not happy with the result but has vow to make amends soon.

“Of course it’s a big disappointment. I’ve been playing with the guy for ages now and he took advantage of my mistakes and got a good win out of it. We have the Ghana Open coming up so I will go back and work on my mistakes and hopefully play my best. It’s not about winning but playing a good game,” revealed.

The man who started playing golf at an early because “I grew up around the game,” is also concerned about the future of the sport in this country especially with Rio 2016 when golf will be contested at the Olympic Games for the very first time barely four years away.

“England are already going to camp for their golfers to begin immediate preparation towards the 2016 Olympic Games but you ask yourself if we are even aware of that in Ghana. If our boxers, athletes and footballers have failed, golf will not disappoint so the government and sports authorities have to come to our rescue,” Vincent Torgah appealed.