Shastri Boodan
The T&T Golf Association (TTGA) launched its 113th edition of the T&T Open Golf Tournament on Thursday at the Point-a-Pierre (PaP) Golf Club.
The tournament kicks off with a Pro-Am 18-hole competition on March 14 at the Pointe-a-Pierre club.
Teams will consist of four players, one which may be a professional or an elite golfer with a handicap of 3 or 4 and under.
Three scores out of four will be counted in each category and the winner will be the team with the least scoring average during the 18-hole tournament.
The T&T Open would be played at St Andrew's Golf Club at Moka in Maraval from March 18 to 20. It is expected that eight to ten local pros would take part in the tournament led by Chris Richards (senior). Richard was a previous winner in the pro section shooting a score of 10 under par. Also expected to play are elite juniors including Chris Richards ( junior), Zico Correia and Dravid Bhim.
Douglas Ammon, President of the T&TGA, told the gathering that the T&TGA is focusing on youth development as the way forward for golf development in T&T. Ammon praised the PaP Golf Club for encouraging young people into the world of golf by allowing juniors free membership and other privileges. Ammon said 3 national events have already taken place for 2021 including the BC Open in January and the Point-a-Pierre Open last month. He said the other major tournaments for 2021 include the National Junior Championship carded for April 7, 8 and 9.
He said the Caribbean Junior Amateur championships is expected to take place at the end of July in the Dominican Republic. Ammon said the T&TGA is in the process of raising funds and making preparations for the junior team.
Ammon said no venue has been decided on for the Caribbean Armature Gold Championships known popularly as the Hermann Cup carded for October.
The TTGA also plans to donate monies to a charitable organization in various communities. VP Wayne Baptiste said the TTGA plans on giving $5000 to a charity in the PaP area.