For many decades, in the minds of many, notable performances and/or contributions by female golfers from The Bahamas have been overshadowed by the talents and achievement of their male counterparts, dubbed the “magnificent young lions”. For equally as long however, there have been numerous female golfers representing The Bahamas in outstanding fashion, both at the junior and senior levels.
Star quality performances and contributions have been etched into the annals of the Bahamas Golf Federation (BGF) and those of the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA) by the likes of pacesetters and exceptional players such as Muriel Eneas, Beryl Higgs, Eloise Lockhart-Pinder, Jean Dunn, Janet “Jan” Pyfrom, Giselle Pyfrom, Gerry Smith, Gwen Miller-McKenzie, Paula Newchurch-Cooper, Patti Symonette, Donnette Bain, Michelean V. Poitier, Raquel Riley, Georgette Rolle, Alena Hutcheson, sisters Annamae and Eugenie Adderley, and – arguably the best of the bunch – Jameica Duncombe.
Administrative and coaching talents have also made selfless, invaluable and outstanding contributions. Leaders in these areas include Pauline V. Curry, the first female chairman of the BGF’s Southern Regular Division; Ingrid Black, chairman/administrator extraordinaire of the BGF’s Southern Junior Division; Agatha M. Delancy, founding chairperson of the BGF’s Southern Ladies Division, the first female president of the BGF and a 2007 inductee into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame; and Yvonne Shaw, the second successive chairman of the BGF’s Southern Ladies Division. Shaw also gave long meritorious service as the administrator of the BGF’s administrative office. Recently, Shaw was forced to retire because of a health challenge.
Atop the others, are the professional achievements of Georgette Rolle, Alena Hutcheson, Raquel Riley and Jameica Duncombe – playing and teaching golf professional par excellence.
Notwithstanding these
remarkable and indelible accomplishments, the bar of excellence continues to be raised. The women’s division is committed to re-engage the energy, synergy and commitment it once endeared. It is believed by many that administrative restructuring is a must, particularly if the BGF is to competently compete in the CGA’s reorganized championship competitions, inclusive of the 2016 CGA’s Classic Championships and the 2016 CGA Championship. The division also seeks to have the best suited players represent The Bahamas at the 2016 Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic. The classic is set to be the first women’s professional golfing event of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) 2016 season, set for January 25-31, 2016, at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island.
Also, what should now be paramount on any championship competitive golfer’s mind is that the sport of golf is now on the 2016 Olympic calendar.
A clairvoyant invitation goes out to all female golfers of The Bahamas’ golfing community to become a member of the BGF’s women’s division, and possibly to become involved in the division’s administrative affairs.
The restructuring process actually begins with the women’s division 2016-17 biannual election of officers. Those elections are scheduled to take place on Friday September 25, at the BGF’s Driving Range at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, starting at 6 p.m.
Also, an invitation is extended to all female players to participate in the two-day golf tournament being hosted by the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, on behalf of the BGF, at the Ocean Club Golf Course. That tournament is set for Saturday, September 26 and Sunday September, 27, starting at noon each day. The entrance fee for the event is $275 per player, which includes a box lunch each day and a prize presentation dinner.
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