Everybody can be replaced. Life goes on despite the circumstances. Sometimes though, such a void is left that the recovery period is quite lengthy. This is the case with the late, great sports icon, Freddie Higgs. Higgs was 'Mr. Golf' in The Bahamas.
Although he played the game and was in fact one of the pioneers of the movement which saw persons of color break the barrier at local hotel courses, his forte was more in golf administration. He had more to do with the transformation of the local golfing program to respectability in the Caribbean region and the Americas, than anybody else, I submit.
Since his demise 18 years ago, golf in the country has not been the same. The successful achievements diminished and in general the national golf program is not respected anywhere near the level of when Higgs was the pivotal figure in driving the sport forward. Now, there is a chance for a revolution of sorts in the sport. Someone who knew Higgs very well and appreciated all that he did for golf, is now in the chair at the helm of the Bahamas Golf Federation (BGF).
I refer to Craig Flowers. It is because of the Higgs golfing background that Flowers' job is so challenging. I told him recently that if golf in the country remains the same under his leadership, his tenure would be considered a failure. There is much to be done in heightening the profile of the national program and recapturing the glory days of the sport.
The Freddie Higgs' act has been a hard one to follow in golf. I have often mentioned the phenomenal group of milestone golfers called the Young Lions. Carlton Harris, another of that "old school" golf fraternity, reminded me the other day that it was Freddie Higgs who was responsible for the 'Young Lions' term.
Higgs knew what ferocious competitors the cadre of young golfers of the day would be. A lot of attention was paid to the development program, under Higgs' leadership. There were several levels of golfers that were better than the best of what we have today. The core group consistently brought in low scores in the 70s and from time to time, turned in sub-70 rounds. They could be counted on for that level of production. This was during the Freddie Higgs' era of golf administration. There was so much more to Higgs.
He had a firm approach that rankled some, but his style motivated all who came in contact with him. I traveled and observed Higgs in action, managing the affairs of the delegation but finding a way also to assist the team captain in encouragement of the players. With Higgs around, you wanted to do your very best.
Higgs was wonderful for the sporting mix, golf, in particular, of the country. He set the administrative standard for golf that Flowers has to try to attain. Indeed, as this new Bahamas Golf Federation administration gets settled in, we remember Freddie Higgs, warmly and with reverence. May his soul continue to rest in peace!

(To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com)

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