Golf is not for the unserious, says Anyamele

Some people come to the golf course just to have a fresh breath of the vegetation. Some come to just hack around and pile up divots they don’t even replant. But there is this third set that gets the Onwa Ngwa, Sam Anyamele, on the edge always. This is the set that comprises laid-back guys that will gross something in the region of 180 in a tourney and still have the audacity to proclaim they have come to enjoy themselves. This is one thing that infuriates Onwa Anyamele. He says since there are other sports that could provide fun, those guys should join those rather than make an attempt to put a blemish on the game of golf.

“Golf is not just a game but some sort of science”, Onwa says. “It is a serious game and it is meant to be respected. It is not for the unserious. I simply get sad when I see people just hacking around and laugh at how poorly they are playing. They don’t want to work to their game and this is sad. I must tell you the truth. I won’t play with unless you want to ‘jam’, that is course betting. You can ask around, I don’t need the money. But I just need some level of commitment when I move round the course with anyone. Even former American President, Bill Clinton will not play with you unless you are prepared to stake ten dollars per hole. He wants commitment and not your little dime”.

And if there is one man who has shown ferocious enthusiasm for the game of golf in Nigeria, then the person of Onwa Ngwa Sam Anyamele must come to the fore.

Anyamele has put in long years of service to the game. He indeed played a significant role when IBB Golf Club, Abuja was to be created. He came in as a foundation member of that club and ever since then, he has not turned his back on the club when it comes to rendering quality support. Recently, Onwa etched his name in gold at the IBB Golf club when he donated about N 15 million for the growth of the club. He has been patron of Sunday Kitty Group of IBB club for years now.

But for Anyamele, may be the Aba Golf Club could have teetered into the thick rough. At a point, hardly anyone was interested in playing golf in Aba. Worst still the course was left unattended to. The whole place was turning into colossal forest. The whole thing read like a shame to Onwa. It was almost unheard of that while Onwa was helping other clubs across the country go through survival, the one in his backyard was rotting away. Then, he made the bold move. He moved by helping bring tourneys to the club and friends and associates to Aba so the course could be engaged. He even talked so many business men around Aba into taking up the gamer.

Aside this, Onwa always hands out token whenever tourneys are being organized around the country and he is a pillar behind youth developmental program in the game.

Often he arranges tourneys for caddies and the proficient ones among them usually handed golf sponsorship.

And when it was time to build a course in owerri, that is the Arsenal Golf club, Onwa poured in immense support. And yes jamming in golf is thriving across the nation because Onwa has placed his heavy frame behind it. Some even refer to him as Chairman of commercial golfers.

“The game of golf boosts healthy living and this is why I love doing everything I can to get the game to reach of anyone who wants to play”, Onwa said. “Golf boosts friendship and creates avenues for business relationship. It is an ideal game”.