Nigerian amateur golf too elitist, says number one golfer

Andrew Odoh the country’s number one ranked golf player, says the elitist nature of amateur golf in Nigeria has impeded the development of the game at the grassroots.

Odoh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) must make efforts to draw up deliberate programmes that would groom budding talents to stardom.

“Amateur golf in the country is pretty much elitist, and that is not too good for the game of golf is not too good for the growth of the game.

“And that is where the ruling body for golf comes into play, which is obviously the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF).

“That is where they come into play they need to do a whole lot more, in terms of growing amateur golf and make it to be what is supposed to be, not to just see it as an elitists thing.

“Because the only way we can make progress is if we have programmes on ground that is going to propel a player from junior level to amateur level from amateur level to professional level.

“And that is the standard everywhere in the world, but in Nigeria the case is way different, you see young talents are restricted in certain clubs not to compete in certain events and all those little things.

“Those things don’t work, so the golf federation in the country needs to do a lot more in terms of structuring, restructure how we look at the development of the game and move it to the next level,” Odoh said.

He added that any other programme outside the phased grooming of budding talents and exposure to proper golf facilities would be an exercise in futility.