Zidon: The General who gave his all to golf

General GT Zidon had an illustrious military career spanning 35years, with notable contributions to national history. Some highlights include the role he played as the Brigade Commander 13 Amphibious Brigade in Calabar and later in his career as the first JTF Commander in Bakassi.

Ask many about his character and they would enthusiastically point to the fact that he was an exceptional military officer. Always composed and gallant with utmost focus on the duty at hand, executed with fearless bravery. He is also unanimously considered to have been very compassionate and generous.

Speaking with some of his golf associates, it becomes apparent very quickly that he plays golf much with the same qualities and passion as he did while serving his country in the military.

One of his contemporaries reminisced on his exemplary stamina and how he would sometimes play as many of 56 holes of golf in one day

His contribution to golf is most evident in Cross Rivers State. The current captain of Calabar Golf Club, Mr. Igbe Arukumni narrated how in 1995, a then Colonel Zidon invited him to the golf course and ambushed him with new golf kit and made him take up the sport.

Today he looks back on how General Zidon nurtured the Calabar Golf course into a vibrant club having encouraged many more like him to play.

Peter Simon, a golf professional and coach, described how his role as a professional player today was heavily influenced by his mentor General Zidon.

He emphatically described his benefactor as not only a father but also a grandfather. He made this distinction pointing to popular consensus that grandparents are more generous to their grandchildren than they were to their children. He further explained how Maj. Gen. GT Zidon (rtd) nurtured him throughout his development as a coach and professional player.

This relationship wasn’t singular. It is well known that many caddies had the opportunity to transit from golf kit carrier to owners, who got their time to play under his sponsorship.

Military officers were not exempted from his golf promotion crusade. He encouraged many officers to get involved and play golf for the first time.

By his own admission, he still meets officers today who remind him that he was the reason they started swinging golf clubs. He says that there are so many he really has a full recollection of the events

As a true avid player, he did not leave the sport at the Golf Club. Anyone who ventured into the back garden at his residence in Calabar would have discovered a respectable ‘driving range’ and ‘putting green’ at the end of it. This is a total pointer to his total love for the game. It is not unusual to sit with him indoors and find him watching golf tournaments on television. With a wandering eye, one is sure to spot several golf trophies or even a golf themes portrait on shelves in his sitting room.

Some of his children caught the golf bug too. They were often seen with him at the golf club and escorted him to several tournaments. His youngest daughter has her own golf kit and shows a lot of promise.

General ZT Zidon continues to play golf today at the IBB Golf Club in Abuja where he resides.