Does NGAP have a game plan?

I’m sure the PGT won’t mind allowing some amateurs to take part in its bubble tournaments taking into account the vast support given by patron Enrique Razon Jr. to top players

Hopefully, the newly-elected officers of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) will finally have a game plan to restart golf activities around the country.

Businessman Martin Lorenzo won another term as president of the country’s governing body for golf following elections held Friday at the Alabang Country Club.

Lorenzo’s tenure was secured after most of the incumbents retained their seats in the board. They were Pepot Inigo, Al Panlilio, Joe Dagdagan, Shin Paul Chan, Rolly Romero, Aurelio Montinola III and Kit Angeles.

They will be joined by new faces, namely: Sta. Lucia Land Inc. chair Vicente Santos, lawyer Arnold Corporal and Peng Perez de Tagle.

In his acceptance speech, Lorenzo vowed to sustain the big gains of his previous administration, citing the country’s victories in the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019

Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Lorenzo also reiterated NGAP’s continued support to Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan in their Olympic quest this August.

There was not much to cheer about last year except for the exploits of Yuka and Bianca abroad.

While golf courses were reopened last May, major tournaments were canceled last year, including the Philippine Open which the NGAP organizes.

It is likely the Open will still not be held this year.

Members of the national pool continue to train, I was told, but to get them ready for the SEA Games late this year, they may have to relocate outside the country where tournaments are allowed.

With less than nine months to go before the SEA Games, national golfers need tournaments to prepare properly.

Another road which the NGAP can take is fielding and sponsoring select members of the national pool to the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) under some form of agreement with tour organizers.

I’m sure the PGT won’t mind allowing some amateurs to take part in its bubble tournaments taking into account the vast support given by patron Enrique Razon Jr. to top players.

The pandemic has discontinued two of the country’s longest and enduring team events — the Philippine Airlines Interclub and Fil-Am Invitationals.

The current ban on amateur tournaments means that they will not resume anytime now.

The two events play a big role in the development of amateur players. Most, if not all, of the greatest names in the sport have played in both events.

It’s not only golf development that is taking the hit by their absence. Both tournaments boost local tourism and bring a lot of revenues to the host city as well.

The thing is, the coronavirus is here to stay, whether we like it or not. The vaccine rollout will help mitigate the problem, but will not wipe out Covid-19.

How the NGAP will respond to the new reality will determine the future of the sport in the country.