THE pandemic effect caused every sport in the world to be put on pause, and while some have found a way back under restrictions of COVID-19, some have not had the chance to recommence regular activities.

Locally, there have been more dormant sporting disciplines than active ones because the risk of spreading the virus remains too menacing. However, Golf has found its way back with regular tournaments and has even made a bold step to integrate the sport into schools.

With classes for grades 10 and 11 having been resumed, Golf has safely made its way into extra-curricular activities for several schools across the country and has had a tremendous welcome by the both male and female student athletes.

As such, the first ever Inter-Schools Golf championships got off to an impressive start this week with five secondary schools participating from Berbice, Linden, Essequibo, East Coast Demerara and West Coast Demerara.

The joint project between the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit and the Guyana Golf Association has seen amazing results in a short time as hundreds of students have been given a chance to play a sport that was only seen on television.

Corporate sponsors who have thrown their support behind the development of Golf in Guyana include Assuria General Insurance, Copa Airlines, Trophy Stall, AR Printery and Nexgen Global Marketing.

This pilot programme that is intended to train students who wish to write Golf as a sport elective in CSEC/CAPE, is set to expand to as many as 90 secondary schools by the end of 2021 and has seen tremendous progress in Linden where a full training programme is scheduled for March 10.

During the past week, over 200 new and dedicated players tried out for their school teams, resulting in teams of 10 (boys and girls) earning the right to represent their respective schools. Some even had to endure tough playoffs for a spot on the rooster.

Leading the way was Berbice Educational Institute, which produced the two highest individual scores with Subrina Balgobin and Delton Cassiano outscoring all players to take the top honors for boys and girls in the qualifiers.

Friday saw the teams compete under covid-19 guidelines in their own areas under strict monitoring, with results being sent to Allied Arts Unit where totals were tallied and the winners determined for what is currently Guyana’s fastest growing school sports programme. Those results will be released shortly.

According to the Physical Education teachers, the interest level for Golf is so high that this is the first time that they have not had to recruit students for a new sport programme but have been bombarded with requests to participate.

Osafa Dos Santos of Berbice Educational Institute said, “What is unexpected is that the girls are dominating and that makes the guys so mad that they try harder. It’s a lot of fun and excitement every time we get together.”

Similar reactions were seen at the Anna Regina Multilateral, Leonora Secondary, and the Wismar Secondary Schools, as well as President’s College, as they launched their programme over the past few months.