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Nigerian amateur golfers will join others around the World to tee off the annual Scottish Golf Classic which will spring to life in the summer. The amateur Nigerian golfers are expected to stage a return into the international field. Anthony Azogu, the Vice Captain of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, sparkled as he beat the international field to emerge the overall winner last year.
Azogu was a member of the 21-man Nigerian contingent drawn from Abuja and Ibori Golf Club, Asaba, which participated in last year’s proceedings. This year’s edition will be staged from August 23- September 28 at its traditional stop, Fairmont St Andrews and will afford the players quality time to holiday, network and enjoy the experience of playing some of the best link courses in Scotland.
The tournament is facilitated by Globenet Travels and Tours Limited, run by Her Excellency, Mrs Faridah Wada, the wife of Kogi State Governor Captain Idris Wada. Scottish Golf Classic is a tournament that comes with lots of benefits including five nights luxury 5-star accommodation at Fairmont St Andrews which is seven minutes away from the hallowed Old Course.
In addition to hitting the fairways and savouring three rounds of tournament golf which includes one practice round, certified Scottish PGA professionals will check the participants’ swings and give them scores saving tips. Other benefits include, free use of the resort leisure and practice facilities, welcome reception/dinner, airport transport transfers, first tee gifts on golf days, goody bags and prize giving dinner.
The tournament which takes place prior to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, will be staged over four great championship layouts including, St Andrews Castle Course, Kingsbarns, the Kittocks and the Torrance.
The par 72 Torrance was designed by Gene Sarazen and Sam Torrance and was the venue of the Open Championship regional qualifying in 2010. It was also selected for the Scottish Senior Open in 2009.
Wada, who plays off 10 Handicap and was the captain of the IBB Lady Section in 2009, said that gauging from the feedback they got from golfers last year, they expected interest from golf clubs all over Nigeria.
Though, the organizers reserved 36 slots for Nigeria, a contingent of 21 golfers from the country eventually made the trip to the United Kingdom and joined players from five other countries in making the event a success story.
The Handicap restriction for men is 28 while the eligibility limit for women is 36. Wada, who is into tourism promotion, said that the aim for packaging the Scottish Classic to the Nigerian golf playing niche is to encourage Nigerians to embrace tourism and the benefits that come with holidaying.
“We are trying to encourage our golfers to travel out for holidays, enjoy the game and network with other international golfers,” she said.
According to Wada, the participating fees for golfers that want to share a double or twin room is £1335, while non golfers who want to pair in a room will part with £835.
Add on supplement sum of £579 is to be paid by those who prefer the option of staying in a single room. She said that payment is to be made direct to Golf Holidays Worldwide, the organizers of the tournament.
