By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedis.net

WITHOUT any opposition, president Lynford Miller and his entire slate of officers were re-elected for their second consecutive two-year team as executives of the Bahamas Golf Federation.

The elections were held on Saturday during the BGF’s annual general meeting at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. Former BGF executives Shane Gibson and Craig Flowers had originally intended to team up for the president and vice president positions, but they withdrew before the election.

“It feels good because we get a chance to continue the plans that we had for the Bahamas Golf Federation,” Miller said. “It shows that the membership has the faith in us to get the job done.”

Joining Miller on the executive team is Anthony Hinsey, the first vice president. The directors are Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, Ethelyn Davis, Frederick Taylor, Timothy Pinder, Dr Pattie Symonette and Georgette Rolle-Harris.

The selection committee will consist of Keno Turnquest, Duwayne Hepburn and Peter McIntosh.

“Everyone has a diverse background and we are all professionals in our own arena, so we’re looking for everybody to bring something to the table and complement each other,” Miller said. “We hope to do our best and help the federation grow.”

Miller said they were not concerned at all about the challenge from Gibson and Flowers. He noted that if the members “want you, they will keep you. If they don’t want you, they will bring in someone else.”

When contacted, Gibson said he had every intention to run, but opted not to contest the position as he had some other pressing matters to deal with. He wished the elected officers every success as they move forward.

As they look ahead, Miller said they are looking forward to expanding on their local programme, but more importantly, trying to secure lower rates for their members to train and compete on the local golf courses.

“The cost of golf has skyrocketed and I’m sure there are a lot of concessions and other things these properties are getting from the government, yet we still have to pay a high fee to play golf, especially at the Royal Blue, which is a Bahamian property,” Miller said.

“We also want to meet with the Minister of Sports (Mario Bowleg) to have a conversation about golf. In the previous years, it has been pushed out there that golf is just for the elite and the average person can’t afford to play. We want to change that narrative and make golf more accessible for everybody, just like the other sports.”

Hinsey said it’s an awesome opportunity for their executives to finish what they started over their past two years in office.

“We started the inter-school golf championships last year and it puts us in a position to make sure that the second one goes off with a bang,” said Hinsey of the high school golf tournament for boys and girls that will be held in March once again at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. “We have a very progressive plan ahead for golf in the country and we feel delighted that we have been given the mandate to continue with those plans.”

In addition to the High School Nationals, the BGF has a number of events to look forward to this year, including the following, but Miller said they are still trying to finalise the dates for the events to be staged.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships

Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships

Caribbean 4-Ball Championships

BGF Junior Nationals

BGF National Amateur Golf Championships