By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Professional Golfers Federation took the time out to recognise and honour veteran international golfer Malachi Knowles on his return home.

At an informal welcome ceremony on Friday at the Poop Deck, West Bay Street, federation president Glen Pratt said Knowles, the founder and president of the African American Golfers Hall of Fame, is an accomplished Bahamian with his roots hailing from Simms, Long Island by virtue of his parents.

“I don’t think to this point, The Bahamas has greatly acknowledged the fact that this giant of a man, one of the most influential men in golf in America,” Pratt said.

Pratt, along with Indira Thompson, the assistant secretary and chairperson of the welcome committee, presented Knowles with a plaque on behalf of the federation. 

Likewise, Knowles, his wife Esmeralda Knowles and Gillian Constable, the sports event manager of their Inner City Youth Golfers Incorporated, present both the federation and the Flamingo Golf Association a plaque for their contribution to the sport in The Bahamas.

Just this past May in Palm Beach County, Florida, Knowles inducted Pratt into the African American Hall of Fame. He joined a list of Bahamians, including Delancy, Fred Lightbourne of the Poop Deck Eagles organisation and veteran journalist Fred Sturrup, who were all inducted in the past. “I simply said to myself, when did we miss him,” said Knowles, referring to Pratt’s omission from the Hall of Fame in the past. “Where was he? Let’s get him in here in the Class of 2024.”

Knowles, expressing his delight in being back home, said it’s a sense of pride to be honoured by the federation. He in turn, made a contribution of some golf clubs to Pratt for a family of three youngsters, ages six, five and two, who want to get involved in the sport. 

“This is a new start for golf for our youth, particularly our girls,” Knowles said. “I want to see more Bahamian young ladies entering the sport of golf because there is so much money out there and it’s going into different directions.”

In honour of his deceased father, Knowles said his organisation previously donated some 20,000 pounds of golf equipment to the Bahamas Golf Federation when Delancy served as president.

However, he and Delancy said it was a hassle to have the items cleared through customs, although they came in a private jet, ear-marked for the BGF’s Golf Academy.

Eventually, they got it all sorted out and the young golfers were able to benefit from the charitable contribution.

Delancy, who formed the Flamingo Ladies Club to reinvigorate the women’s golf programme in the Bahamas, said she’s greatly pleased to be able to welcome Knowles home as well. 

The former past president of the BGF noted that since the formation of the Flamingos Women’s Golf Club, they have made tremendous strides beyond their expectations.

“We are catching on and each time we have and it is in the (news)papers, but there’s more work yet to be done,” Delancy said.

Other board members present were Arthur Johnson, the acting treasurer and Warren Wilson, the controller of the federation.

Also present were Angelika Cartwright, the Ministry of Tourism’s general manager for sports tourism, along with Nathaniel McKinney, who represented the Ministry of Tourism.

A number of Knowles’ fraternity brothers, including Eugene Horton, was also on hand. 

While here, Knowles said he will be in conversation with the Inner City Youth Golf Incorporated with the re-establishment of the Bahamian-African American Palm Beach Cup where they will host a tournament here in The Bahamas and in Florida. 

It should be interesting to note that Knowles is in the process of completing the construction of the African American Museum in Palm Beach, Florida, by the end of the year.