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 Daily Independent Online.
* Friday, July 23, 2004.
Alika outlines problems of
amateur tournaments
Stories
by Taiwo Alimi
Senior Correspondent, Lagos
He
is not called ‘the starter’ for nothing. He is a strong believer in
discipline and strict obedience to the rules and etiquette of golf and it
is usual to find him at the
starting desk of professional and amateur competitions from Lagos to
Kano. His name is Mike Alika and he is the incumbent Secretary General of
the embattled Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria (PGAN). Alika is definitely not a happy
man at the moment and his sadness may not be unconnected with the state
of professional golf in the country. But more importantly his problem has
a lot to do with the decadent level of amateur play. He criticised the
organisers of these tournaments insisting that the rules of the game has
been thrown overboard and the up and coming young amateurs relegated to
the background during the competitions, “yet these players are the future
of the game and should be treated fairly.
Alika would
be found at the Surulere office of PGAN Monday to Friday. He is the only
impression that the embattled association is still breathing. And last
Friday, he spoke with Daily Independent and opened up on his disdain for
the status quo.
“My problem
has to do with the manner the Open championships are been organized. It
is not properly organised and since it is now the order of the day, I
feel it is important for us to do things properly for the golf community
to have the maximum benefit. I am far from being happy with the state of
things. I think it is important for these competitions to be properly
managed. The real players are the handicap 0-12 and they should be so
treated. It is not right that these players are relegated to the
background during any Open. This is the only way to get the highest
quality of play in any Open and make the category two players those who
play handicap 13 and above to buckle up and improve on their game”
Continuing,
the quiet and likable administrator added “ I am not at home with this
idea of jumbling all low and high handicappers together and allowing the
category two players who otherwise should have been in the guest category
to cart home all the prizes. It is not too good. It also has the
potential of crowding the fairway and slowing down play as all manner of
players are allowed to play at the same time. Category one players
deserve some form of respect like the professionals would have in a
Pro/Am and this would make others to improve on their games if they want
to play with the top amateurs. In a way, it would make the game to
improve,” informed Alika.
The chubby
looking former player went on to advise clubs to consider playing more
club championships that would feature members and high handicappers in
order to improve on their games.
“As a matter of fact, category
three players should not be rubbing shoulder with the category one
players on the course. It makes the place to be rowdy. Category three
players should be confined to club competitions where, if they are
willing, they can improve
and join lower handicapper on the course. They can now improve and cut
down on their handicaps. Open should be left for the best players and
that way we would see the best of amateur competitions. However, if it is
so important that they must play in an Open then they can be accommodated
under the guest category as special invitees. When they are allowed to
rub shoulder with category one and two players then the game cannot grow
and the players too may be so satisfied maintaining the status quo. They
should be put on their toes. It is very important to do that”. Alika may
not be alone in this as a cross section of scratch players Daily
Independent spoke to, was unanimous in condemning the situation. “Most
times when we go for Open competitions the norm is for all of us to be
crowded with the category three players and prizes are also provided in
the net, making it quite impossible for scratch players or category one
amateurs to win. It is not too good because there is a need to encourage
the up and coming players who may want to play the game to the
professional level and one day do the country proud,” IBB Golf and
Country Club scratch player and winner of the CMCL Open Edet Michael Umoh
said.
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