Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
A SPONSORSHIP shortfall of about US$50,000 (J$3.3 million) has forced this year's Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC) to be moved from the Cinnamon Hill course near Montego Bay to the Caymanas Golf and Country Club in St. Catherine.
The Jamaica Golf Association's (JGA) executive committee decided on the change on Monday night and has informed the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA) about the switch of the event which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.
UNFORTUNATE
"It's very unfortunate we had to change the venue, but I don't think the CGA will have any problem accepting the move," JGA president Gordon Hutchinson said yesterday.
"Basically, we got a very lukewarm response from the business entities around Montego Bay and we would have been unable to cover our obligations if the tournament went ahead at Cinnamon Hill," he said.
"The golf hotels were behind us but that was about it. This event would have been a great way to highlight the fine courses of the north coast like Tryall, Cinnamon Hill, Half Moon and White Witch but, sadly, it's another opportunity missed and we continue to fall further behind our Caribbean neighbours in promoting ourselves as a golf destination," he said. Hutchinson believes the move to bring the August 2-5 tournament closer to Kingston could see the JGA "break even".
SAVING ON EXPENSES
"We will be saving on some expenses we would have incurred on the north coast," he said. "Also, it's a lot easier to organise things at Caymanas than at Cinnamon Hill. We hope that Kingston corporations will look to get involved in the event and we can get on board a primary sponsor."
As part of the 50th anniversary of the region's premier amateur golf tournament, a special banquet and Hoerman Cup commemorative golf tournament were planned.
The special tournament was originally scheduled for Half Moon on the Monday before the tournament but will now be held on the Sunday before the CAGC at Caymanas.
The JGA is still seeking a venue for the banquet at which top golfers and golf administrators from around the region will be honoured.
