By Dolapo Junaid
The successful hosting of International Golf Tournament aimed at immortalising and Celebrating the life and time of Late Apagun Oluwole Olumide by the Abeokuta Golfers has been described as one the best gathering at promoting the global best practice of golf tournament in the nation.
The fact remains that, the club excellent performance since inception has projected it as a model and a center of attraction in the world of golf particularly its new concept of irrigation project which was proposed by the planning committee to immortalise Apagun as a symbolic honour to his onerous contributions and great vision for the club development
Experts disclosed that, though tournament had been played in Abeokuta golf club in the past since its creation in 1987 but the recently played Apagun Oluwole Olumide Memoria Golf Tournament remained one of the best with a classic tourch of international standerd that attracted a lot of prominent Golfers from all walks of life, creating an ambience of family gathering moment in a peaceful atmosphere at Abeokuta Golf Club in honour the late Sir , Apagun Oluwole Olumide.
Be that as it may, the tournament has really served as a melting pot for all golfers both for those who were agrieved about his death and injustice that trailed, those who were displeased with golf administration with the reason best known to them among other who had vowed not to associate them selves with the club came enmass to honour and immortalise Late Apagun Oluwole Olumide in Abeokuta even with their generous donations towards the vision.
The week long event that was kick started with the Junior golf Tournament, workers and Staffers , Caddies , Professionals and Amateur Tournament on different days, which was loaded with various funfair and the grand finalle held on Saturday 24th /25TH September 2021 provided great opportunities for thousands of golfers across the country.
The tournament also served as re-Union venue , without mincing words, the event would remain immemorial in the history of golf tournament in Ogun State and Nigeria in general..
Another interesting side attraction of the event was that participants enjoy themslve in each of the day as the tourney was packaged with classic funfairs.
The tale of alluring glamour and success of the tournament would not be completed without mentioning the courageous and bold steps of the Club Captain, Mr. Kola Adeneye who made the pronouncement at his innagural executive meeting that the tournament must hold 2021 and Immediately Inaugurated the planning committee members that cut across different strata of the club while Prince Roboth Bakre was appointed as the Chairman Planing Committee and the club Vice Captain Prof. Kola Abebayo appointed vice Chairman along with the Comrade. Dolapo Jinad as Secretary.
As Apagun Oluwole Olumide Memorial Golf Tournament Committee was innagurated, the Captain Kola Adeneye said , ” today you are innagurated as planning committee and the task ahead of you is to organised a high class golf tournament in honor of former Chairman of this great Club and part of your responsibility is to generate fund for the project to immortalise him in Abeokuta golf club and to bring back all the friends that had left the club since his dealth.”
The most joyous moment was that, Prince Roboth Bakre, graciously accepted to chair the planning committee project of Abeokuta golf club to celebrate the life and times of Apagun Olumide through an Annual Golf Tournament with the inaugural event that was held at Abeokuta Golf Club Saturday 24/25TH Sept 2021.
The Committee Chairman and his members swung into the action, dug into the profile of late Apagun Oluwole Olumide who was a strong supporter of modern development of Olumo Rock, cultural heritage and other tourism Center in Ogun State. It noted that late Apagun committed the last two decades of his life to the Golf project and development in Abeokuta Golf Club and through some of these projects he became one of the biggest promoters of tourism in Ogun State.
He was a philanthropist to the core and passionate promoter of Egba land both locally and internationally.
The Committee in their foresight, wrote an appeal letters of sponsorship to family, friends and the Golfing Community at Large to generously support the noble idea by donating towards actualizing the proposed Annual Golf Tournament in memory of late Apagun Olumide.
Moreso there was a plan to seize the opportunity of raising funds for late chief Apagun Olumide golf tournament to launch a special fund raising appeal to reactivate mechanised irrigation for the Abeokuta Golf course, so as to actualise one of the Apagun’s dreams to lrrigate the golf course as a baby project while alive.
Inspite of the socio- economic situation of the countey, lots of Golfers threw their financial weight behind the successful planning of the tournament and effort at immortalising Apagun Oluwole Olumide in Abeokuta golf club through an annual golfing tournament and irrigation project he believed and deid for.
Financial support towards actualising the worthy course was highly appreciated. A budget was set by the committee for the inaugural tournament at sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira only) The amount budgeted was to take care of the following areas:
Championship Prize, Trophies, Venue , Pro Cash earnings, Branded Outfits , Food & Drinks on and off the golf course, Officiating Team , Marketing PR and adverts ,Other related and miscellaneous expenses.
The Committee that was chaired by Prince of Gbagura, categorised and identified five sponsorship in Platinum 3,000,000 Naira and more Diamond 2,000,000 Naira , Gold 1,000,000 Naira ,Silver 500,000 Naira , Bronze while all donation was channel to a dedicated bank account at First Bank of Nigeria Limited – 2038179240 named Abeokuta Golf Club Apagun Oluwole.
The First Apagun Oluwole Olumide Memorial Golf Tournament witnessed the participation of over 200 Golfers across the globe , while prominent old members of Abeokuta golf club members, sons and daughters of Egbaland and golfing Communities praised the life and times of Late Sir, Apagun Oluwole Olumide and his great contributions towards the development the the game of golf and wellbeing of the younger generation.
The great vision and passion of Apagun for the wellbeing of the Abeokuta Golf Course made the club to reciprocate his generosity by honouring the late Apagun-pote of Egbaland with an annual golf tournament tagged to immortalise him.
Sir Oluwole Olumide contributed somuch for the development of Abeokuta Golf Club making it a world class by ensuring a standerd golf club with numerous social ambience to make it a model for all year round with relishing experience .
The Organizing committee of the Apagun Memorial tournament has keyed into Apagun’s visions by taking a giant stride to irrigate the course as one of the shortcomings of Abeokuta golf course more especially its poor playing condition during the dry season.
The Committee is poised to address this issue by putting in place irrigation system as a project tie to the Legacy of late Sir, Oluwole Olumide Memorial tournament with the launching of a fund raising campaign that would focus on corporate and high network individuals with a plan to irrigate the entire golfcourse.
This objective aligns with Apagun’s vision of a better golf course, hence the committee has decided to immortalize Apagun with this legacy project. As a matter of fact, all Golfers across the nation were encouraged to support in any way they could to help achieving the dream.
The Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo who was the Chairman Closing ceremony of Apagun Oluwole Olumide Memoria Golf Tournament, said the life and time of the late Apagun was a blessing to Egbaland, describing him as a referance point in the development of game of golf throughout Nigeria.
Oba Gbadebo noted that, Apagun contributions to the development of Abeokuta Golf club was still visible, hence it was very important for the club to immortalize him through an annual event.
Similarly, the Chairman, Planning Committee of the tournament, Prince Robert Bakre stated that the tournament was driven by the passion and vision of the late Apagun Olumide for the game of golf.
“Apagun had a great vision for the game, his inspiration was driven by his passion for the game of golf. He was selfless in his encouragement of golfers across Nigeria, regardless of their level. He contributed much of his time towards making the Abeokuta Golf Club an enjoyable place for many.
“The organizing committee of the first Apagun Memorial tournament has keyed into Apagun’s vision. One of the shortcomings of the Abeokuta golf course was its poor playing condition during the dry season. Our committee is poised to address this issue.”
Also Speaking at a week long event , the Captain of the club, Mr. Kola Adeneye stated that the tournament was first and foremost, to immortalize the late Apagun Olumide, and to recognize his immense contributions to the growth and development of the game of golf especially in Abeokuta golf club and was interested in making the course a world class standerd that will promote tourist traffic.
Other dignitaries at the event include the Agura of Gbagura, Oba Saburee Bakre, the Osi of Egbaland and winner of the super veteran cadre, High Chief Bode Mustapha, and the Asiwaju, amongst others.
The high point of the event was the presentation of prices and trophies to the winners as follows: Olatunde Olayinka emerged as the winner of the inaugural edition Apagun Olumide golf Tournament played 13 handicap and returned net score of 67, was declared winner men’s category while beat Seyi Akintoye to the runners up , playing handicap 10 won on having returned net score of 67 at the four day tournament that featured over 200 golfers across the country.
Engr. Rasaq Shodeko from AGC played off handicap 20 , won the second runner trophy with the net score of 68 net having defeated A. Oladele handicap 26 on count back, while Demeji Isiaka handicap 12 placed fifth with same net score of 68 net.
Ladies category of Apagun Memoria Golf Tournament was won by Ronke Folami played off handicap 22 she returned net score of 69 net to emerge winner while Chief , Mrs.Root Luwoye Won runers up with the net score of 74 net , B. Ifesanya settled for third place with 77 net.
Also C. Tobias clinched the professional category with 70 gross ahead of Lateef Lasisi with 71 gross and Mubasiru Sanusi returned 73 gross as second runners up.
The veteran category trophy was won by Tpl Gbolade. Badejo played off handicaphcp 19 and returned 69 net to beat the club captain, Kola Adeneye handivap 19 on count-back while the super veteran category was won by the Osi of Egbaland, high Chief Olabode Mustapha respectively.
Category,one golfers ,Owolabi. Olajide defeated Moruf Adegesin on count back having both played 70 net while Fatai Ajibade emerged second runners up with 72 net while Seun Akinbami won the best Caddies Category.
The consolation prices was also given to the winners respectively, best endeavor won by A. Alawode for playing 129 net. The nearest to the pin men and ladies went to Olatunde Olayinka and Sade Opawunmi, while Sina Akanni and Ronke Folami emerged winners in the longest drive men’s and ladies.
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