The Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has given rays of hope that a yearly grant hitherto given to the Dolphin Golf Club in Navy Town, Ojo Lagos, would be restored.
Rear Admiral YB Wambai, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command (FOC West), disclosed this on Saturday at the closing ceremony of the 7th Annual FOC Western Naval Command Golf Tournament, which took place in Navy Town.
“The Office of the Flag Officer Commanding is making concerted effort to see that the yearly grant given to the Dolphin Golf Club by the Naval Headquarters hitherto, is restored,” the FOC said.
The three-day golf tournament saw several winners including Rosita Anwengs, who emerged as the ladies Best Net, while the over-all Net winner was Obeh George, and others in various categories.
Welcoming guests to the opening of the event, Captain of the club, Kronakegha Uti, said that the 2022 entries were the greatest number of entries in any tournament in the Dolphin Golf Club.
At the close of the event, the FOC West, Admiral Wambai, expressed satisfaction that the game enabled warmth and friendship, thus achieving its desired aim of bonding alongside keeping physically and mentally fit.
“I can see friendship, relaxed mood to the game of golf, having gone round 18 holes. With all sense of humility, the aim of this even has been greatly achieved.
“On bonding, we have people from para-military organisations, military organisations and civil societies, all here. It means it is a place of bonding, and this is what we need off work hours.
“What we develop here, we translate into working hours, because when we meet to interact, we interact with a lot of ease. By and large, the aspect of keeping ourselves physically fit has also been achieved; going round 18 holes is quite a lot of work.
“The game of gulf is strategic and brings about physical fitness. Studies have shown that the game improves overall health,” the FOC West said.
He used the occasion to encourage participation in the game, just as he also tasked established players to continue to build on their efforts.
His words: “I urge all new converts to cultivate the habit of regular play, while those who have been established should continue to perfect their game, while they take the opportunity to relax too. This game is to help foster life-long friendship.”
A significant satisfaction from the game was the ability to ‘catch-them-young’ according to Admiral Wambai, who noted that there was a large turn-out of young people; “Two of the winners of the main event grew from this programmes, which means what we seek to achieve is there,” he added.
Congratulating the various winners, Admiral Wambai also used the opportunity to say that plans were on for the club to design programmes that would encourage children within the Barracks community to participate in the game of Golfing.
“We will try to bring out deliberately designed programmes to catch our children within the Barracks community to be partakers in the event. I wish to emplace a strong culture of the game and it will require our commitment and cooperation,” he said.
He gave assurances of efforts by the Command in collaboration with the State Government to fix the dilapidated Alakija-NavyTown Road, to ease residents of the pains of community through the road daily.
He also noted that fixing the road would attract more members to the Golf Club, a desire that would support the growth of the club.
“I am aware of the significance of the Alakija-Navy Town Road to this club and the Barracks as well as the environs at large. To this end, the Command and the Commander NNS Wey has continued to work with the Lagos State Government to ensure that the ongoing road rehabilitation is completed, to bring succour to commuters who ply that road.
“Upon completion of this road, I am sure that the Dolphin Golf Club will get massive boost to its membership, as it would become more accessible to golfers to come in and play and make this their permanent club. The impact this much-needed increase in membership will have on the management of the Dolphin Golf Club will be significant,” the FOC West added.
