The Tribune

More than 20 sponsors donated $50,000 in cash and prizes to support the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) workforce development programmes, as 100 golfers teed off in its 16th annual golf Tournament.

The scholarships help to prepare and educate young Bahamians on the career options in the Bahamian tourism industry. Sponsors provided cash donations, players’ fees, corporate prizes, and/or the provision of products and promotional goodies for the golfers ‘Trick or Tee’ bag.

Platinum and gold sponsors were able to ‘Dress up their own Hole’ and golf carts, in keeping with the Halloween ‘Trick of Tee’ Theme. Sponsors set up corporate tents, banners and flags, and some had personnel giving away promotional items, beverages and products from the Sands Beer Tent and the Heineken Stand.

Golfers played a ‘Fidelity Fun Wheel’ at the Fidelity Tent, while the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board (NPIPB) offered Bahamian treats at their hole. Atlantis, Aquapure and Scotiabank all dressed up their respective holes, while companies such as the British Colonial Hilton, Milo B. Butler & Sons Distributors, Caribbean Bottling Company Serena Williams Media and PR, PINOL - Bahamas Wholesale Agency, Sign-a-Rama, Graycliff, Cole Insurance, Resorts World Bimini, Leisure Tours, J.S. Johnson, Bahamas Food Services, KFC and D’Albenas filled players ‘Trick or Tee bags’ with corporate products and paraphernalia.

“The support from our local businesses was truly impressive. All industries supported the BHTA Golf Tournament,” said Stuart Bowe, BHTA president. “The tournament set-up created a new standard for the future.”

Suzanne Pattusch, BHTA executive vice-president, said: “We could not have done this without the support and participation of our corporate sponsors, our golfers and, of course, the BHTA staff, volunteers and Golf committee members. Not only was the tournament a smashing success in terms of the support garnered, everyone had fun playing and participating.”

“We fully expect next year to be even more dynamic; more entertaining,” said Charlotte Knowles Thompson, BHTA administrator and committee member. “The sponsors are already plotting how to outperform their ‘friendly competition’, not only on the course, but at their respective ‘sponsored holes’.

Tournament winners, Anthony Hinsey and Gerhard Burkes, took top spot and won tickets to the US from Bahamasair. Other prizes included hotel ‘stay-cations’ to Atlantis, Treasure Cay, Pink Sands, Valentines Resort and Marina, Comfort Suites, Melia, Pelican Bay, Pigeon Cay and Swains Cay.

Attraction members such as Ardastra, Dolphin Encounters, Luciano’s Restaurant, Duke Wells Photography and Mandara Spa were part of the prize packages.

Albany Golf Club awarded another top team four complimentary rounds of golf on their championship course. The Best Dressed Hole went to Sands Beer, who won tickets to the VIP Tent at the upcoming Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classics, and Best Dressed Cart went to Fidelity Bank, who won family passes to Dolphin Encounters.