The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, now in its sixth year, has helped to solidify the Bahamas as the sports mecca of the region, said Travis Robinson, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation.

Robinson was speaking at the official opening of the tournament yesterday at the Ocean Golf Club on Paradise Island. The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation is a co-title sponsor of this tournament in conjunction with Pure Silk and the LPGA.

Other sponsors of note are Global Golf Management Inc., Atlantis and Aliv Company.

Among those who also spoke during the press conference were Bahamian player Georgette Rolle, Bahamas Golf Federation's ladies' division chairman Sharon Cleare, Robbie Leming, general manager at Ocean Club, Kevin Daring, RBC's head of business banking for the Northern Caribbean and Alan Bates, chief partner of Aliv.

Robinson said it should be noted that the Golf Channel broadcasted a full 10 hours of the 2017 tournament to 150-plus countries. For the event, there was a US and international in-broadcast media equivalency value of $4.7 million US dollars.

In print media, he revealed that there were 3000-plus mentions and placements in 50 countries. In LPGA and digital media, the event had over 600 million views and 500K followers.

This year, he said they are looking forward to even wider media coverage for the tournament with the 100-plus competitors coming from all over the world.

"Fans of golf in each of the countries from which competitors hail are all eager to see how their respective country's competitor performs," Robinson said.

"During the week of the tournament, fans over the globe are glued to the television, and they witness world-class golf competition rolled out against the backdrop of one of the most scenic golf courses in the world, in 85 degree sunshine, with nearby pristine seas and gorgeous beaches.

"In many of these countries, it's the height of winter. This kind of exposure for The Islands of The Bahamas is priceless."

Robinson noted that high calibre international tournaments such as the Pure Silk bring large contingents to our destination - the competitors, and all who travel with them including coaches, managers, tournament organisers, television crews, family, friends and fans.

"The 2017 Pure Silk Tournament accounted for some 3,700 room nights and nearly 700 persons during the tournament week, a net positive economic impact for our destination," he said.

"There are a growing number of fans of golf in the Bahamas. We invite the local public and visitors alike to come out this week to the Ocean Club to witness world-class golf competition over four days of competition, Thursday through Sunday, January 25-28."

Robinson said high profile sporting events such as the "Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic solidifies the reputation of the Islands of the region."

This is the fifth year that pro golfer Georgette Rolle will be representing the country with an exemption into the tournament and as a coach in her Fourteens Golf Club, she said she expects to have a number of her students and their parents volunteering their services to cheer her on. She indicated that she's looking forward to representing the Bahamas to the best of her ability as she attempt to make the cut for the first time to advance to the final two days of competition on Saturday and Sunday.

Leming said despite the adverse weather conditions that they have experienced in hosting the past five tournaments, the staff at the Ocean Club has persevered and they will once again be prepared this year.

He noted that this year, they have flooded the course with lights and so they are looking forward to putting on a first class event once again, not just for the players, but the spectators as well.

Leming said they have been pleased to have Rolle as the Bahamas representative because she has been an exemplary role model for the youngsters to emulate.

Cleare, in welcoming the pro ladies back to the Bahamas, said the Pure Silk Tournament is highly anticipated by all and already they were impressed by the clinic conducted on Saturday at the BGF's Driving Range by Daniela Darquea.

"Daniela, your words and coaching were exceptional and inspirational," she said.

Cleare said the golfers have to put in countless hours to achieve their success, but she said in the Bahamas have a number of youngsters, who hope to become future LPGA players.

She noted that her dream is that one day there will be many more Georgette Rolles and Raquel Rileys playing in the LPGA, once they can have access to playing on the various golf courses in the country.

And she also have a dream that there will be many more male and females following in the footsteps of Taneka Sandiford, who is the first Bahamian female caddie on the LPGA Tour.

"I have a dream that one day and one day soon, there will be at least one affordable community golf course with the teaching where young people inspired by Georgette, Raquel, Taneka, DeVaughn Robinson and indeed the Young Lions of the 70s and 80s, can obtain scholarships and with pre-requisite knowledge and skills, through competitive play and while so doing, realize their full potential in the world of golf, locally and internationally," she stated.

"My dream, shared by so many others, can become a reality with a committed, public, private effort, such as evident by the staging of this and other international golf tournaments held in the Bahamas. And so I urge those here present with the expertise and resources to partner with us, the government of the Bahamas and the Bahamas Golf Federation in building such a facility."

Bates said although this is the second year that Aliv and Rev have sponsored the tournament, the feedback they received was tremendous because of the way the viewing public were able to see the action up close and personal.

He said they will once again provide the wireless service and the infrastructure to make the tournament a success and he encouraged the general public to come out and watch the competition.

"This year's LPGA 2018 is Aliv," he stated.

Darling said their bank has a strong connection with golf in the Bahamas and two of the players they sponsor, Brooke Henderson and Morgan Pressel, are participating this year. He added that both he and Henderson hail from the same town in Canada, so he's looking forward to seeing her play.

"We believe that the junior golf clinic held today, help to build character in young people and exposing them to new areas that they may be interested in," he stressed.

Darling said that while RBC has been in the Bahamas for 110 years and as they remain a trusted leader in financial services, their dedication to sponsor the youth is paramount.

"I want to give a special thank you to the organizing committee," he pointed out. "This is a tremendous and a world class event being held here in Nassau."

The tournament is open free to the public. However, public parking is allocated at the Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island. The organizers have arranged for shuttle buses to transport the public to and from the Ocean Club Golf Course.