The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

MORE than $300,000 was raised for charitable initiatives across The Bahamas during the fourth annual Baha Mar Resort Foundation Golf Invitational at Royal Blue Golf Course.

The event brought together more than 160 golfers and over 30 sponsors in support of the foundation’s community outreach efforts, with funds earmarked primarily for youth-focused programmes and charitable organisations throughout the country.

Sydney Stubbs, vice president of the Baha Mar Resort Foundation, said the event continues to grow and remains one of the country’s premier golf fundraising tournaments.

“We had over 160 golfers, we had over 32 sponsors and we’re hoping to raise over $300,000,” Stubbs said following the tournament. “That will go back into the community.”

Stubbs said this year’s fundraising efforts will place a strong emphasis on supporting young Bahamians through sports, education and cultural programmes.

“Our emphasis this year, we’re going to support a lot of junior-type programmes, whether it be junior golf, junior tennis, junior paddleball and schools, et cetera, junior Junkanoo,” he said.

“We believe in sustainability as part of what the foundation is all about. But in addition to that, we’re also going to help a lot of worthwhile charities that fall under the community pillar of our foundation.”

The Baha Mar Resort Foundation operates under three pillars: community, culture and conservation.

Stubbs said the annual tournament continues to attract significant corporate support and community participation.

“This is the premier golf tournament in the country,” he said. “As you can see, the enthusiasm that it gets, the significant support, and we just want to thank our sponsors, thank the players and thank the volunteers for making this happen.”

The tournament concluded with David Bethel and Thomas Bethel of Bahamas Freight Logistics capturing first place.

David Bethel said victory was secondary to the opportunity to spend the day competing alongside his brother.

“The first instinct I had was to invite my brother Thomas Bethel over for a fun afternoon,” he said. “It turned into a little bit better than we expected.”

“We went out there to have a lot of fun and we both contributed a lot.”

The brothers kept their approach simple throughout the day.

“Have fun first,” David Bethel said when asked about their strategy. “We grew up playing golf here in The Bahamas and the first natural thing was come out, let’s each have a good time, support each other, not worry about the small things and see what we can do in the long run.”

The winning performance made the day even more memorable. “It’s phenomenal,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I won a tournament, but it’s even more special getting to hang out here with my brother and getting to do these fun things.”

Bethel also praised the condition of Royal Blue Golf Course. “The best greens I’ve seen in a long time,” he said. “Baha Mar was playing absolutely gorgeous. The greenskeepers really put some things together. Stunning, stunning place today and we had a lot of fun.”

Thomas Bethel echoed those sentiments, saying the opportunity to support the foundation’s charitable work while competing alongside family made the day particularly rewarding.

“First and foremost, Baha Mar and the Baha Mar Foundation do an incredible job,” he said. “To be out here today to support the causes that they do is incredible.”

He also credited Baha Mar’s leadership team for the continued growth and success of the property and the tournament. “To be out here today and be a part of this, it was incredible,” he said.

Asked what it was like spending the day on the course with his brother, Thomas Bethel smiled.

“All day, we can do another one,” he said. “I mean, it can’t be anything better, right? Two brothers winning a golf tournament and just being out here having fun. There’s nothing better.”

Thomas Bethel also highlighted the condition of the course, calling it some of the best he has seen in years.

“I’ve seen Baha Mar over the years and this is some of the best I’ve seen it,” he said.

“The greens were some of the best greens I’ve ever seen. The course is in great condition and it’s a beautiful place to be.”

The tournament’s top finishers were:

First Place: David Bethel and Thomas Bethel (Bahamas Freight Logistics)

Second Place: Felix Stubbs and Oswald Moore (New Providence Ecology Park)

Third Place: Lawrence Glinton and John Minns (Graham Thompson)

According to the foundation, funds raised from the event will support organisations and programmes focused on community development, education, youth advancement, cultural preservation and environmental stewardship throughout The Bahamas.

Since its inception, the Baha Mar Resort Foundation has donated more than $3.5 million to organisations and initiatives across the country.