By Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - SportJAMAICA GOLF Association (JGA) president Gordon Hutchinson was re-elected unopposed at last week's Annual General Meeting at the Constant Spring Golf Club.
While there was some talk that Hutchinson could be challenged, it never materialised and, instead, an amendment to the JGA's constitution will see him serve a two-year term instead of the traditional one-year tenure.
Hutchinson, who ousted Ossie Lee for the top post last year, said the move was designed to create stability in an organisation which is seeking corporate dollars while wishing to expand the local player base through junior development and also continue the push to make the island a golf tourism destination.
"The two-year term will provide stability and it will also allow for continuity so we can see our projects through," Hutchinson said.
One of the projects will be spearheaded by a new entity called Golf Jamaica Limited and will be headed by vice president David Mais, who was also re-elected unopposed at Tuesday's meeting.
"Golf Jamaica Limited will actively market golf in Jamaica," Hutchinson said. "It will be involved in organising events, putting together (golf) packages and working with overseas partners," he said.
Fiscally, the JGA has struggled to find sponsors over the past few years for its tournaments and Hutchinson said that was a matter that had to be addressed as the number of local events had shrunk year by year.
"Any money we can make has to be put back for the following year. We will continue to aggressively seek corporate sponsorship but we also have to move heavily into fund-raising to help ourselves," the Barbados-born president said.
"The local players are also complaining about entry fees and the cost of competing in events out of town (Kingston) and that also has to be looked at," he said.
"The bottom line is we want to continue to build up junior golf and aggressively sell Jamaica as a golf product. Jamaica has a very attractive golf product and it just needs to be marketed in the right way with the help of the Government, the Jamaica Tourist Board and other entities."
Also re-elected unopposed to the JGA's committee were Mais, treasurer Rory Robinson and secretary David McNulty. Leiza Blakeley was nominated and elected unopposed as assistant secretary.
The committee has three new faces in Frank Rosheuvel, Mark Newnham and T.V. Allen who will serve with Jodi Barrow and Errol McKenzie.
