Aside from attracting golfers from the United States and across the Caribbean, for what is considered to be a professional and exclusive sport, the frequent tournaments at CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa have special significance for Anguillian children.
Many of the island’s youth, through a junior golf initiative, facilitated by the Resort, have the opportunity to learn the sport and, perhaps, one day, to become professionals like some of the visiting golfers. Another of the fundraising tournaments towards that end was played at the golf course on Sunday, June 21. In addition to the large number of visiting golfers, ten of whom won special trophies made from Anguilla rock, there were also several Anguillian seasoned players who received certificates and other tokens of appreciation for their participation and competitive skills.
Mr. Stephane Zaharia, Vice President and General Manager of CuisinArt Resort and Spa, welcomed the golfers who, among other things, were told about the Resort’s plans to promote regional and international golfing at Anguilla’s golf course. Mr. Zaharia later spoke to The Anguillian.
“This is our fourth Anguillian Open since we took ownership of the golf course,” he told the newspaper. “We have created this event once a year, bringing golfers from all over the Caribbean and also from the United States. It is sponsored by General Electric, and many other sponsors who are seeing the value of golf in the community and in the Caribbean. All the funds that we are collecting are used for junior golf education in Anguilla.
“We are working with Parliamentary Secretary for Sports [and Tourism], Mr. Cardigan Connor, to bring children from the schools to give them the basics of golf. Hopefully, we will grow some champions to represent Anguilla abroad in the sport of golf. We value the importance of this sport because of the discipline and focus it has, and we are very pleased to be part of this important initiative.
“We are working in collaboration with the Anguilla Golf Association, and the various sponsors, and also with the Departments of Education and Sports, to bring golf in Anguilla and the rest of the Caribbean region.’’
Mr. Zaharia also told The Anguillian about two upcoming events. “One of the very important events we are preparing right now for is a golf culinary event which will take place between November 5th and 9th this year. That will be in association with the Med Golfer which is a prominent Golf Magazine out of the Tri-State area. The other important event we are working on is one with the PGA (Professional Golfers Association of America). It is a golf tournament for November 2016 that will bring pretty much the best golf proxy in the world to Anguilla…and that definitely will put Anguilla on the number one pedestal of the leading golf [resorts] in the Caribbean.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Cardigan Connor was asked how he saw golf benefiting schoolchildren and Anguilla in general. “In a huge positive way,” he responded. “While someone like me have had the opportunity of becoming a professional athlete by going overseas, CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa has actually brought golf to Anguillians here. As you know, golf can be a very exclusive game, but there are great opportunities for Anguillian youth from primary school, all the way up to seniors, to take advantage of golf. Having CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa prepared to work with us in the Ministry of Sports, and the Anguilla Golf Association as well, is a holistic effort. The golf pros and management at CuisinArt have said that they are very committed to making that happen. It is now left to us to appreciate the opportunities that are available to our youth. We have to go out and take advantage of those opportunities.”
