Come this Saturday and Sunday, the South-South zone qualifying round of the Daily Trust President Buhari Golf Cup Tournament will play out at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital [UBTH] Golf Club in Ugbowo, Benin City.
Founded about a decade ago, the UBTH course is vast and extremely lush. A full blown 18 holes course is endowed with an all Green putting area. You can now read about one of the major spirits behind the Club. The fellow is High Chief Sam Iredia and he is equally the Chairman of the Club’s Board of Trustees.
Chief Sam Iredia, while serving as Commissioner under the late Professor Ambrose Ali in the old Bendel State, was moved around eight different ministries so the impact of governance could be felt by the ordinarily masses.
Meanwhile, Iredia was neither a politician at that time nor was he a close friend of Ali. It was the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who prevailed on Ali to tap from Iredia’s intelligence and experience so Bendel could run smoothly. And yes, Iredia performed in those eight ministries he served and Bendel State was better for it.
The man brought the same savvy manner that brought him success in those ministries into golf. From the moment Iredia joined the game, it became clear that a new dawn would come the game’s way. Iredia did not keep anyone in doubt that he was out to perform all golf rites after the game was wrestled from the grip of white settlers.
From the formation of Nigeria Amateur Golf Association (NAGA) to that of Golf Union of Nigeria (GUN), Iredia worked tirelessly to ensure that unity prevailed among golfers and that the rules and ethics of the game were adequately upheld. This could be the reason he is known as ‘Sam Iree’ in golf course across Nigeria. He has touched so many lives in golf.
In those good years when Iredia was toiling to get Nigerian golf on appreciable pedestal, it was almost unheard of to see any fellow on the fairways without a certified Handicap. In those years, fresh golfers would have to toil for weeks on the range before venturing on to the course. And anytime such fresher golfers moved on to the course, there must be a Professional golfer in tow to oversee their activities.
Through GUN, a union that is made up of all Club Captains across the nation, Iredia was able to formulate basic rules for all golf courses in the country. However clubs maintained certain ‘local rules’ that could at times override the basic rules.
Severally, Iredia served as the Captain of Benin Golf Club and even President of the Benin Golf Club. When the Nigeria Golf Federation was concessioned to Otunba Olusola Adekanola’s CMCL, Iredia was brought in as President.
He is at the moment representing the South-South zone on the Board of the Nigeria Golf Federation. Besides, he is the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UBTH Golf Club in Benin and a foundation member of the IBB Golf Club in Abuja.
Through careful tutelage, Iredia was able to turn many indigenes of Bendel to great golf players, especially in the professional cadre. When it became increasingly difficult for caddies to hit the course for a round, Iredia fought to ensure a day of the week was set aside for them to play. This move became solidified as other clubs in the country allowed same innovation to prevail.
Chief Iredia disclosed that a lot of things are still wrong with amateur golf in Nigeria. He said he would push to become a special adviser to the NGF so he could reshape the game once more.
Hear him: ‘I don’t mind if I have to spend my own money to achieve this’.
And in case you don’t know, don’t ever dream of ‘jamming’ with Sam Iree unless you are sure you will not be hit where it will pain most… that is your wallet. Reason is he is so consistent on the course and he hardly sees ‘rough’.
Over 350 golfers from the six states of the South South would feature on this great UBTH course. A total 40 qualifiers would emerge. While the first ten players would qualify for the Pro-Am, the remaining 30 would engage in another qualifiers at the Kaduna Golf Club come January 26 and 27.
The Governor of Edo State, Barrister Godwin Obaseki would perform the Teeing Off ceremony of the event by 10am on Saturday.
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