Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong, on Tuesday teed off the third edition of Governor’s Cup Golf Championship at the Lamingo Golf Club in Jos South local government area of the state.
Lalong, who came in blue Polo shirts and face cap to the Golf Club, teed off the tournament, saying it is an indication that peace has been sustained in the state.
The governor described golf as a game that would encourage tourism back to the state.
He said his administration would continue to support Golf until the state becomes the home of Golf in Nigeria.
“This is the third edition of Governor’s Cup and when we started it was brown; then, I promised that it would be green, now we have not only green in Rayfield, but in Lamingo golf pitch and official green in Government House.
“Now, we have started another green in Rayfield and very soon by the time we finished all these (preparations), Plateau would be the home of Golf in Nigeria,” Lalong said.
He added that his administration was focusing on golf because of the priority he has given to tourism.
He said: “If you are talking about tourism, you are talking about golf, and as you can see, when we came in (2015), there was crisis, and we started the competition and now people have forgotten there has ever been crisis in Jos.”
The governor encouraged people to stop seeing golf as the game of elites.
“Golf is not the game of elites; a lot of people are now playing golf. I said the same before I started playing golf; my presumption was it was a game of elites or retired soldiers.
“But the game keeps one alive and healthy and you can play golf even up to the age of 80. I encourage people to start playing golf because health is wealth,” he said.
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