47-year-old Golfer and member of the Achimota Golf Club, Alain Vignard, last Sunday beat competition from 24 strong contenders to emerge the overall winner of the maiden edition of the Ghana Minigolf League, which took place at the Marvels Sports Club at Dzorwulu, Accra.
The Golfer scored 44-points in the final round of the eighteen-hole competition to become the winner.
Mr. Vignard, who was presented with a championship trophy, will, as part of the prize package, also receive a fully paid trip to represent Ghana at the World Minigolf series, to be held in Croatia this year.
Following in the second position was businessman Ibrahim Usmaba, while Augustine Hohoayi also earned the Lowest Score of 40 for the Singles. They both received trophies, along with the doubles competition winners and runner up.
The well-attended event, which blazed with lots of fun and excitement, was also graced by two high profile personalities – Mr. Pasi Aho, Sport Director, World Minigolf Sports Federation, and Mr. Wycliffe Ngoya, President, Africa Minigolf Sport Federation/Kenya Minigolf Federation.
“I am particularly highly impressed that Ghana, with a rather teething Minigolf sport industry, has braced the odds to achieve this historic feat, by being the first country in Africa to organise a Minigolf League. This accomplishment alone is sufficient testimony to the bright future that lies ahead for the development of Minigolf in Ghana and Africa. I’m also happy to announce that the first Africa Minigolf Championships will be held in Accra next year,” said Mr. Aho.
Mr. Ngoya, congratulated executives of the Ghana Minigolf Federation, organisers of the league, for putting together what he described as a “beautiful league”, and commended its President, Mr. Talal Fattal, for being a brave visionary and an inspiration to Africa Minigolf.
An elated Mr. Talal Fattal, on his part, thanked all the league’s participants, as well as its various patrons and partners, including owner of the Marvels Sports Club, Mr. Edward Villars, for being part of the beginning of a ‘promising Minigolf story” in the country.
“With what we have all witnessed here today, I can tell you that Minigolf will become a shining star of Ghana sports,” said Mr. Fattal.
Mr. Fattal also hinted that the Federation had plans to organise many more events, including corporate leagues, schools’ competitions, and other tournaments, all geared towards the development of the sport.
He, therefore, advised all individuals, corporate bodies and organizations interested in joining and sponsoring the Federation events to visit their website www.ghanaminigolf.com for GMF Marketing Director’s contact.
The Ghana Minigolf Federation was launched last November, under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. It is run by a President and three-member executive committee, and currently has about 120 members.
The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the umbrella organization of 63 Minigolf sports associations worldwide with continental associations in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. There are more than 38,000 competitive minigolf players registered with the WMF via the 63 member nations, with 900-plus clubs between them. Over 1,000 courses are approved for official competitions and over 1,500 minigolf tournaments are held each year.