Royal and Ancient (R&A) of Scotland has proposed the establishment of Green keepers school in Nigeria for the training of professionals in the maintenance of facilities and management of golf courses.

The R&A Director of Golf Development, Steve Isaac, disclosed this during an international conference, which held in Nairobi, Kenya recently.

According to the Secretary General of the West Africa Amateur Golf Association (WAAGA), Abel Ebinomo, “The intention of R&A is part of their contribution towards golf course sustainability and to ensure Nigeria becomes the centre of golf development in the sub region.”

Against this backdrop, the WAAGA scribe speaking in his Lagos office revealed that R&A has awarded WAAGA a fifty percent scholarship to train three green keepers/course mangers, just as two positions have been offered for ‘train the trainers.’

According to Ebinomo, “This gesture R&A has shown in this regard is geared towards the eventual establishment of the Green Keepers School in Nigeria and having the right professionals in the running of the institution.”

“This is a laudable programme and I want to use this opportunity to say WAAGA will be willing to partner with golf enthusiasts and philanthropists to assist in the sponsorship of students in green keeping,” the Secretary General said.

Commenting further, he affirmed equipment managers are eager to come to Nigeria to showcase their product and assist in golf course maintenance.

The conference brought together club captains, green keepers/managers from different parts of Africa which include Nigeria, Uganda, Botswana, Burundi among others.