Lautoka Golf Club will set another golfing record in the country.
It will host the inaugural Girmit Golf Open tournament on April 2 at the golf links to commemorate a longstanding history of Fiji.
Tournament organiser and academic Dr Ganesh Chand said the event would be held annually.
“March 12 marks the official ending of Indian indenture by the British Government in 1917.
The Girmit Golf Open marks this event.
From 2021, this tournament would become an annual event in Fiji,” Dr Chand said.
Club trustee Raymond Singh said the club was honoured to host the tournament.
“It is only fitting that the Lautoka Golf Club host this landmark event.
Golf in Fiji has its roots in the sugar industry, and the CSR.
Lautoka is the home of the largest sugar mill, and the largest sugarcane catchment area. Girmitiya and CSR history go together.
“Fiji is known globally for a number of reasons, including, in golf, by the rise of Girmitiya Vijay Singh to reach world fame in the sport. Singh was born in Lautoka.
His father taught golf. Vijay started his golf career at the Lautoka Golf Club. To date, he has won 34 events on the PGA Tour, including three major championships.
“Singh was also elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006 as he was recognised as a legend in the game. Besides,Singh held No.1 in the official world golf ranking for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005.
Vijay was the 12th man to reach the world No.1 ranking and was the only new world No.1 in the 2000s decade.” Singh was the leading PGA Tour money winner in 2003, 2004 and 2008.
His net worth dated back to those days was about $75 million. “To this day he is recognised as a legend in golf.
In South Africa, Sewsunker Sewgolum (‘Papwa’) another Girmitiya made a name for himself, winning several European tournaments. Likewise, there are top golfers in many parts of the world, whose roots are in the Girmit system.”
The Girmit Golf Open tournament is organised by the Global Girmit Institute. “Girmitiyas now comprise an estimated 15m people globally.
They are slowly making major headways in various areas of life. One is in sports.”
“The GGI is involved in a number of activities to bring people together. The Girmit Golf Open tournament will be an annual event to bring people of all backgrounds together through the game of golf.”
Singh thanked Dr Ganesh Chand for his vision to remember the Girmityas and host the inaugural 18 holes Pro-am championship at the golf links course.
“Top local professionals will compete for a bumper $4000 cash prize purse with the amateurs rewarded with over $1000 with prizes.”
Contact Dr. Ganesh Chand – 9955709 or Roneel Prakash – 9293148 for details.
