Africa-Press – Gambia. One of the popular sports in The Gambia, but with a presence and dedication, is golf, and the home to this is Fajara Club, which has the po: popular Golf Course. Many people regard it as home to the country’s only full-sized golf course, which is also known as the Sir Dawda Jawara Golf Course.
Golf in The Gambia is accessible to both members and visitors; non-members can pay daily, weekly, or monthly green fees to play. Notably, the Fajara Club is the oldest social club in The Gambia, with a history dating back to the 1950s.
Lamin Jammeh, a senior professional member of the Golfers Association in The Gambia who frequents Fajara Golf Course, discussed challenges hindering the growth of the sport in the country. He said that among other major obstacles golfers face is the underdevelopment of the golf course.
He highlighted that the prevailing misconception that golf is solely a ‘big men’s game’ discouraged broader interest.
He noted that golf in the Gambia has a relatively short history compared to other countries, “It was introduced in the early 1960s when a group of enthusiasts established the first golf course in Fajara known as the Fajara Golf Club.”
Underscoring the importance of the game, he said it can bring substantial investment opportunities and foster valuable business relationships, as it is often played by industrious people.
Dodou Gassama is another golfer; he stressed the need for improvement in the golf fraternity in the Gambia to meet international standards.
He highlighted missed opportunities to participate in international tournaments due to a lack of support for the game from the government.
He mentioned that playing in international tournaments could be one of the most crucial steps for gaining recognition and potential Olympic participation, and that setting up a Gulf Academy would curb the financial challenge aspect.
However, he wants journalists to be more flexible in their sports reporting; thus, the game of gulf in The Gambia has remained hidden and underrepresented compared to football over the years.
Veronica Sabin, the manager of the Fajara Golf Course, encouraged young women, particularly Gambian girls, to participate in the sport.
She emphasized the need for more young women to become Gulf professionals and represent The Gambia on the international stage.
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