On this sunny Barbuda day, we were delighted to join with fourteen of our dedicated Rockstars to celebrate a milestone achievement of being the first ever cohort to be trained in Amenity and Sports Turfgrass Management by the University of the West Indies Global Campus Antigua.
From May 19 to 23 through a combination of practical and theory sessions, the cohort received over forty contact hours of instruction leading to their certificates of achievement. Topics covered included Turfgrass Morphology and Growth, Nutrition and Soil Fertility, and Irrigation and Water Management.
What started as an idea in December of 2022 came full circle to reality with instruction from a Soil Scientist and a Turfgrass Expert. Through their guidance, the team was able to connect their daily tasks with the Club’s vision of delivering a first-class golfing experience in Barbuda. For many, this formal training cemented the years of grit and grind toward growing a golf course on a remote tropical island.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Sports and Education Daryll Matthew was on hand at the Closing Ceremony on May 24 to share words of encouragement with our Rockstars. He also congratulated Barbuda Ocean Club on a job well done through tangible investment in the learning and development of the local community. Minister Matthew added that such an investment in learning will continue to bear fruit for all involved for many years to come.
Barbuda Ocean Club’s Project President, Justin Wilshaw, joined the Minister in congratulating the team and encouraged them to stay focused on bringing what they have learnt back to the golf course. He encouraged the group to continue to seek opportunities to develop their craft to be able to boast one day of having a top 100-hundred ranked golf course located in Barbuda.
Congratulatory remarks were also delivered by the Head of UWI Global, Coleen Letlow who reminded all present that this was seminal, as the Barbuda Ocean Club class is the first ever for this program.
The future looks bright for this elite local turfgrass crew and for Barbuda Ocean Club as it makes its way toward the list of top 100 golf courses in the world.
Thank you guys so much for the opportunity,my aim here is to put what we have learnt into action !!! Thks a million guys!!!