Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. (second left) with members of the DaSilva family at the golf course site
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. has lauded the investors of the Timehri Sands Golf Course and Country Club for taking ‘a leap of faith’ and embarking on the multi-million US dollar project.
Pegged at US$3 million, the nine-hole golf course, which will eventually be developed to an 18-hole, sits on approximately 72 acres of land.
Construction will be completed in two years.
A Canada-based Guyanese family (the DaSilva’s) is making the investment in the project, which is being developed by Golf Course Architect, Jason Miller of Canada.
Delivering feature remarks at the official sod turning on Thursday at the golf course site, next to the South Dakota Circuit, Minister Ramson Jr. hailed the family for returning home and making a tangible contribution to Guyana’s changing landscape.
“It’s a big signal for the country overall too, not just that you’re making the investment, but that the investment is a representation of the climate in the country,” Ramson Jr. highlighted.
Minister Ramson Jr. tries his hand at golf
The Sport Minister pointed out that the government is keen on creating “a fertile environment for the investment to happen”, thereby leading to an expansion of the economy.
“This place here, which is a worn-out sand mind, has now been given a second lease of life, which ordinarily many people might not have thought that this would have been a sensible type of project to pursue.”
“You can’t be a tourism destination if you don’t have a really good golf product. And if we’re going to be serious, this is in alignment with our overall vision for the country.”
A section of the area to be developed
One of the visions of President Irfaan Ali, Minister Ramson referenced, is to make Guyana a premier destination for world-class events, listing the Caribbean Premier League matches and the upcoming ICC Men’s World T20 games as prime examples of this.
“This (Timehri Sands Golf Course and Country Club) will help to fortify amongst the variety that will help in developing the country.”
An impression of the golf course
Timehri Sands Golf Course and Country Club promises to be a world-class professional course, designed to position Guyana as a host of international golf tournaments.
With specially imported grass to be grown on site and the installation of a sprinkler system, the course will be designed to allow for fast draining in the event of rain.
When fully developed, there will be authentic golf merchandise on sale, as well as an equipment and clothing store.
Rosalinda Rasul, Head of the Diaspora Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the realisation of the project is one of the success stories of the Diaspora Unit, which had engaged the DaSilva family throughout the different phases that eventually led to the sod-turning.
“This is really good evidence and testimony that we are willing to work with you…that we are willing to make your projects and your dreams for Guyana a reality,” Rasul said.
“We have quite a lot of interesting projects from the diaspora, whether it’s in investments like these, business investments, philanthropy, community development, sport (and) medical missions. And the unit has been very active in helping the global Guyanese diaspora and we’re here to support you.”
Rosalinda Rasul, Head of the Diaspora Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kurt DaSilva, the PR and Finance representative, said the idea of developing Timehri Sands Golf Course and Country Club stemmed from a passion developed for the sport during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was one of the few sport that was played in Canada during that period that allowed for social distancing.
DaSilva highlighted that once the project goes to plan, the aim is to use it as a hub to grow the sport in Guyana, with expanding the game in schools a viable option in that regard.
Hosting major regional and international competitions is also on the card, DaSilva stated.
According to Architect Miller, the course will be a Par 35 and 3,000 yards in length. It is geared to redefine the golfing landscape of Guyana, he noted.
