Osmen hails golfers for July Mug

NTHAKO MAJORO  

MASERU – The newly elected Maseru Golf Club captain, Rasheed Osmen, expressed immense pride and excitement over the impressive turnout at the July Monthly Mug Golf Tournament held last Sunday.

A total of 44 golfers took to the greens at the Maseru Golf Course, making it one of the highest attended Monthly Mug tournaments in the club’s history.

“This was the first time we had such a large number of competitors at the Monthly Mug Tournament,” Osmen shared in a post-tournament interview with Public Eye.

“Forty-four is an unexpected number, especially in the winter season. We are not used to seeing this many players in a golf tournament at the Maseru Golf Club.” Osmen speculated that the significant turnout might be inspired by the recent election of a new committee.

“Indeed, we are happy and thankful that our members have shown unwavering support for the club. Today’s turnout has surprised us. Maybe this is just to encourage the new committee,” he suggested. He also noted that the tournament had been postponed to this week due to cold weather conditions, which might have contributed to the higher attendance.

The new captain expressed hope that such enthusiasm would continue in future tournaments. “We hope they will come in numbers even next month,” he said.

Osmen himself participated in the July Mug, finishing in eighth place on the leader-board with a net score of 73. Reflecting on his performance, he said: “I have tried my best. My handicap of six contributed to the lower position I finished in. But that is how the game of golf can be sometimes. Sometimes you play well and other times not.”

He noted that the July Monthly Mug Competition was particularly challenging due to winter conditions and the dryness of the course, which made it less playable.

“The competition was tough, especially because it is winter, and due to dryness, our course was not easily playable,” he explained. Despite these challenges, Osmen highlighted the impressive scores achieved, comparable to those typically seen in summer.

Among the standout performances were Rethabile Liphalana with an eagle and Nkau Matete, who scored a hole-in-one. “Golf is an unbelievable game. Today you play well, and the other day you don’t. It is not at all predictable,” Osmen remarked.

Of the 44 competitors, 10 were female golfers, who made a notable impact on the tournament. Anna Moloi emerged as the champion, followed by Vivian Mo as the runner-up, with Puseletso Putsoane and Nyakallo Nduule securing third and fourth positions, respectively.

“What I can say is that it appears as if female golfers are dominating just because they are playing with lower handicaps compared to their male competitors with high handicaps,” Osmen explained.

“For example, I am playing with Handicap Six, meaning from my total score I only subtract six points, while most female golfers play with handicaps upwards, hence they subtract 20 points from their total score.”

Osmen expressed encouragement at the rising participation of women in golf, noting a significant increase in female golfers compared to previous years.

“It shows that women are now interested in playing golf. I think that is why a number of women made it into the market today because a number of women are now playing golf compared to previous years when you would find that we had only three female golfers. Today we had 10 female golfers.”

Looking ahead, Osmen emphasised the club’s commitment to fostering the development of golf among women and children. “We want to push the development of women and children more than anything else,” he said, acknowledging the historical perception of golf as a male-dominated sport.

“It was just a tradition. But that has since changed, and women are starting to play golf. Like today, women’s dominance is an indication that they too can play golf and that it is not meant for only men.”

Osmen also praised the inclusive nature of the Monthly Mug competition, where male and female golfers compete together on the same course. He acknowledged that one barrier to wider participation, particularly among women, might be the perceived expense of the sport.

“Yes, I don’t want to deny that fact because you have to buy gloves and shoes, which are not cheap, and you also have to pay a certain amount to use the golf course, as well as a membership fee,” he explained.

Osmen compared the costs of golf to other sports like tennis, arguing that both can be expensive.

“If you look at games like tennis, you will find that they are also quite expensive because you have to buy balls and shoes,” he said. “Tennis is very expensive because [local players] use cemented tennis courts, which cost you to buy playing shoes every month. Again, tennis racquets are not cheap because you don’t play with one racquet. You need to have spares.”

He suggested that beginners in golf could manage costs by purchasing second-hand equipment, making the sport more accessible. “One can still buy golf equipment with an amount equal to tennis players’ costs. Golf beginners could still buy second-hand playing equipment; it is not a must for them to buy new playing gear,” he advised.

The remarkable turnout and the spirited competition at the July Monthly Mug Golf Tournament mark a promising start for Osmen’s tenure as captain.

With focus on inclusivity and development, the Maseru Golf Club is poised to foster a vibrant golfing community, encouraging participation from all segments of society.