By Donald Duff
The Lusignan Golf Club’s Noble House Memorial Cup golf tournament, aimed at honouring past stalwarts of the club is expected to get cracking today and will subsequently be held annually.
Today’s tournament will be held in memory of founder and former Editor-in-Chief of Guyana Publications Limited, publishers of the Stabroek News and former LGC pro Basil Sukhram.
According to Public Relations Officer of the LCG William Walker, de Caires, the first honoree, “was an enthusiastic golfer and a lively participant in the club’s activities while also guiding it through some lean years.
The late de Caires, was an outstanding son of the soil whose vision was way ahead of his time. He is widely regarded as being one of the finest newspaper editors of his time, who was both articulate and analytical and a man of integrity. His widow, Doreen, herself an outstanding golfer who was at one time, the top female golfer in the country, is expected to participate in today’s event.
“The second honoree is Basil Sukhram who was the club professional for many years. His languid swing and demeanor belied a fierce competitive spirit that continues even today with his daughter Christine,” Walker stated in a press release.
Today’s tournament is being generously sponsored by Noble House Seafood’s and will be played under a Stableford format with prizes going to first four finishers as well as the Nearest to the Pin. The tournament, stated the release, will be held annually and next year’s event will be in honour of Mel Sankies and Syd Cummings.
President of the LGC, Jerome Khan yesterday gushed about the importance of the event and the role that the two stalwarts played in the development of golf not only at the LCG but in the community of Lusignan.
“This inaugural tournament will be called the Memorial Cup. The idea of this tournament is to honour past members, executives and persons associated with the Lusignan Golf Club.
“The first of the two honorees is David, a past captain and live wire, who had a close relationship with the village of Lusignan and who was instrumental in keeping the club going during lean times. He built a very close relationship with the caddies and to this day they all speak fondly of him.
“The other player is Basil Sukhram, a pro (professional golf player) at the club who died whilst playing at Lusignan. His daughter Christine is an outstanding female player not only in Guyana but the Caribbean and Basil is regarded as one of the finest talents to ever come out of Guyana with a beautiful complete swing that was the envy of many professional golfers,” declared Khan.
According to the LGC president de Caires, who passed away in 2008 and Sukhram, who suffered a heart attack in 2009 after teeing off at the fifth hole of the course, played with some of the game’s finest players in the region.
“Both David and Basil played with and hosted many international sportsmen who played the game of golf at the LGC including the legendary cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, widely considered the game’s greatest all-rounder, Sir Ian Chappell, former England captain Mike Atherton and Jamaica and West Indies wicketkeeper batsman Jeffrey Dujon.”
“In our travels as president I met Sir Garfield who reminded me up to last year that he has played at the LGC up to 10 times and fondly remembers Basil Sukhram,” said Khan.
Khan also gave a little insight on the character of the late de Caires.
“We’re very happy to have started this tournament. It is very important to honour those who have given yeoman service to the club and help to sustain golf in Guyana. Players talk about the many battles between David and Syd Cummings and some folks would on occasions try to bend the rules in an effort to win but never David.
