49th Ikoyi Club Ladies Open Celebrates Golf, Diverse Nigerian Culture 

Esther Oluku

To celebrate the game of golf, the rich and diverse culture of the Nigerian nation, and indulge participants in the music, art, fashion and culinary of the country, the 49th edition of the Ikoyi Club Ladies Open commenced today and would run till November 15, 2024, at Ikoyi Golf Club, Lagos. 

As an event recognised by the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, this year’s event will be an opportunity for winners in the amateur category to get their ranking. 

According to the Co-Chairperson, 49th Ikoyi Ladies Open, Ronke Iyiola, this year’s event themed “A Taste of Nigeria”, will be a platform to celebrate the game of golf, the rich and diverse culture of the Nigerian nation, and indulge participants in the music, art, fashion and culinary of the country.

Iyiola added that the event, which is the Club’s commitment to promote professionalism and encourage progression, will showcase 17 professional golfers from Nigeria and around the world, 120 amateur female golfers and 100 male guest golfers, bringing the total number of participating golfers to 237.

Professional female golfers from the United States of America, Milan, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria among other countries of the world would make up the 17 to compete for the coveted grand prize.

Iyiola said: “This year will be the first time we would have 17 of our lady professionals from all over Nigeria and around the world play. So, we are hoping that this will give them an opportunity to showcase their skills and hopefully attract sponsors, so they too can be on tour like we have in the male category. 

“We are also raising the bar this year, because we are introducing our charity programme for our Caddies. They got to play earlier this year for qualifiers and 50 of them have qualified and are going to be playing on Monday the 11th, as part of the pre-tournament activities. 

“Ten per cent of everything we get from our sponsors is dedicated to our Caddies programme. Our Caddies can apply to get a chance to win a scholarship for themselves or their child as the case may be.”

The Lady Captain, Ikoyi Club 1938, Fatumata Soukouna Coker, stated that the grand prize award for the winner of this year’s event is a premium ticket for a round trip to the United States of America sponsored by Delta Airlines.

She added that the second place winner would be rewarded with a trip to Marrakech with the game of golf included, while the third place winner would be gifted a trip to Lakowe and a ticket for the game of golf for two.

Giving a sneak peak into the line up of activities for the event, the second Co-Chairperson for the event, Mrs. Nkoli Moka, said: “For the three days, we will be celebrating Nigerian culture through music, fashion, art and food which will be showcased at a marketplace where we will also be exhibiting fabrics from other parts of the country for participants to see.”