MULLET BAY, Sint Maarten — After another successful St. Maarten Open Golf Tournament which was held in April of this year, the St Maarten Golf Association SMGA was able to donate a total of USD 9,000 to three well deserving community organizations. These were:
- No Kidding With Our Kids Foundation
- LAB Sports Academy
- Junior Golf Foundation of St. Maarten
Each community organization received USD 3,000 to help each foundation in further achieving their goals and to increase the development of children in St. Maarten through after school activities focused on education and sports.
The donations were the result of the very successful 23rd annual St. Maarten Open Golf Tournament that was hosted by the SMGA from April 17 – 19, 2015 at the Mullet Bay Golf Course. The SMGA donated the net proceeds of the two day tournament to these charity organizations and the SMGA is hoping to add additional donations later this year.
The success of the tournament was largely due to the tremendous support that the SMGA received from the Mullet Bay Golf Course, sponsors from both the local and international business community, the 97 participants from all over the World, and the numerous volunteers. During the 2 day tournament wonderful prizes were raffled and auctioned off that helped greatly with raising extra money for the selected community organizations.
The No Kidding With Our Kids Foundation has an afternoon school program that caters to approximately 150 children and has been receiving donations from the SMGA for several years. From those donations, they recently built a greenhouse to educate the children on growing their own fruits and vegetables and with the funds that they received this year they are looking into the possibilities to extend their accommodation with a pergola that gives the children some shade while enjoying outdoor activities.
For the LAB Sports Academy, which is led by the always enthusiastic and upbeat Les Brown, the donation will be used for additional track and field material as well as for the coverage of rental fee to use the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex. The LAB Sports Academy organizes track and field training, swimming and outdoor sports activities at no charge for youngsters from all neighborhoods in St. Maarten.
The Junior Golf Foundation of St. Maarten is the organization that helps the SMGA to spread awareness of the beauty of the game of golf under the youth of St. Maarten / St. Martin. Led by Jim Rosen and golf pro Howard Hobgood, interested youngsters receive free lessons in golf at the Emilio Wilson Estate and the Mullet Bay Golf Course. The Junior Golf Program also teaches children some key principles of life like honesty, sportsmanship, respect and perseverance.
Each of the organizations were involved during the tournament, with volunteers helping out on the course as golf marshals as well as in the hospitality area and assisting during all the activities that made the tournament such a great event.
The SMGA is a non-profit organization of avid golfers that promotes the practice of the game of golf and to foster community sense. The SMGA organizes golf matches and tournaments for its members and non-members and donates proceeds that are made through membership fees and during these events like the St. Maarten Open to multiple community organizations on the island.
If you like more information or schedule an interview with the SMGA President Mr. Keith Graham, please call Marc van Iersel at +1721-5202901 or send an email to marc@hollandhousehotel.com.
The board of the SMGA consists of:
Keith Graham : President
Marc van Iersel : Vice-President
Mark Hanauer : Treasurer
Rodney Tackling : Tournament Director
Ricardo Perez : Director of Fundraising
Jan-Peter Holtland : Secretary
Ivan Havertong : Member
