UPTON, St Ann — By all indications, the ongoing Sandals US Travel Agents Golf Tournament is not all about fun and games.

There is a serious side to the annual tournament.

Apart from serving as a common unifying force where American-based travel agents meet to get their swing on and view close-up the exquisite Sandals Resorts International properties, the tournament also boasts a charitable side.

Financial proceeds raised, especially from a side-show putting contest, will go to the Sandals Foundation, which nourishes a “robust junior golf programme” that spawned the likes of Jamaican pro, Wesley Brown.

According to Miguel Arthurs, general manager of the Sandals Golf and Country Golf, the resort is proud to celebrate the 13th year of hosting the tournament.

“Things have gone pretty well and it’s properly organised, but the most important thing is that we have a bunch of travel agents who are not only excited about the Sandals product, but most importantly what we are about with us celebrating our 13th year,” he told the Jamaica Observer after a gruelling day on the sun-drenched course.

“It’s about having fun, but also it’s about our Sandals Foundation. And I am sure that you are aware that we have a robust junior programme… people are participating in the putting contest, and proceeds from that will actually go towards Sandals Foundation, and subsequently to our junior golf programme,” added Arthurs.

In the putting contest which was on in earnest yesterday, Roland Farrar led 100 golfers with 50 points, but today’s final day, others are expected to seriously challenge his lead.

Each of the 100 golfers has contributed US$10 to participate in the “putt off”.

With that subplot creating some excitement of its own, fireworks are on the cards for the major four-member scramble tournament, as it is expected to pick up momentum going into today’s home straight.

Group 23 — comprising Junior Rodney, Alberta Brown, Karen Scantlebury and Jacqueline Bass — led the first day with a score of 59. They are followed by Group 11 made up of Jason Dunfee, Jake Coldiron and Joey and Richard Mendez, who scored 61.

Group Four’s Larry Fields Snr, Larry Fields Jnr, Nicholas Middaugh and Dennis Fields posted 62 for third going into today’s final swing.

“Persons are pretty excited about tomorrow (today) as those who are behind are looking to make up on their scores and those who are leading are hoping to extend the gap, so it’s all going pretty good and everybody is just having a lot of fun,” said Arthurs, who kept a close eye on yesterday’s proceedings.

As to the standard of play in the amateur competition, he thinks the quality is high.

“They are largely amateurs, but we have a select set that is very experienced, but I would say their (level) is very good… but the course itself is a very forgiving course, and unlike a lot of courses, it’s wide open so when you hit a shot the ball doesn’t get lost and you can recover,” he noted.

Arthurs would not let the opportunity pass to drive home a point of praise for his caddies, some of whom are excellent golfers themselves.

“What really helps is the set of caddies that we have who are very experienced and most of them have been with us since 1992, and they are actually there to assist the travel agents as they give a lot of pointers and give a lot of support, so from year to year people (travel agents) keep getting better,” he said.

One of those caddies on beat yesterday, was rising golf star, Brown, who chipped in to salute his fellow caddies, the tournament, and its players.

“The tournament is run great and the staff does a good job setting up the golf course and the travel agents do have fun regardless of the result… some hit the ball great and some hit the ball bad, but they are all having fun and that’s what the game is about for them,” he told the Observer.

— Sean Williams