The second staging of the two-day Sandals Golf and Jerk Festival will be held on May 4 and 5 with a spanking new 2019 Kia Optima on offer as one of the many prizes to be won.

The announcement was made by conceptualiser Miguel Arthurs, general manager of Sandals Golf and Country Club, at the Kia headquarters on Oxford Road in Kingston yesterday.

“On May 4 and 5 the place to be is Sandals Golf and Country Club. We will be having the first-ever 36-hole scramble in Jamaica and that I am sure the golfers will enjoy. We will be also having the first-ever adult and junior two-man scramble.

“Every nation is built through the very small unit of family. It’s another way for us to mentor our people. It has never been done before. You are going to have an adult partnering with a junior and competing for the fabulous prize. We are going to have as our hole in one prize a 2019 Kia Optima,” said Arthurs.

Over two days, approximately 90 adults and junior golfers will be in St Ann where there will also be a Best Dressed Chicken-sponsored Jerk Food competition with $50,000 cash and prizes in offer.

“This is the best, the biggest and the most unique golf event we have in Jamaica and when you put sports with food, it’s a marriage made in heaven,” Arthurs noted.

Lincoln Robinson, marketing and sales manager, Best Dressed Chicken, said they are no strangers in supporting Sandals Foundation.

“We take pride knowing that we are partnering with a foundation that is not only impacting the lives of our youths but also our health-care system. Fostering solid partnership with organisations that are aligned to our core values is important to us,” he added.

Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation Heidi Clarke noted that the first edition was very successful hence they are super excited looking towards this year’s tournament.

“Last month marked the 10th anniversary of the Sandals Foundation, it’s a milestone for us and what we do it’s not possible without our incredible partners, sponsors, guests and, of course, our team members, and we are thrilled with this milestone in how far we have come in 10 years,” said Clarke.

“The Sandals Golf and Jerk Festival is really just one of the aspects of our celebrations this year and one of the largest aspects. So it falls in line with what we have been doing with our golf programme. Our Care For Kids golf programme has been one of the integral programmes for the last 10 years, really supporting youth through sports,” she added.

Golfers and patrons will enjoy a Starbucks Coffee Terrace, CPJ Luxury Lounge and Happy Hour. Not to be left out, children under 10 will be kept busy by Sandals Golf pro in a Drive and Putt competition.

Allison Reid of the Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) was on hand at the launch and she again pointed out that her organisation is happy to be a part of this venture.

“Sandals Foundation has been a very supportive partner of junior golf for six years. Last year the juniors enjoyed themselves. For those of you who were there, you could see them enjoying the music and coming off the course and participating in the jerk chicken. This event is unique and brings together two things Jamaicans love — sports and food,” she explained.

“Junior golf is very important to Jamaica Golf Association for many reasons. But the most significant reason is the effect of sports on the juniors. Golf brings children from all walks of life and all corners of Jamaica together. As Jamaica prepare to send a team to the 32nd staging of Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship where we will compete with seven other nations, Sandals Foundation is right there with us,” said Reid.

“We at the JGA are happy to be a part of this event and look forward to May 4th and 5th,” she added.