UPTON, St Ann — By all indications, the ongoing Sandals US Travel Advisors 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 Jake Coldiron, national manager of golf sales, the resort is proud to celebrate the 18th year of hosting the tournament, particularly after a two-year break caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“I feel like everyone is really happy to be here after the hiatus, as soon as I arrived the caddies could be seen getting reacquainted with the travel advisors, so it has been very successful so far. Everything is smooth so far and from what I have been told this is the best the course has ever looked and I am very impressed,” Coldiron told the Jamaica Observer.

“The ultimate goal is to get clients to Jamaica and specifically to get clients to Sandals and Beaches and so golf is just a small part, but it opens so many doors and is going to help get many clients down here,” he added.

While the putting contest which sees the over 150 travel advisors contributing a small fee to participate, create 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.

The team of Ron Wagman, David Assef, Scott Austin and Annaliza Proctor is currently tops on 64 strokes with the quartet of Damon Spady, Pete Drab, Jodi Hoesea and Megan Sams.

There is also a tight battle between the two teams giving chase, both one stroke behind on 65 stroke each. One of those teams comprises Ken Mann, Stephen Ellemo, Brad Beckman and Scott Roether, while the other is that of Jay Noller, Jeremy Lee, Adam Anderson and David Anderson.

“I think tomorrow [today] is going to be a great day of golf, we saw some good performances today [yesterday] and I expect the same tomorrow,” Coldiron stated.

Meanwhile, though currently occupying 18th position on 78 strokes, the team of Richard Leyva, Julie Leyva, Eric Rosales and Lisa Rosales were just happy to be back among their peers which was evident by their apparels which dubbed them team “Royal and Awesome”.

In fact, Richard almost got emotional as he expressed his delight about their fruitful partnership with the island.

“I met Eric and his wife here 11 years ago on the resort, so going through the pandemic was so hard because people didn’t know what to expect. We were told one thing and then another the next day.

“So the ability of Jamaica to persevere through all this and to allow us to come into the country means a lot to us and our businesses, because if it wasn’t for that we would have struggled in the States. So it’s awesome to be back home, basically, because Sandals takes care of us like part of the family,” he shared.

— Sherdon Cowan