Golf tournaments aren’t just for fun and games, and according to Jonathan Newman, director of golf operations at Sandals Upton Estate Golf and Country Club, the Sandals Foundation uses the sport for serious business — to engage young people.

According to Newman, the Sandals Foundation’s Care for the Kids programme allows children to acquire fundamental life skills via golf.

“We’re giving them the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons through golf. Honesty, integrity, and patience — these are skills that go above and beyond not just golf, but transcend into life. So we’re thrilled to have the Sandals Foundation be their home at Upton Estate, and we will continue to impact them,” Newman told the Jamaica Observer.

“So the Care for the Kids programme brought to us by the Sandals Foundation is an integral part of this course every Saturday, led by Coach Bill Williams. He is our assistant professional, but he’s also the father figure mentor for these kids.

“Not just every Saturday, which is when we have the official clinic, but throughout the week, especially over the summer. The kids are here practising and preparing, and what we enjoy about it is that we give the kids from the stronger community an opportunity to play, and a lot of them feel like this course, the Sandals, is their family,” Newman further stated.

Newman also stated that the Care for the Kids programme provided the students with scholarships and the opportunity to represent the country abroad.

“What we’re working to do, myself and the team, is not just give them the clinic every Saturday, but give them a developmental path. So that the better you get, the higher the rewards, and the more we’ll support you at tournaments.

“So that you know the ultimate goal is to have them use golf opportunities to potentially get college scholarships and further both their education and themselves in the sport. So we’ve had, through the programme, a few juniors go on to represent the country.

“We have Andre Roy and Oshae Haye, who have represented Jamaica. Now they’ve graduated from the programme, but they also mentor and give back to the programme. We have Romaine Evans, who won the Caribbean Championships a few years ago. His younger brother, Tenny Davis, has won some tournaments.

“So we’re hoping to continue to see the growth and development of these kids, and we’re going to give them the tools to succeed and teach them to use them,” explained Newman.

Newman stated that the clubhouse, which burned down in 2021, was renovated and reopened in December and should play an important role in the guests’ experience.

“Speaking of offerings at the club, we have the brand new clubhouse, which was just recently renovated and opened at the end of last year, and it’s been great. We were able to use the opportunity of an unfortunate incident, but it was a blessing in disguise, and we’re able to renovate and improve the overall flow of the guest experience,” Newman said.

“Everything is centred on how we can give the best guest experience possible. So we transferred what was the restaurant downstairs to the pro shop, and what was the pro shop upstairs to a beautiful indoor and outdoor bar setting.

“It’s not just open to Sandals and Beaches guests; it is open to the public as well. So for the greater Ocho Rios region to come and enjoy lunch with us and experience the game of golf,” Newman ended.