As part of efforts to deepen ties among Giants, the Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) Alumni Association (GAA) has officially launched the GAA Golf Club.
The occasion also served as an inaugural tournament for the club.
The launch which coincides with activities marking the 116th Anniversary of GSTS was attended by global executives of the Association, old boys and associates of the fraternity.
Addressing attendees at the event, Gt. Dr. Tetteh Abbeyquaye, President of the Global GAA, shared his excitement for the initiative. He shared that the group was officially the association’s first affinity group.
He was hopeful that this initiative will be one of many that could help deal with donor fatigue among old boys.
Gt. Dr. Abbeyquaye also encouraged the golf club to start engaging students to bring them into the sports.
President of the club, Gt. Roland Ato Quianoo said he was encouraged to champion the clubs formation as a way of improving Giants support for GSTS.
“What came to mind us that there’s a lot of donor fatigue. If you look at the year groups they run into the hundreds but when it comes to giving back to the school it takes less than thirty percent who are contributing back to the school. So it becomes a donor fatigue for the same people who are giving over and over” he said.
He added that the club is going to help as an innovative channel to raise support for the school and it’s activities.
“The mindset for me was that okay let’s create this one and then look out for sponsorships so that when golfers go in for those sponsors, we give it (the support) back to the school”. He explained.
In response to the call of the GAA global president to include students he said there are plans to include students on campus. He added this was important because to the benefits students stand to gain.
“The discipline and the fact that golf is life. Sometimes our fairways are so big. And doing business with people, they feel like the opportunity is so wideso they’ll want to drive very long. But then they forget that there are other external factors like the wind, like how your club will react and all that. So they don’t take their time and the big risk and then the ball goes out and then we call it out of bounds” he summoned in a philosophical analogy.
At the end of the maiden GAA Golf Club Tournament,Gt. Dr. Asare Bediako ’03/H7 came tops with a Handicap of 19 and 65 net. Coming in second position was Gt. Roland Ato Quianoo with a Handicap of 19 and 66. I’m third place was Giant Frank Antwi. Other awards went to Giants Peter Brako, Sammy Ofoei, Benjamin O. Darkwa and Roland Ato Quianoo for the Most improved player, Seniors, Closest to the pin and Longest Drive respectively.
In the days ahead, the club is looking forward to enjoying more of the game while using it as a channel for fund raising. President Gt. Ato Quianoo indicates intentions to engage in competitions with the golf clubs of other old student associations.
By: Samuel Swanzy-Baffoe
