SPORTS REPORTER
CHIREDZI-Masvingo Provincial Golf Union which spans from the Lowveld to Mashava has elected a new executive led by Patrick Mangwiro at Masvingo Sports Club recently.
Mangwiro is based in the Lowveld and has been the Hippo Valley Captain for two terms before he was elevated to the post treasurer and later vice president of Masvingo Provincial Golf Union a post he held until his election to head the union.
The vastly experienced new president started playing golf in 2005 at Chapman Golf Club in Harare while he was based there and has been Convenor of all major provincial national events in Masvingo amateur and the Zimbabwe amateur in 2022.
“The main task of the union is to oversee the development of Golf in the province as well as being the link between the province and Zimbabwe Golf Association (GZA),” said Mangwiro.
He also lamented the shrinking of numbers at most golf clubs in the province due to a number of factors and one of them being migration of white collar workers as they look for greener pastures outside the country and province
“Yea we are losing membership, lack of sponsorships from the corporate work, ultimately it affects development of golf at grass roots level which is our core drive
“I am taking from where my predecessor left, we do have current junior development programs which are ongoing, and we have trained teachers under train-the trainer course, we should be rolling out grass roots targeting schools however, the limitations is on resources
“I would like to see clubs growing membership through junior golf development and for the province to produce top Amateur golfers just like Harare,” said Mangwiro whose term of office is for four years and will be available for re-election if members so wish.
The committee has seven members, vice president Peter Nyaruwata, treasurer H. Banhamombe, secretary M.Nyangani, committee mebers are Cephas Ngwenya, C.Marawu and Calisto Rukuni.
On programs lined up for this year he said, “we have the Masvingo Amateur National event coming in May and the Filande in December”.
