Vice President of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) in Ghana, Alhaji Ahmed Padori has emphasized that golf is life.

Speaking exclusively to selected Ghanaian sports journalists at Damang during the 2025 Damang Open Tournament,  he noted that golf is a sport that one can play at an advanced age.

"You cannot play football or tennis up to 60 years, but you can play golf till you die, we have golfers who are 80 years and above" he said.

According to the veteran who joined the PGA 35 years ago, golf provides valuable lessons and a metaphor for navigating life's challenges, emphasizing patience, integrity, and resilience.

He expressed that golf mirrors life by presenting both good and bad breaks, and the importance of perseverance and the mental game in the face of adversity.

"With golf, you can play alone or with someone you do not like or with your wife and family" he said.

He noted that great personalities like the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Barak Obama and Donald Trump, American presidents play golf and encouraged President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana to start playing the game.

He stated that golf can calm politicians and unite them, like NDC and NPP who love to fight in Parliament.

Alhaji Padori stated that golf must be added to curriculum of schools, and that is the reason he had been propagating the importance of the game in some educational institutions.

At the Damang Open 2025, some female pupils of the Abosso Methodist JHS were invited to come and watch the game and acquire the interest in playing.

His main concern was the low participation of female golfers, because everyone can play.

He revealed that the PGA is drawing a plan to allow girls and women to play.

He was very happy that the number of female players increased from four to 13 at this year's tournament as compared to last two years when only four Ghanaian professional golfers took part.

This time, there were players from South Africa, Senegal, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria who competed keenly and created some excitement on the course.

"The ladies game has improved because there were some top professional golfers"

He stressed that female golfers must be paid well to attract more of them, and he urged companies to come on board to sponsor them and the game in general.

He thanked Goldfields, Genser Engineers & Planners and all other companies that support the PGA.

He also thanked the media who give space and airtime to propagate the development and promotion of golf.

According to him, the benefits of playing golf are enormous, because it brings economic activity to where the game is played and players enjoy physical, moral and spiritually.

"I will suggest and encourage more people to start playing golf because it's not too late" he added.

He also diluted the myth that golf is a sport for the affluent and only rich people play golf.

"Yes, the equipment is expensive but you can manage and show interest" he stressed.

Alhaji Padori announced that the next PGA event which is sponsored by Genser will take place at the Royal Golf Club in Kumasi from November 25 to 27 and their Annual General Meeting (AGM) will also be held there.

By Sammy Heywood Okine