28 - SPORT 28 THE FREEPORT NEWS Thursday, December 6, 2018 SPORTS Government plans to renovate GB Lucayan Reef Golf Course SPORTS SCOPE BY FRED STURRUP LUCAYAN REEF GOLF COURSE he Lucayan Reef Golf Two Professional Golfers Associ- be brought in, if only as a consul- Course will soon be ren- ation (PGA) tournaments took place tant, to ensure that the money is ovated and upgraded in Grand Bahama some 40 years spent sensibly. accordingly, to become ago. The great players of the time; A golf course is to be treated far attractiveT to the best golfers in the the finest entertainers; and noted ce- differently than a home garden, of world. lebrities played golf at courses that course, because of unique playing Recently, the notice was sent out compared favorably with their so- dimensions, designed accordingly. by Chairman Michael Scott of Lu- cial status in life. Also, once this is done, a mainte- cayan Renewal Holding Company, Then there was a steep decline. nance schedule should be crafted the subsidiary entity of the Gov- Presently there is just one 18-hole in order to ensure the healthiness ernment of the Bahamas, that $3.5 golf course that is ideal for tourna- of the grass and appropriate upkeep million has been allocated for reno- ment play, the Lucayan Reef. The through all seasons, rainy and dry vations to the roof at the Lighthouse Ruby Golf Course is in poor shape etc. Pointe Hotel, Breakers Cay’s roof, and golf carts are very limited. Har- By normal standards of successive the Convention Center and the Lu- court Development Company, the recent governments, the taxpay- cayan Reef Golf Course. investment entity responsible for ers’ money would be spent on the The full breakdown of the specific properties in Grand Bahama, such course, and in a short space of time, works was not released by Scott, but as the old Princess complex, has it would be in need of renovations some who observe the course close- done very little in recent years to en- once again, just as with the schools. ly are of the view that at least a third hance the Ruby Golf Course. Quite frankly, Lucayan Holdings of the funds declared for renova- MICHAEL SCOTT It sits in the once elite South Ba- Renewal should seek to meet with tions would be necessary to result in Lucayan Renewal Holdings Com- hamia sector, far too derelict for the the prime stakeholders of golf in a proper upscale Reef Golf Course. pany Chairman likes of the top tournament organiz- Grand Bahama; a few top players Included in the upgrade of the reef ers. and noted organizers of tourna- Course will be 12 more golf carts, with a much more attractive course It is good indeed that the decision ments, before detailing the renova- bringing the total available for play- to entice players out of the Unit- has been made to upgrade the Lu- tions at the Reef Course. ers to 60. ed States and the rest of the Latin cayan Reef Course. The suggestion Good advice, Chairman Michael So, it seems that organizers of such American/Caribbean area. to the government, through Lucayan Scott, is helpful. as the annual Edward St. George Once Grand Bahama was the Renewal Holdings, though, is that • To respond to this column, Memorial Invitational Golf Tourna- prime location in the Caribbean re- prior to spending a dime towards the kindly contact Fred Sturrup at ment will soon be able to go all out gion for golf. Pristine 18-hole cours- renovations of the sports faciality, a [email protected] or on in an effort to add a regional flavor, es inundated the island. quality golf course designer should WhasApp at 727-6363. Hield’s Kings best Ayton’s Suns in 1st season clash tion for young persons with the SHAYNE STUBBS same aspirations. FN Sports Reporter “I think it was good especially [email protected] for where Bahamas basketball is The game Bahamian basket- going. I think it’s just a blessing ball enthusiasts had circled on to just encourage the youth back their calendars, was no nail-bit- home to keep working and put er but still possessed a historic God first. aspect. “It’s not easy. You’ve got to go For the first time in Bahami- out there and put in the work and an history two of the country’s put a lot of time and energy in prominent basketball players the classroom to get here. Being and NBA Draft lottery picks -- on an island is tough but if you ‘Buddy’ Hield (No. 6 - 2016) really want it bad you have to and DeAndre Ayton (No. 1 - sacrifice - whether it be in bas- 2018)-- went head-to-head as ketball or not.” the Sacramento Kings took on Hield was efficient in the min- the Phoenix Suns at Talking utes he stepped onto the floor in Stick Arena in Phoenix Arizona this one. With a season average this past Tuesday night (Decem- of 29.40 minutes played thus far ber 4). the former Oklahoma Sooner A white-hot start for the now needed just 18 minutes in this 12-11 Kings helped them roll to contest, to compile the most a 122-105 victory over the 4-20 points for his team. Suns. “We just wanted to come out Hield led all Kings’ scorers and be aggressive, get stops and with 20 points (Seven-for-13 get openings to make the right from the field) while he shot plays and score the basketball three-for-five from three-point the way we do best,” he shared. range. The Eight Mile Rock na- In reference to his individual tive also corralled five rebounds performance, Hield attributed it and finished with one steal on to just being in the flow of the the defensive end. His back- game. court running mate, point guard “It was the game-flow - just De’Arron Fox added 16 points being in the right spots at the on Five-for-11 shooting, all right time. My teammates were while dishing out seven assists. able to find me and we were able The Kings had five other to capitalize off that. Everyone scorers finish with double-digit HIELD AND KINGS ROLL - Sacramento Kings’ guard ‘Buddy’ Hield rises over Phoenix Suns’ center DeAndre Ayton as both Ba- did a good job moving the ball scoring efforts. Forward Bogdan hamians faced each other for the first time in the regular season. Hield finished with 20 points on the night as the Kings rolled to around and finding the right Bogdanovic poured in 14 points victory, 122-105. (PHOTO: JOHN-MARC NUTT/10THYEARSENIORS) spots to pick the defense apart.” off the bench, and forward Harry points (Five-for-Eight shooting) supplied 13 points. The Suns As Hield spoke briefly with the come it was great for the coun- The win pushes the Kings Giles III added 13 points. Kosta and pulled down nine boards in were without their lead shooting media after the game, the 6’4” try to witness both sons of the back over the .500 mark.. As Koufos and Troy Williams each the blow-out loss. De’Antho- guard Devin Booker. shooting guard emphasized that soil go head-to-head. It’s the of this writing, the team sits in amassed11 points, while Justin ny Melton led all scorers with The Kings hung 68 points on the plan was to be aggressive on first, very likely, of many match- ninth place in a stacked Western Jackson conrtributed 10 points. a game-high 21 points off the the struggling Suns to lead 68- both ends of the court, which ups for the pair as they both play Conference. Every game be- Ayton, who averages a dou- bench and dished out five as- 40 at halftime. The hot shooting proved evident from the team’s in the same conference and divi- comes crucial as teams jockey ble-double for the season, near- sists. for the Kings continued as they outburst in the first quarter. sion (Pacific). for a play-off spot as the sea- ly added another double-double Forwards Josh Jackson and put the game out of reach by the As it pertains to the historic More importantly, Hield said a son goes on and this win was a to his rookie resumé. The num- Trevor Ariza added 14 points end of third period, when they spectrum of the contest, Hield game of this magnitude for the confidence boost for the young ber one draft pick mustered 10 each, while guard Troy Daniels led 99-67. said that regardless of the out- country should serve as motiva- (Continued on Page 23).