OCHO RIOS, St Ann — It’s only the half-way stage of the third Annual Latin American Travel Agents Golf Tournament being held at the Sandals Golf and Country Club in Upston, St Ann, but already the property’s general manager Miguel Arthurs is singing its praises.

“Again it’s another successful staging of the third Latin American Travel Tournament. We have approximately 10 countries represented here and approximately 110 persons in the contingent between travel agents, business development managers and support staff from the Sandals head office,” beamed Arthurs at the end of yesterday’s play in the two-day event.

The represented countries include Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Panama.

He added: “What is phenomenal about it is that it is another opportunity for us to showcase the Jamaican product, specifically being here at Sandals. Again the five-star rating will stand out not only as they look at the golf course itself, but the service that’s offered while we are having the tournament.”

Arthurs said golf tourism is picking up internationally and Jamaican is no different. He explained that last year the numbers were below a hundred and this year they have surpassed 110.

“The travel agents themselves are excited and what makes the golf product in Jamaica unique, particularly to Sandals, is that throughout the rest of the world a caddy is not mandatory, but here in Jamaica at all the golf courses a caddy is mandatory and Sandals, based on our superior service that we offer, we boast the best caddies in the business and testament to that is that we have the number one rated pro golfer in Jamaica, Wesley Brown, as part of the team,” said Arthurs.

He further explained that outside of the travel agents golf tournament, there is another tournament — a mini contest, a putting contest where participants have to pay US$10 to enter and so far they have received 100 per cent participation. All the proceeds go back to the Sandals Foundation and 100 per cent of that goes directly to the junior golf programme.

“We have to secure our future in golf; we have been very successful at other sports, I believe golf will be no different, but on top of that the reality is that we do have what I like to call life skills being transferred. So the discipline is there, the character is there, but more importantly, we focus on things like the academics and the mentoring,” noted Arthurs.

Meanwhile, on the golf course yesterday, Team Nine, comprising Rodrigo Yanez Sala, and Roman Valdivia Acevedo of Turismo Rays SPA, as well as Alejandra Madrid and Renato Garcia of Travel Home emerged as leaders of the four-man scramble format with a score of 63, nine shots clear of second-placed Team Three comprising Carlos Anzola Ruiz, Camilo Granados Bruna, and Marilyn Hernandez Torres of Buenaventura Travels, as well as Jorge Alegre Panay of Viajes Jasmine.

Lying in third place is the quartet of Mayela Castellanos and Francisco De La Rosa of DKMR SA de CV, and Jesus Garcia and Cristina Alvarado Ortiz of Mexjal de occidente SA de CV on a score of 74.

The competition ends today, with an awards presentation scheduled for the Sandals Ochi Beach Resort tonight.

— Ian Burnett