Noel Bovill has brought the game of Golf within reach of the little people of Trinidad and Tobago, in more ways than one. He has set up a teaching "course" on the northern side of the Queen's Park Savannah (opposite the Botanic Gardens), for all those who would like to learn the game.
Why the savannah? " Golf Courses are very expensive, so to get it to the people, I came to a more neutral place to develop their game." Every morning, Monday to Sunday, from 6 to 10 a.m. Bovill teaches "kindergarten golf" free of charge, at whatever time suits the learner. About two months ago, we watched this gentleman early mornings, sticking advertising markers into the ground, around a bright green sign offering "free golf lessons here."
"The markers are just for attraction, and making here look a little more glorious. They are really used during the Oval's eight-a-side football tournament but I got permission to use them here." There are no sponsors yet for Bovill's golf school but he has high hopes that sponsors will see and come forward with support. Already he has received a donation of Golf Clubs from a former top golfer, Robert Grell, who walks around the savannah. When balls are needed, the students pool together and buy them.
Bovill learned his golf "while working with the coaches at the Chaguaramas Golf Course. I listened and watched them so I picked up my ideas."
Among his first students, former police officer Marjorie John and Nolan Serrette of Diego Martin Electrical, regular walkers on the savannah, decided to give the game a try. Others include, Richard Lara, Lawrence Trim, Nigel Roach and Tino Singh.
Says Serrette, who after just two months is about to graduate to the Chaguaramas Golf Course: "I played cricket, but couldn't hit the ball at first, now after two months I can hit to the palm tree over there. Also I noticed Bovill whom I have known for years, out here rain fall or sun shine, Monday to Sunday mornings. I would be passing, and just like you have done, stopped to find out what he was doing. I saw the dedication of Bovill and started during the August holidays. Even my two sons started during the vacation and will come back to improve at Christmas holidays."
Bovill explained that he was able to set up a miniature course because of the terrain in the hollows: "It is like a fairway. You could hit around the trees. This is a real down-to-earth and very simple situation." A man of many current jobs, Bovill has also done many things in the past. He still runs an employment agency for the youth of the Crown Trace Savannah area in Carenage; is supervisor of the Indoor Cricket Net at the Oval; and is assisting in sport at the Point Cumana Primary School. He has been a member of the former, famous Maple football team and remembers "the days in front of the grand stand." And has played hockey and table tennis.
He shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly and explains: "This golf class is only the continuation of my days as a sportsman. I have been a member of Harvard, National Equipment Manager for both the men and women's football teams with Bertille St Clair; was Equipment Manager with the Under 23 National Team at the Pan Am Games in 1998. I have worked at Sports & Games; as a cricket coach with the Ministry of Sport and with the Southampton Rangers of Bermuda; and as junior cricket coach of the Cricket Board of Control. I am also a certified football referee."
Having myself never understood the objective of hitting a ball and walking behind it to hit it again, Bovill explained very simply "it is a case of trying to get to a certain area with the least amount of shots. You are playing in 18 areas, one at a time. The person who plays the least amount of shots wins that 18 hole and that is why they go for so many days. There may be obstacles along the way. It's like snakes and ladders. At the end of the day the least amount of shots wins."
Bovill promises that the classes will continue as he sees this taking him to another stage of life. And hopes to encourage people to play the game by having brought down the game to the savannah level. He will welcome help from any individual or organisation. "We do not necessarily need new clubs, if you have clubs you do not want bring them for Bovill."