At the top of her game

Christine Sukhram encourages more female golfers to get involved in the sport

Christine Sukhram is the only leading lady in Guyana when it comes to golf, a sport that we in Guyana are not too familiar with, but is ever present as part of our sports culture.

Sukhram serves as the reigning Guyana Open Women’s Champion. In 2004, at the age of 15, Sukhram recorded her second international junior title when she won the Pepsi Junior Golf Tournament in Barbados.

After proving herself a winner in 2004, dedicated Sukhram was selected by Soca Soft Drinks to benefit from its sponsorship programme for talented young Guyanese. Her winning title in Barbados was added to another in Trinidad that same year. It was obvious that she was destined to be the winner since she had made it very difficult at points in the tournament for her competitors from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada to reach her mark.

The victory added to her already consistent record of wins. Among her most memorable victories at that tender age were the Best Ladies Competition, the Guyana Open (Best Net), the Citizens Bank and the Universal Airlines tournaments.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine , the motivated golfer said her father, who is now deceased, was instrumental in her golf career, teaching her the techniques of the game as he was her personal coach.

“I was born in Guyana but my parents migrated to Grenada for about two years until I was about six. My father was a golf coach there and he would have lessons for persons, and I would join in after school. At age six I started playing, just learning the art of the game. I went with him as he would teach others, and from then on I picked up the game from there,” she recalled.

At eight, Sukhram and her family returned to Guyana and lived in Lusignan on the East Coast, which continues to be her home. The only golf club in Guyana – the Lusignan Golf Club – is located in Lusignan.

This was ideal for Sukhram and her father as they would go there to practice. Her father continued being a coach in Guyana and also hers as well.

“When I was about 13 I started to play in tournaments, and then I was able to apply what I had learnt from my father. After school I would go play and have tournaments on the weekends.

My first official tournament was the Pegasus Tournament, they had a female competition. I won that, including many others and I have my dad to thank for that,” she said.

Sponsorship is integral to any athlete, and without her Banks DIH sponsorship, Sukhram said she would not have been able to reach as far as she has in the game.

From the age of 18 the beverage company has been her sponsor, and so she was able to compete regionally in more than three Caribbean countries.

Additionally, Sukhram said at present she is working along with the golf club to get more females involved in the game of golf. She mentioned that although it may seem a man’s game, it is not, because in other countries there are women who are dominating the game as champions more than the men. With this aim, a summer programme is held, where young females come out to learn the game at Lusignan, and Sukhram would usually assist in coaching.

Sukhram said she looks to international golf champion Tiger Woods for her inspiration.

She has numerous publications and posters in her room of him, and would read regularly to keep herself adept at the game.

Now 22, Sukhram encourages youths, especially females to get involved in the sport.

She added that winning does not come easily as it requires dedication and much practice.

Although she loves golf, Sukhram said her education is also important, and that is why she is pursuing studies in Business Management.

Sukhram also noted that there are only nine holes on the golf course, and the only way it can be considered an internationally recognised course is if it has 18. As it is every golfer’s sentiment when playing in Guyana, there is a need for that to be done at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Sukhram hopes to be at the top of her game this weekend at the 2011 Banks DIH-sponsored Guyana Open Golf Tournament at the Lusignan Club. More than 200 players from Canada, US, Suriname, French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago are expected to participate in the tournament.

The champion female golfer intends to remain devoted to the sport and to extend her record of international success.

“I have to stay focused and follow the rules and take one hole at a time.

Every hole is further apart so the swing is important.

A good game and winning come with a lot of practice.

I will never forget what my father taught me. He told me to never stop at where I am but keep elevating myself, and if I don’t do well I should keep trying and give it my best.”