The 2025 edition of the prestigious International Pairs Golf Tournament has officially been launched in Accra, setting the stage for what promises to be another exciting chapter in amateur golf in Ghana.
The brief but colourful ceremony, held at the Montgomery Golf Estate on Wednesday, April 23, attracted a wide array of stakeholders from the golfing and broader sports communities, including club executives, sponsors, and media representatives.
The launch featured an afternoon golf event, followed by an evening ceremony that highlighted the tournament’s branding and honoured key contributors to its success.
Speaking at the launch, Abdul-Aziz Amankwa, the visionary behind the initiative, expressed high hopes for the future of the sport in Ghana.
He emphasised the tournament’s significance in making golf more accessible while also promoting Ghana’s growing presence on the international golf scene. The International Pairs format—where amateur golfers compete in two-person teams for a chance to represent their country globally—has been widely praised for its inclusivity and competitive spirit.
“In the next five years, I want to see this grow into a 5,000 to 10,000-strong golfing community. We’re investing heavily at the junior level to bring more young players into the sport, and we hope their parents will also join them,” Amankwa stated.
He added, “The tournament has significantly boosted interest and participation in amateur golf. More clubs are now incorporating pairs tournaments into their annual calendars, and the social aspect of our events has attracted even non-golfers, broadening the sport’s appeal.”
Amankwa also noted that a growing golfing community will naturally create demand for more golf courses across the country, helping to elevate the standard of the sport in Ghana.
“You go to some countries and they have over 100 golf courses, but in Ghana, we only have about 18 to 20.”
Since its Ghanaian debut in 2023 under the leadership of LSM CEO Abdul-Aziz Amankwa, the 27-year-old tournament has become a fixture on the local circuit. Known for its unique two-person team format, the competition uses combined scores to determine advancement.
The 2025 qualifiers will begin on May 3 at the Tema Centre of the World Golf Club, followed by rounds at other Accra-area courses, including Celebrity Golf Club in Sakumono.
The tournament will then move to the Western Region for a three-course rotation before concluding at the Royal Golf Club in Kumasi on May 31. The top 30% of participants from each qualifier will advance to the National Playoff on August 2 at the Achimota Golf Club, where the winning pair will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the World Finals in Sun City, South Africa.
Over the years, the International Pairs tournament has attracted thousands of amateur players, making it one of the world’s largest amateur golf competitions. Ghana’s continued participation not only showcases local talent but also strengthens the country’s reputation on the global golfing map.
EE/