The muscle flexing and verbal exchanges have become common features as the Enugu Golf Section prepares to hold its highly competitive intra-club Monthly Mug for July. And with about a month to the event scheduled for July 29, 2017, the ardent golfers have begun intense training sessions to outwit one another.

•CONGRATS: Birthday celebrant, Arc. Ifeanyi Nnaobi (l) presents the June 2017 Monthly Mug to the winner, Brig-Gen. Ali

The Mug has become one of the flagship events at the 18-hole course since the winners and runners-up from the monthly contests will compete for grand prizes at the end-of-year Champions Tournament which will be sponsored by a renowned brewing company.

Chuks Ugwoke, the Captain of the Enugu Golf Section is enthralled by the widespread interest which the event has continued to generate. “We marked our second month in office only today (Sunday),” he says. “We revived the Weekly Kitty and the Monthly Mug to bring some fun and camaraderie among our members. But the healthy competition that the Mug has created after two editions is quite encouraging. It only suggests that our best days are ahead.”

The net score competition involves various categories ranging from ladies, veterans, super veterans, gentlemen and junior golfers. Going by the enviable privileges including a dedicated car parker which are reserved for the overall winner every month, it is not surprising that the July edition has continued to attract unending war of words among the golfers.

But all the boasts aside, the man to beat on the fairway is the red-hot army officer, Brig-Gen. Wilson Ali who produced superb skills to clinch both the May and June Mugs. He carded a level course par of 72 net to win the June contest despite receiving a two-stroke penalty for arriving some minutes after his scheduled tee start time due to official engagements.

Ali faced stiff challenges from his playing partners in Ifeanyi Amadi and Hon. Charles Ogbo Asogwa, a two-term captain of the Section and the current Commissioner for Housing who, thanks to the support and directives of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has given housing development a refreshing new lease of life in Enugu State. Asogwa returned a net score of 74, playing off handicap 11.

But it was a day of dominance by the generals, as Brig-Gen. Emma Anaryu put up an outstanding performance and only lost the prime position to Ali on count-back. Engr. Asogwa held what seemed a momentary comfortable lead going to the 9th mile. But the diehard Brig-Gen. Ali came back with a bang at the Back Nine to eclipse the field.

The irony, however, is that due to the exigencies of duties, the trio, Asogwa who is to receive the prestigious award as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers on June 30 as well as Ali and Anaryu play golf sparingly, usually during the weekends. Yet, they were able to outclass others.

But this is the trend that others have vowed to stop. Sir John Emenike, a reputed surveyor and sponsor of the July event fired the first warning shot. “I’m waiting for him (Ali) in July,” the two-term captain said. Engr. Ofodile Okafor, the vice captain insists that “the Brigadier General won because I didn’t take part in the June edition. I know that three of them (Asogwa, Ali and Anaryu) are dedicated to their jobs but I hope they can find the time to be there in July. I want to beat the best assemblage of Enugu golfers.”

Such have been the expressions of confidence and intent from members of the Unity Kitty Group, from the Section’s secretary, Dr. Kene Madu to Dr. Eric Okunna, Major-Gen. A.O. Chukwu (rtd), Barr. Emeka Odenigwe, Arc. Chijioke Okwuowulu, Dr. Bismarck Okwor, Dr. Okey Eze, Mr. Ikem Okoye, Dr. Mike Nwafor and Chief Chidi Abaribe. Hon. Chijioke Agu, the immediate past Commissioner for Sports in Enugu State has threatened to “fly down (from Lagos) on a rescue mission if you guys can’t handle the task.”

Renowned industrialists in Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye (OFR), the promoter of Juhel Jammers Kitty Group, Chief Eric Chime and Sir Chris Atuegwu (sponsor of the June Mug) are among the dare-devil challengers that will also include fire-spitting players like Barr. James Ikeyi (SAN), Dr. Frank Iloeje, Mr. Austin Onah, Arc. Chudi Agbogu, Engr. Arinze Eche and Arc. Ifeanyi Nnaobi. Others are Rt. Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, Chief Uche Udedibia, Chief Uzo Nwankwo, Chief Emeka Nwankwo, Engr. Nath Adibe, Mr. Mike Raffoul.

The Lady Captain, Hon. Justice Irene Ndigwe will lead the ladies to vie for the coveted prize. They comprise Mrs. Ada Ikeyi, Dr. Mrs. Amaka Okoye, Barr. Ethel Anyaji, Mrs. Yomi Obidigbo, Mrs. Helen Emedolu, Mrs. Anuli Onah and Mrs. Chinyere Onyeisi. The super veterans category possesses such rich experienced players like Prof. Paul Modum, Justice E. Ubezuonu (rtd), Arc. Dan Nwankwo,  Chief ABC Nwosisi, Engr. Laz Mbah, Prof. Ralph Nwokedi, Chief  L.N. Ogbuefi and Oba D.A. Nwanndu.

As the pressures mount and the Coal City comes alive, it remains to be seen who among the loudmouths would keep his nerve to snatch the July Mug and the privileges that accompany the triumph.