The 15th Annual Negril Charity Golf Tournament at the beautiful Negril Hills Golf Club on October 20, marked a highly successful return after a two-year hiatus. 

This year, the event raised an impressive $1.5 million, which will be directed towards uplifting the local communities.

Alex Ghisay, Group PR Director for Couples Resort told Our Today: “We are thrilled to have hosted another successful event with our 15th Annual Couples Resorts Negril Charity Golf Tournament… We were able to raise approximately JA$1.5M for local charities including the Montego Bay Animal Haven and the JSPCA who will each receive $150,000, with the balance going to a school to be selected. We are extremely grateful to the loyal golfers who turned up to play as well as our fantastic sponsors, Toyota Jamaica, C&W Business, CPJ and Tropicars.”

Organised by Couples Resorts and supported by sponsors such as Cable and Wireless Business, Toyota Jamaica, Tropicars, and Caribbean Producers Jamaica, the tournament highlighted the power of sport and charity coming together for a meaningful cause.

A course full of challenges and beauty

The Negril Hills Golf Club, a short distance from Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach, is a favourite destination for golfers and tourists.  

The 18-hole, par-72 championship course—renowned for its stunning views and strategically designed challenges, such as narrow fairways, natural water features and lush tropical landscape—provided a serene backdrop while ensuring that even seasoned golfers were kept on their toes with the course’s tricky design.

At the heart of the event, Couples Resorts, known for its luxurious all-inclusive properties, played a pivotal role as the primary organiser of the tournament. Its commitment to supporting the local community shone through in every aspect of the event.

With a long-standing tradition of giving back, Couples Resorts ensured that this year’s tournament was not only a fun experience but also one that made a positive difference.

A diverse group of participants

This year’s event drew notable participants from both near and far, including Giovanni Blair, George Karale, Valerie Grant, Dr Richard Grant and professional squash player Andre Legend Maur from Ireland, now residing in Atlanta in the USA.

Their involvement added an extra layer of excitement and prestige to the event, with everyone coming together to support the local community through golf.

A day of fun and competition

The tournament followed a two-man scramble format, allowing golfers of varying skill levels to team up and enjoy the course in a relaxed but competitive atmosphere.

Awards and recognition

At the end of the day, participants gathered for a celebratory awards ceremony that recognised standout performances.

Key awardees included Lobban Grant, who won the putting contest and received a gift basket courtesy of Caribbean Producers.

Closest to the Pin winners, who were each awarded golf umbrellas:

• Dr Andrew Spencer (Pin #4)
• Tommy Smith (Pin #7)
• Sean Morris (Pins #10 and #16)

The overall tournament winners were:

• 4th Place Net Score: Susan White and Noel Harty – 72.5
• 3rd Place Net Score: Phillip Wilson and Hugh Logan – 71.5
• 2nd Place Gross Score: Radino Lobban and Giovanni Blair – 71
• 2nd Place Net Score: Dr Herbert Thompson and Dr Andrew Spencer – 71.25
• 1st Place Gross Score: Sean Morris and Romario Anglin
• 1st Place Net Score: Paul Chin and Stainton Baker

These winners exemplified skill and teamwork, making the day even more memorable for participants and spectators alike.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Following the success of this year’s event, excitement is already building for the 2025 edition of the Negril Charity Golf Tournament. Organisers are looking to increase participation and fundraising efforts to ensure that the tournament continues to grow and benefit even more local causes in the coming years.

The success of the tournament would not have been possible without the generous contributions of key sponsors and participants. 

—Photos and video taken by Tiffany Holman