Insecurity Now Bane Of Golf Tourism, Says Smokin Hills Golf Resort Boss

Chief Michael Ade Ojo OON, the founder of Smokin Hills
Golf Resort (right) and Bayo Aderinto

The management of the one of the most expensive golf courses in Africa, Smokin Golf Resort, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Bayo Aderinto has called for urgent measure to addressed the spate of insecurity along Ondo-Ibadan road by the state government which is fast affecting the fortune of golf tourism.
Aderinto, the Promotion Manager of the beautiful golf course who disclosed this to news said the spate of insecurity these days in this axis is challenging our revenue, talking of inflow of tourists and golfers into the facilities.
Aderinto opined that for any economy to strive, it must be politically and economically stable, “and when we are talking of stability we talk about peace and we’re talking of freedom of movement, which initiate actions and reactions, I believe the government of the day should addressed this as a matter of urgency”.
“Golf is tourism and we’re trying to drive the club by synergizing sports and tourism but the spate of insecurity these days in this part of the country is challenging our revenue, talking of inflow of tourists and golfers into the facilities. The only succor we have now that we can fly directly into Akure from Lagos and Abuja”.
Aderinto added that Chief Ade Ojo’s passion for golf was what is responsible for the establishment of the world class golf course which he claimed has moved the golf capital in the country to Ilara-Mokin “as confirmed by the DSTV when they came here in 2016 and rated the course as most challenging on the African continent. It’s a $25 million investment and we’re using $1million to maintain it every year”.
While speaking on the golf activities within the club, Aderinto said there would be a tournament in November which is the 16th Wuraola Ojo Memorial Golf tournament in honour of the late wife of Chief Ade Ojo and it’s a flagship event on Nigeria Golfing calendar in view of its consistencies for the past 16 years.
The golf event slated for the first week of November and its being sponsored by Toyota Nigeria limited and hole-in-one winner during the tourney would goes home with N5 million according to Aderinto while the eventual winner will definitely get something more handsome.