'No bias in selecting golf squads'

Bermuda Golf Association president Nick Mansell hit back at claims of “elitism and bias” in his sport.

Earlier this week Quinton Sherlock sent a letter to the media saying the BGA’s selection of the golf team for the 2011 NatWest Island Games was flawed.

Last Friday the BGA announced the squad would be made up of - Camiko Smith, Ryan Benevides, Alex Osborne and Damian Palanyandi with Ryan Roberts as the alternate. Smith, a veteran from the 2009 Island Games, will serve as captain.

Laura Robinson, Ebonie Burgess, Katrin Burnie and Elizabeth Parsons round out the ladies team. 

Mansell and Scott Roy were chosen to accompany the team as managers.

Sherlock said he supports the golfers selected, but not the process by which they were selected.

He said in his letter: “My contention is with the BGA selection committee, administration and their process or lack thereof for picking the teams.

“Quite simply, the BGA have gone back to habits and trends that the last committee was working diligently to do away with.

“The ladies’ team in particular, the selections reek of elitism and bias — for lack of a better word.”

At the 2009 Island Games, Bermuda won gold in both the men’s and ladies’ team events.

In last Friday’s release in announcing the squads, BGA said they "are confident the team will successfully defend their titles.  The team reflects the Bermuda Golf Association’s commitment to developing golf on the island through all ages.”

Encouraged

Mansell said he was disappointed in a letter that was posted on Island Stats (but it also appeared in the Royal Gazette) saying “it bears no resemblance to the facts”.

He said the BGAs regulations “gives the committee discretion to select a team when a qualifying process is not practical and the team names had to be submitted before the end of February”.

He added: “The committee was encouraged by the number of entrants and considered 23 players based on past performances, recommendations from the Bermuda Junior Golf Association, information submitted by the players themselves and their current handicap index. 

“Many of the players are off island for further education and it is our understanding that they are actively playing golf while overseas.

“It was the Bermuda Golf Association’s goal to send as strong a team as possible while at the same time giving young players the opportunity for international exposure. 

“Seven of the eight players are products of or still active members of the Bermuda Junior Golf Association.”

Mansell said the selection committee included professionals who are instructors for these young golfers and are familiar with them.

“It is disappointing that the careful and diligent process in which full and fair debates took place was misrepresented. Some of the decisions made were not easy but all the committee members are comfortable with the procedure having exercised discretion and fairness after due diligence.” 

The Bermuda Golf Association was surprised and disappointed by a recent article, concerning the Island Games team selection which was posted on the Island Stats website, as it bears no resemblance to the facts.

The BGA selection criteria items number 8 and 9, which is posted on our website, gives the committee discretion to select a team when a qualifying process is not practical and the team names had to be submitted before the end of February.

“8.The BGA reserves the right to select a player or players to represent Bermuda in an event without the need for them to participate in a qualifier, should there be any player or players who, in the sole discretion of the BGA, have demonstrated consistently, and on a sustained basis, a level of play that is deemed sufficiently better than the group of players who have been selected to participate in a qualifier for the event in question. In making such discretionary selections, the BGA will take into consideration factors such as deportment, effort and prior experience.

9.Once selected, players will be required to adhere to practice schedules and instruction on rules, course management, and swings.”

The committee was encouraged by the number of entrants and considered 23 players based on past performances, recommendations from the Bermuda Junior Golf Association, information submitted by the players themselves and their current handicap index.  Many of the players are off island for further education and it is our understanding that they are actively playing golf while overseas. It was the Bermuda Golf Association’s goal to send as strong a team as possible while at the same time giving young players the opportunity for international exposure.  Seven of the eight players are products of or still active members of the Bermuda Junior Golf Association.

The committee includes golf professionals who teach and train our players and are familiar with them. These professionals have also taught our players who have represented Bermuda internationally.

It is disappointing that the careful and diligent process in which full and fair debates took place was misrepresented. Some of the decisions made were not easy but all the committee members are comfortable with the procedure having exercised discretion and fairness after due diligence.

Nicholas Mansell

President