NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Professional Golf Association (BPGA) highlighted the contributions of Albany Bahamas and Bakers Bay Golf and Ocean Club to the continued development of golf professionals in The Bahamas.
Two pros who received their support were Keno Turnquest and Raquel Riley, according to a statement.
The BPGA said Albany was instrumental in assisting Keno Turnquest in obtaining a British PGA, Class AA Certification from the University of Birmingham while he worked at Albany.
He is currently the first assistant golf pro at Albany Bahamas.
In 2004, Turnquest started as an assistant golf professional at The Abaco Club under the tutelage of Tom Mackenzie.
He turned pro a year later and during the next six years, he won multiple times in the BPGA championships and was part of the world cup qualifiers for The Bahamas.
In 2010, Turnquest joined Albany Bahamas as a services manager and was promoted to assistant pro two years later.
Turnquest said: “Obtaining my Class AA Certification was strenuous because of the written exams and having to play in eight events a year to maintain a certain golf average. Class AA is for certified golf professionals who are serious about working in the industry.
“Besides the game, it has a lot of elements like business management, golf equipment repairs, marketing, health focus — physiology and biomechanics, finance and purchasing.”
Turnquest added: “Albany is interested in the betterment of the tourism industry and Bahamians, and they want to create an internationally renowned product. I appreciate the support that I have received from Christopher Anand and Damien Mitchelmore for helping to further my education and career.”
Raquel Riley started her career at Bakers Bay in 2012. While caddying for the Buccaneer Tournament, her proficiency caught the attention of Golf Director Peter Whalen, who is currently the general manager.
According to the statement, Whalen hired her as the first female golf pro at Bakers Bay to fill the role of assistant golf professional.
Bakers Bay further invested in Riley’s LPGA Club Professional Training.
At a young age, Riley started golf under the tutelage of Vernon Lockhart. She graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Management at Hampton University, where she played for four years, earning MVP in her junior and senior years.
She has also worked for the PGA Tour Championship in Houston, Texas, and it was during that year that she earned experience in all aspects of tournament operations. For a few years, Riley played pro golf on the Futures Tour traveling around the United States, and captured her first victory in 2008 at the Magnolia Ladies Championship on the Sun Coast Ladies Tour in Florida.
Riley remained in South Florida teaching and playing until returning home in 2010, where she ran a junior golf program at the Ruby Golf Course in Freeport and caddied until moving to Abaco.
“I love golf,” she said in the statement.
“I grew up looking up to the Maycock brothers, Chris Lewis and the late Percy Major, all of whom inspired me to take my game and golf knowledge to the next level. Professional golf is my life. I feel that my role is to help future golfers start with the right fundamentals of the game and learn golf the right way.”
Riley joined the BPGA in July and has stepped in to take on the role of secretary.
Chris Lewis, president of the BPGA, thanked Albany and Bakers Bay for their corporate sponsorships.
“Although COVID-19 has restricted us, we continued our work,” said Lewis.
“Raquel is the first female executive committee member of the BPGA, and we are truly pleased to have her representation which will bring good diversity and perspective.”
For more information about the BPGA, interested parties may contact Chris Lewis at 242-727-1690 or by email at clewisgolfpro@hotmail.com.
Loading ...
