Belize to Host Biggest Central American Gold Tournament

Copa Los Volcanes is coming to Belize. It’s one of the biggest golf tournaments in Central America, and for the first time ever, it is being hosted at the Roaring River Golf Course in Roaring Creek. This event presents Belize with the exciting opportunity to showcase local players’ talent and highlight the potential for the nation to emerge as a premier golf destination. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the golf course earlier today to learn all about the historic opportunity.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

While golf may not be Belize’s most popular sport, the local community is growing and this tournament is a major opportunity to showcase both the country’s talent and its potential as a golf destination. Minister of Sports Anthony Mahler expressed full support for the event, calling it a win for both sports and tourism.

 

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Sports

“Well we’re in full support  of this tournament, I think an tournament of this magnitude. Epecially our region regional tournament. It brings in people into Belize to participate and to compete at the highest level. And those things are important for us. So we support this initiative a hundred percent and I’m wearing two hats here as minister of tourism because that brings in tourism Laas as well. And as minister of sport, I think golf is a good wholesome sport that we can get more Belizeans involved.”

 

The tournament will feature elite players from five other Central American countries. Pedro Lizarraga, co-owner of the Roaring River Golf Course, sees it as a chance to put Belize on the map.

 

Pedro Lizarraga, Co-owner, Roaring River Golf Course

“It definitely  puts Belize on a map in the golfing community, and Belize has partook in this tournament since 2018. As you know, it’s a tournament that showcases regional talent. There’s a lot of really good young players in Central America and I think Belize has some work to do to get to that level, but for us in Belize. Definitely, it’s a big opportunity to showcase what we have in Belize, to showcase the culture, to showcase our golf course, certainly. But more than that, to showcase the country and  the spirit of Belizean and, and the friendship of Belizean to original partners coming to play in Belize.”

 

Mahler also shared plans to expand golf infrastructure across the country, including potential new courses in San Pedro and Placencia, with the goal of making golf more accessible and boosting tourism.

 

Anthony Mahler

“I’ve always advocated for more golf courses to be built across Belize. So the director of tourism and I go to a hotel investment conference in New York soon, and we will look for partners where we could build more golf resorts across the country. And I think, San Pedro is prime for one. In Placencia one is being built and this one here is important in the Westport. The more facilities we have for whatever discipline is. The more people we have engaged in more wholesome stuff then we have a more productive society.”

 

Representing Belize in the tournament is Samantha Neil, a standout golfer from San Ignacio who has only been playing for four years. Despite her nerves, she’s ready to compete.

 

Samantha Neil, Golfer

“These females that are coming in, they’ve been playing from a very, very young age, and like I said, we’re new to the sport. So I hope and pray that  all our practice and all the coaching pays off.”

 

As one of the few women in a male-dominated sport, Neil is determined to earn her place on the course.

 

Samantha Neil

“Well, the males tend to not put us there, so we try our best to make a space for ourself, make a space for ourself, and have them respect us on the, on the course. So us as females, we don’t play with strength, we play more with our bodies, so , we have to mentally be prepared to play against them. So that helps us and will help us play against these females coming in.”

 

The tournament will use the nine-hole course twice to complete an 18-hole game format. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Copa Los Volcanes will kick off on June eighteenth and conclude on the twenty-second.