Hole 19/20 Hollers, Golf Communities Mourn Saki Golf Club Captain, Chief Akinyemi

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA

The sudden death of Chief Oluleke Akinyemi, Captain of Saki Golf Club, Oyo State has been described as a rude shock and devastated to the Nigeria’s golfing communities.

Captain Akinyemi, a great golfer of repute, died on Saturday, July 11th, 2020 after a brief illness. He was also the former Captain of Ogbomoso Golf Club, Oyo State and Kadariko Golf Club, Niger State.

Captain of Abeokuta Golf Club, Mr. Kolawole Adeleye, who led other delegates on behalf of the Board of Trustees, Executives and members to pay a condolence visit to the late Akinyemi’s family at Akute, Ogun State, described the late captain as a symbol of unity and peace loving golfer whose legacy and impact would forever remain in the hearts of the golfing communities in Nigeria.

While appreciating the club management for the visit, Mrs. Oluwafunsho Akinyemi noted that her late husband was very active until Wednesday night before he developed malaria fever and was taken to an undisclosed hospital where he later died.

Mrs. Akinyemi disclosed to members of Abeokuta Golf Club (AGC) and Hole 19/20 Hollers of Nigeria during a condolence visit that her husband until his death was a caring and compassionate man who was loved by everybody around him.

She hereby appreciated the club captain and members for the love shown to the family, assuring them that details of the burial arrangements would be communicated to the club management as soon as the family meets and concluded on the burial arrangements.

However, speaking with newsmen, Com. Dolapo Jinad, Coordinator of Hole 19/20, Hollers of Nigeria, the golfing group that was co-founded by the late Chief Akinyemi, a group of golfers that membership cut across the country said that the death of Akinyemi was a great loss and rude shock to the Nigeria golfing community at large.

He said the contributions that late captain Akinyemi had made towards the development of game of golf in Nigeria at large especially South-West cannot be over emphasised in the history of the game and would be greatly missed and remembered by all.

Com. Dolapo said: “I am yet to believe that Chief Akinyemi is late, because he is someone that is always full of life. He called me on phone last week Monday and he spoke with me about the pending Hole 19 /20 Hollers Tournament.

“Everybody in the golfing circle were still expecting Covid-19 to end and see him coming out bubbling as a cheerful philanthropist and golf enthusiast.”

Similarly, Captain of Ibadan Golf Club and member of Hole 19/20 Hollers Chief Ola Ibironke said that the death of Captain Akinyemi at this time of his age is a serious lost and the last thing that any one could ever imagined, adding that the deceased was one of the most generous donors in the golfing circle.

His words: “It still like am dreaming till now. How can a man like Captain Oluleke Akinyemi die just like that. Such a man that was full of life and highly devoted to the golfing community at large. Despite his relationship with different golf clubs, and being a member of many clubs in Nigeria, his contributions in all this clubs are very key and noticeable.”

Chief Ibironke prayed God to be with the wife and children he left behind.

Also, Chief Isaac Ishola, a childhood friend and Chairman of Saki Golf Club, who is also a member of Hole 19/20 Holler, said the death of late Chief Akinyemi was a sad and very painful one, especially at a time that he just bowed out of the service of Nigeria Custom Services after 35 years.

He noted that his death would surely bring set back to the development of game of golf in some part of the country, assuring that late Captain Akinyemi will surely be immortalised by the committee of friends and the golfing community.

Therefore, in their separate condolence messages, past lady captains of Ibadan Golf Club, and members of Hole 19/20 Hollers, Madam Grace Brown and Mrs. Evenly Oyome, described the late captain as a symbol of blissful golfer and a perfect gentle