.jpg)
Published on October 24th, 2025
Location: USA
Youth Golf Clinic Kicks Off White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational
Paradise Island, The Bahamas, October 24, 2025 – Two days before the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, Northern Illinois University, the host school for this year’s tournament, welcomed local youth to the Ocean Club Golf Course for a junior clinic ahead of the first round of play. The clinic, which celebrated its sixth year in 2025, began in conjunction with the inaugural White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational in 2019. The first clinic featured only 10 players, but both the tournament and the clinic have grown in notoriety since then. As a result, this year’s clinic boasted 80 players.
.jpg)
One of those young golfers happens to be Anissa Robinson, who fell in love with golf more than five years ago. She is now 14 years old and in the 10th grade, sporting a 7-handicap with aspirations to earn a scholarship and play collegiate golf in the United States.
“It was great to see how passionate they are about the game,” said Kim Kester, in her 14th year as the head coach of the NIU Husky program. “It was an awesome experience for our team.”
Mia Raines, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, and NIU’s leading scorer with a 74.8 average, struck up a friendship with Robinson while playing a 115-yard par 3 together. They each hit the green and 2-putted. But more importantly, Raines shared some of her thoughts to help Robinson with her course management.
“Pick out a specific target from the tee. And when on the green, practice matching up the line and the speed. It’s not all just about hitting it and chasing it,” said Raines, who can carry her drives some 280 yards. “It’s about limiting your mistakes.”
The Bahamian youth are enrolled at the Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, directed by Georgette Rolle, a former professional golfer who realized her dream of bringing golf to the youth of the Bahamas 10 years ago.
Rolle’s program already has had a handful of its youth be offered college scholarships in the United States, following in the footsteps of Rolle, who earned a scholarship and played at Texas Southern University.
Robinson, who is in her second year as a member of the Bahamas Junior National Team, has hopes of being another scholarship winner in a few years. “I learned that I should take a break once a week and not play every day. But I can’t help it,” said Robinson, who exchanged social media contacts with Raines to stay in touch.
“We have about 400 kids participating in the program part-time, with more than 50 regulars who come out almost every day,” said Rolle. “The program continues to grow, and we are successful in teaching golf and life skills through golf.”
“We could not be happier to once again stage an incredible women’s golf tournament in paradise. Better than that, we are thrilled to support the next generation of golfers through our junior golf clinic. The lessons you learn in golf translate to the lessons you gather for life and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Northern Illinois women’s golf team for bringing that message to the Bahamian youths who participated in the clinic.”
Jeff Raedle, Executive Vice President of Golf Events at SPORTFIVE
.jpg)
Northern Illinois is one of seven teams competing in this year’s 54-hole event, along with High Point, Miami, Middle Tennessee State, Ohio University, Prairie View A&M and South Florida. The first round begins on Friday, Oct. 24 and concludes on Sunday, Oct. 26, the final day of play.
This collegiate invitational golf tournament is played annually at the par 72 Ocean Club Golf Course, which is located on Paradise Island in The Bahamas. Texas, Campbell, Lipscomb, Kansas State and Kansas are the past women’s winners over the 6,385-yard layout designed by past major champion Tom Weiskopf.
SPORTFIVE is proud to facilitate and operate this exciting competition, which showcases some of the best collegiate players in the women's game. SPORTFIVE is also looking forward to staging another high-profile golf event in The Bahamas in December: The White Sands Bahamas Men’s Invitational.
For the latest updates, follow @WhiteSandsBah on Instagram and Facebook.
-
About SPORTFIVE
SPORTFIVE is a global sports marketing agency that delivers customer-centric solutions based on trust and transparency, deep industry experience and global relationships, digital intelligence and innovation. SPORTFIVE strategically and creatively connects brands, rightsholders, media platforms and fans to create and enable contemporary partnerships in sports.
While creating and growing long-term value for all, SPORTFIVE often leads the sports business into the future through innovative digital solutions and strives to be the most progressive and respected partner in sports.
Being at the centre of professional sport SPORTFIVE will use its unique position, in order to make a positive contribution to sustainability and to live up to the social and economic duty and responsibility, which sport and consequently all parties involved, also have. SPORTFIVE operates with a global mindset and network of over 1,200 local experts based in 15 countries around the world, active in Football, Golf, Handball, Motorsport, Esports, Cricket, Tennis, American Football, Basketball, Hockey, Rugby, Olympics and Multi-Sport Events, Wintersports and many more.
-
About The Bahamas
With over 700 islands and cays and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy fly-away escape that transports travelers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the earth’s most spectacular water and beaches waiting for families, couples and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram to see why “It’s Better in The Bahamas.”
-
About Ocean Club Golf Course
Atlantis Paradise Island’s Ocean Club Golf Course offers a challenging and beautiful course for golfers desiring championship play. Masterfully conceived, the Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole, par 72 championship course stretches over 7,100 yards on Atlantis’ peninsula. The course has hosted iconic sporting events such as the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI), the Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament and the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. For more information about Atlantis Paradise Island resort and the Ocean Club please visit www.atlantisbahamas.com.
Press contacts
-
Jack Milko
Communications & PR Manager, USA
jack.milko@sportfive.com
