PDI helps keep ground golf alive with new donation to man’amko

Pacific Development Inc. donated yet again more ground golf equipment to the Aging Center.

Gordon Marciano of PDI presented the 10 golf bats and 10 golf balls to the man’amko at the Aging Center on Friday.

Marciano said he also offered to donate flagpoles to Aging program coordinator Walter Manglona who said that the ones they’re using are still in good condition.

He disclosed that before the Fitial administration came in, PDI already donated ground golf bats, balls, and flagpoles to the man’amko.

“PDI started the program with the ground golf group in Japan when the man’amko used to be down there where the Supreme Court is today, down by Marianas High School. That’s when the games started [between CNMI and Japan],” he said.

According to Marciano, it was Hamasaki Yoshihiro of the Tottori Prefecture in Japan who brought and introduced ground golf to the CNMI through the man’amko back in the ‘80s.

“It started back then and we continued to have the program until the economy got slow and it was hard for Japan to come here,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Marciano revealed that the man’amko even went to Japan once to participate in a ground golf tournament.

While Japanese ground golf players have stopped coming to the island, Marciano noted they kept the game going for the island’s man’amko.

“We wanted to ensure that our people in Japan continue to know that this ground golf tournament, even though they’re not coming to participate, our three islands are still competing in ground golf games with one another,” he explained.

For her part, Saipan Seniors Advisory Council chair Teresita Sorroza said the donation was timely as most of their equipment are either missing or broken.

“We’re thankful to PDI who donated ground golf equipment so that more man’amko can play the game,” she said in an interview.

Marciano encouraged the man’amko to carry on the tradition of playing ground golf, whether for leisure at the Aging Center or for goodwill games among the three islands.

“Keep on golfing and we’ll continue to share with Japan the great ground golf game and spirit. We’re still inviting you all from Japan and those countries playing ground golf to come and compete with the best of the best in Micronesia,” he added.