Follow Us on Google
Ilara Mokin, Ondo State — Excitement filled the air at the scenic Smokin Hills Golf Resort as the Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Toyota Golf Tournament made its long-awaited return, marking the end of a five-year hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The invitational tournament drew over 20 of Nigeria’s top professional golfers, who converged on the world-class resort in Ilara Mokin to test their skills on what many describe as one of Africa’s finest golf courses.
Golfers including Kabiru Mohammed, Head of Professional at Ilorin Golf Club; Segun Alaba Ojo of Ikeja Golf Club, Lagos; and Aminu Abdulkadiri from Ilorin Golf Club, were among those who expressed delight at the tournament’s comeback.
Mohammed commended Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, the tournament’s organizers, for reviving the prestigious event.
“The return of the Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Toyota Golf Tournament is a very welcome development,” he said.
“We’ve all been looking forward to this moment. The Smokin Hills course is one of the best-designed in Africa — if you can play here, you can play anywhere in the world.”
For Segun Alaba Ojo, the experience was a pleasant surprise.
“Before coming, I’d heard all sorts of false stories about Smokin Hills,” he revealed. “But after going around the course, I was amazed. This is undoubtedly the best golf course in Nigeria, and one of the best in the West African sub-region. The only area needing minor improvement is the Green. I’m thrilled that this tournament is back — Toyota (Nigeria) Limited has done a remarkable job.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Abdulkadiri shared his enthusiasm for returning to familiar grounds.
“The experience here is second to none,” he said. “I’ve been playing on this course since my amateur days and even won the Best Gross Prize twice. It’s a challenging course, but a rewarding one. I’m so happy to be back.”
With its successful return, the Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Toyota Golf Tournament has reaffirmed its place as one of Nigeria’s premier golfing events, bringing together the nation’s best talents to celebrate the spirit of the sport amid the breathtaking landscape of Smokin Hills Golf Resort.
