The Caribbean Golf Association (CGA) is pleased to announce the official admission of the Bermuda Golf Association and the St. Lucia Golf Association as full members of the regional body.
The milestone decision was made during the CGA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held last week at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, alongside the 30th Caribbean Golf Classic.
Both associations had previously submitted formal applications and, during the AGM, delivered presentations outlining their vision, motivation, and the benefits they bring to the Caribbean golfing community. Following these presentations, member delegates voted unanimously to approve both applications.
CGA President Sidney Wolf, who was recently re-elected, welcomed the expansion:
“We are proud to welcome Bermuda and Saint Lucia as full members of the Caribbean Golf Association. Their inclusion reflects the continued growth and strengthening of golf across the region. Both associations demonstrated clear vision, passion, and a commitment to development that aligns with the CGA’s mission. We look forward to their active participation and contribution to elevating Caribbean golf on the global stage.”
Pictured: Sidney Wolf, CGA President
President, Bermuda Golf Association, Craig Brown, added:
“On behalf of the Bermuda Golf Association (BGA) Board, we are pleased to confirm our progression to full membership within the Caribbean Golf Association. Bermuda has maintained a long-standing relationship with the CGA and has been working toward full membership for some time. Following two years of active participation as an associate member in CGA events, the Board felt this was the right time to take the next step. This move reflects our commitment to providing meaningful regional competition for our players, and we look forward to contributing as a supportive and valued member of the CGA while offering our assistance whenever called upon.”
President, St. Lucia Golf Association, Mario Reyes, stated:
“In an effort to continue growing golf in St. Lucia, we look forward to exposing our golfers to new challenges. As we join the Caribbean Golf Association as full members, we look forward to participating at every level. This will, in turn, build camaraderie, strengthen friendships, raise the quality of play, and provide pathways for our young golfers to access opportunities that were not previously available.”
The addition of Bermuda and Saint Lucia brings renewed energy and diversity to the CGA’s membership, further strengthening its role as the unifying body for golf in the Caribbean.
About the Caribbean Golf Association
The Caribbean Golf Association, founded in 1987, includes member countries from across the Caribbean region, including the Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
The CGA conducts five annual championships throughout the Caribbean, providing competitive opportunities for juniors, amateurs, and senior golfers, while promoting the continued growth of the game across the region.
Unique among regional golf organizations, the CGA represents members that are governed by both The R&A and the United States Golf Association, reflecting the diversity and international character of golf within the Caribbean.
Birchmore Griffith has made significant contributions to the administration, development, and competitive success of golf in Barbados and across the Caribbean. He was inducted into the Caribbean Golf Association Hall of Fame at the 2025 Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC) in Barbados. He joined the Barbados Golf Association (BGA) in 1998, initially assisting then President Mervyn Holder with preparations for the 2000 Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships, hosted at Royal Westmoreland.
In 2002, Birchmore was elected President of the Barbados Golf Association at a time when the organisation faced financial challenges. Over his 12-year tenure, the Association’s financial position was stabilised and strengthened through disciplined management, strategic sponsorship acquisition, and the establishment of consistent revenue streams. He served alongside a capable executive team, including Vice President Abu Suleman and Secretary Trenton Weekes, whose combined efforts supported sustained organisational growth.
That same year, the Barbados Junior Golf Association was merged under the umbrella of the BGA. A structured junior development programme was introduced at the Balls Driving Range, supported by former national players Carlsen Leacock and Orville Alleyne. The R&A provided technical assistance by deploying coaches to Barbados over several years, strengthening the foundation of junior golf development.
Building on this momentum, the BGA collaborated with the Barbados Golf Club, Roddy Carr, and the National Sports Council to introduce golf into national summer sports camps for juniors. The success of this initiative led to the establishment of the David Marshall Youth Academy. In later years, the BGA Junior International Championship was introduced and grew to attract strong regional and international participation.
In 2007, the BGA undertook a major modernisation of its operations with the introduction of the BGA Membership Card, the GHIN Handicap System, and a Tournament Pairing Program, all administered and executed by Trenton Weekes. These initiatives enhanced member benefits and strengthened relationships with local and regional golf clubs. Agreements were also secured to provide members with complimentary tournament days and reduced green fees across Barbados and selected Caribbean territories.
During Birchmore’s presidency, the BGA benefited from hosting the Barbados Open Championships at Royal Westmoreland for five consecutive years, as well as the 2010 Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships, facilitated through the support of Greg Schofield, Director of Operations. Competitive success during this period included capturing the Hoerman Cup in 2004 and 2010, along with multiple victories in Senior and Mid-Amateur Caribbean Golf Association Championships.
At the regional level, Birchmore served as Vice-Captain and reserve player on the winning Caribbean Cup team in The Bahamas, and later as Captain, alongside Vice-Captain Wayne, of the CGA Eastern Team competing against the Western Team in a Ryder Cup–style event held in Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2006, the Barbados Golf Association was selected to manage the professional qualifying rounds and the PGA World Cup of Golf, hosted by Sandy Lane, further demonstrating the Association’s operational credibility under his leadership.
The Caribbean Golf Association recognises Birchmore Griffith for his leadership, administrative impact, and enduring contributions to the governance, development, and competitive advancement of golf throughout the Caribbean.
Trenton Weekes has contributed more than two decades of service to the administration and development of golf in Barbados and across the Caribbean. He was inducted into the Caribbean Golf Association Hall of Fame at the 2025 Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC) in Barbados.
He joined the Barbados Golf Association (BGA) in 2001 as an ordinary member and was later elected Secretary, serving in that role for 16 years. During his tenure, he introduced key administrative improvements, including the implementation of the USGA GHIN Handicap System in Barbados in 2007, at a time when scorecards were manually collected and entered hole by hole.
In 2014, Trenton was elected Secretary of the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA), serving for six years. In 2018, he was elected Tournament Coordinator of the CGA, with responsibility for the setup, execution, results generation, and publication of results for all CGA championships. During this period, he was mentored by Cesar Rivera, a Rules Official with extensive technical expertise.
In 2019, Trenton achieved USGA Advanced Certification in the Rules of Golf and currently serves as a referee at CGA, LAAC, Barbados, European Legends, and regional championships. In 2020, he was certified as a GHIN Administrator, led the upgrade to the World Handicap System (WHS), and played a central role in transitioning five local clubs to the updated GHIN platform. That same year, he introduced Golf Genius in Barbados to support the administration and execution of local club and CGA championships.
In 2022, Trenton achieved Golf Genius Certification and completed additional professional development, including a WHS/USGA Course Rating workshop in Panama. In subsequent years, he completed course re-rating exercises with a team for four local clubs and is currently pursuing USGA Course Rating Certification.
His early development in golf administration was guided by Birchmore Griffith, former President of the Barbados Golf Association. In later years, he benefited from the mentorship of Sidney Wolf, current President of the Caribbean Golf Association.
The Caribbean Golf Association recognises Trenton Weekes for his sustained commitment, technical leadership, and significant contributions to strengthening golf administration and championship standards across the region.
