Budding golfers tee off in style

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The child-like enthusiasm of ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh is an inspiration for the young buds in the sport, and if the lot that showed their skills at a recent junior golf tournament were to continue with the same zeal, all those present felt that we’d soon have a brigade of talented golfers. The recently concluded Albatross Inter-School Golf Championship brought to the fore new talent. While the sport isn’t considered a youth magnet, the emergence of skilled players at school level has surprised many.
The response may not be overwhelming yet and it may take some time for larger number of entrants to emerge, hence, even though it was an inter-school event, even individual entries were encouraged. USPGA golfer and the tournament director of the Albatross Inter-School Golf Championship, John Volz said, “Schools with teams were allowed to take part in the team events but schools which had only an individual entry were also encouraged and were allowed to play. This helps bring out the real individual capacity and talent of these enthusiastic young golfers.”
Over 20 teens and pre-teens enroll at the Delhi Golf Club every year, says Mahindra Singh, a budding professional golfer, and out of that approximately seven to eight continue their training of turning pros at the game. This is no mean figure, he says, and once the interest develops, all it takes is the fire in the belly and the desire to play at the world stage to turn these fine young talents into fine professionals.
The abundance of opportunities augurs well for the future for the game in the country, feels ace golfer Manav Jaini, who handed out awards to the winning players and teams. “When we began there used to be only five junior level tournaments a year. But this has changed and the young golfers have got a bigger and wider platform to showcase their talent and enhance their skills. With the kind of talent we see here we will soon have many more golfers representing India globally.”
The interest in the sport is gradually building but the limited reach is impeding its growth to a large extent. Rajiv Talwar, director and co-founder of Albatross Junior Tour, said, “It was great to see large number of schoolkids coming from all over the country to participate. Golf as a game is restricted in its reach, but such championships will encourage the young ones to play the sport and choose it as a career later on. These young golfers with the right direction and opportunity will lead the country to having a great line-up of golf players who can make a mark around the world.”
Seconds Mahindra, “The exposure will do wonders to their competency. Alongside experiencing Indian courses and conditions, if they get a chance to go abroad and play and experience international playing standards at close quarters, then nothing like it.”