Why ‘Golf in Schools to Range’?
Points to use when writing to schools
The Indian Golf Union’s National Initiative for Golf in Schools (NIGS) will be an opportunity to introduce the ‘game of a lifetime’ to school-children, and at the same time facilitate and motivate entry into local golf courses for those who show potential or interest.
The Programme will introduce golf to many thousands of children at an age at which they can hope to become top-level athletes if they decide to persevere with the sport.
Indian children have the ideal physiological-intellectual make-up for golf. Genetic predisposition and generations of good nutrition including adequate-protein diets are required for some of the ‘mother sports’ such as swimming, gymnastics and athletics.
However, smaller quantities of fast-twitch muscle fiber and less-than optimal nutritional status are adequate for golf.
The first 10 minutes of each session will be devoted to fitness training, which will incorporate the latest concepts in cardiorespiratory; speed; agility; balance; and simple strength training, useful for all school-going children.
The Programme will introduce students to important human values through concrete examples in golf, during each session. The nine important human-values which will be taught are respect, sportsmanship, perseverance, honesty, caring, responsibility, tolerance, nonviolence and fair-play.
Skills other than golf will be incorporated - self-expression via painting, drawing, essaywriting and drama.
Exposing children to golf at an early age might motivate and educate them enough to perhaps, one day, make a golf-related career for themselves. Golf-related careers can be as diverse as that of being a playing professional, golf instructor, golf facility manager, green-keeper, golfcourse designer, golf equipment sales-person, tournament referee and many more. India has a growing golf industry.
Introducing the sport through schools would also enable the promotion of the sport among all school-going children, regardless of their socio-economic background, and their ability to acquire club-memberships.