Arjuna Award Winner & Director of Academy of Golf, Chandigarh Golf Club, Harmeet Kahlon to inaugurate 5thPitch N Putt Golf Tournament
Chandigarh, Saturday, Nov 8th, 2014 (Kulbir Singh Kalsi):-The fifth Pitch N Putt day and night golf matches would be held from November 8 and November 9. A unique initiative of The British School Golf Academy the event would be inaugurated by Arjuna Award Winner Harmeet Kahlon on November 8.
Director of the academy Manjit Kochar said that for the first time matches would be held under flood lights creating history of sorts. The British School Golf Academy is endorsed by The Chandigarh Golf Club and Indo Canadian Golf Association, Canada. The academy conducts regular Junior Golf Camps and Golf Tournaments for the children of tricity.
“Since its inception in the year 2010 with an idea to promote golf at the grass root level and make the game reach to the masses, academy has been holding this event. We have a nine hole miniature golf course with flood light,” he said.
The event is divided into five categories for participants. Category A includes players in age group of 16 to 18 years, category B includes 13 to 15 years, category C includes 10 to 12 years, category D includes below 190 years and category E includes the beginners of game
He added it has been experienced that children start golf and quit very soon. It is very difficult to sustain their interest in the game. “There are two main reasons for children quitting the game in India, one is the affordability and second is its accessibility. Golf is an expensive game and if one is not a member of Golf Club or a Golf Ranage, one cannot use the same or if one uses it as a non-member, one has to pay extra money,” he said. He added that there were other reasons too which add to children quitting the game where both the parents are working and have no time to drop and pick their children from the golf club everyday. Children are also distracted by the latest electronic gadgets which consume their time and energy.
“Therefore, Golf Academy was found to reach out to every child who wanted to learn and play the game. The academy was formed so that children could play golf during the school hours and parents do not have to pick and drop them,” he said.
The academy has the best teaching golf professionals like Manjit Kochar who has a vast experience of teaching golf to kids in India and abroad. Kochar is a certified golf teaching professional from National Registry of Professional Golf Instructors, USA and is serving as a Overseas Director, Junior Golf Development Programme, ICGA, Canada.
The British School Golf management is promoting this game of golf at the grass root level and providing opportunity to the children of tricity to learn and play the game. The Principal Mona Shri Sethi said the academy does not only teaches golf but it also emphasizes on the core values of the game like, integrity, judgement, confidence, honesty, responsibility, perseverance, courtsey, sportsmanship and respect. She further said, the academy introduces and encourages the girls to start golf.
Manjit Kochar, Joint Director, Academy of Golf, Chandigarh Golf Club added that Chandigarh Golf Club will help and assist any school which intend starting golf at the school. We are always there to provide technical know-how in making and maintaining the greens and teaching staff to the interested school for promotion of the game at the school level.