Adding another facility to the sports in the region, the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM, today inaugurated the National Golf Academy of India, at an impressive ceremony in the sprawling lawns of Golf Range, here today.
This National Project, aiming to promote and develop golf, will meet the long felt need and demand for teaching professionals in this sport in the Country. In his brief address on the occasion, General Rodrigues called for changing the elitist image of the sport and emphasized the need for making it broad-based with the focus on an empowering-cum-enabling facility for beginners and children from all strata of society, who have no access and financial resources to pursue this game.
He said that the time has come for us to have a hard look and come out from selfimposed constraints by breaking barriers and to work for the promotion of golf as a Mission. He said that we should not limit our excellence target up to Asia but work together for taking Chandigarh Golf to world level standards, by introducing best practices and procedures.
Mr. Jagannathan, President of Indian Golf Union, while speaking on the occasion said that IGU has been running courses for teaching professionals for the last five years at various golf courses in the country. However with the demand for the teaching professionals rising every year, IGU had to find a home for the academy, which is conveniently approachable by all modes of transport. Chandigarh Golf Range was the best place where the IGU could locate its national academy.
Mr. Ducan Weir, Director of Development who represented R & A in the function said that the governing body of Golf in the world will provide all support for running the National Academy.
Mr. C.S.R. Reddy, President Chandigarh Golf Association in his welcome address said that CGA had been carrying out a great job for past many years and this is the best facility in the entire country and is available to every golfer. He said CGA will boast of equipment and professionals not available any where in the country and that with the setting up of this Academy many caddies will be able to get the opportunity of becoming teaching professionals.
Mr. J.S. Cheema, General Secretary of the Chandigarh Golf Assocaiton read the message of Dr. Donato De Ponziano who is the main architect of the National Golf Academy of India & could not come due to his pre-occupation. In his message, he said that this is a realized dream and wished it looking forward for the better. Eminent golfers from the region attended the function.