National Golf Academy inagurated at Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Nov 26 (UNI) Adding another facility to the sports in the region, the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Gen (Retd) S F Rodrigues today inaugurated the National Golf Academy (NGA) 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, Gen Rodrigues called for changing the elitist image of the sport and emphasised the need for making it broad-based with the focus on empowering-cum-enabling facility for beginners and children from all strata of society.

Mr Jagannathan, President of Indian Golf Union (IGU), 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 he said while pointing out that Chandigarh Golf Range was the best place where the IGU could locate its nationalacademy.

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 (CGA) in his welcome address said that CGA has 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 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 CGA read the message of Dr Donato De Ponziano who is the main architect of the National Golf Academy of India. In his message, Dr Ponziano said that this was a realised dream.

UNI HS MMS1545