By Shivani Singh:
Sports in India has always been associated with the youth because of the rise of new young stars in every field, be it tennis, badminton, boxing, cricket or even golf.
I have been associated with the game of golf for the last 5 years and I have seen it grow from a game played only by retired veterans to a game enjoyed thoroughly by the youth. There are many avenues opening up in golf for youngsters. The Indian Golf Union (IGU) holds many national level tournaments the year round. These events are open for all whether you are a learner or a professional. It gives the youth just the right opportunity they need. People who win these tournaments apart from getting publicized are also sent abroad to showcase their talents and compete in international events. Many young Turks like Sharmila Nicollet, Rashid Khan, Digvijay Singh, Vaishnavi are gaining greater heights with each passing day in the world of golf. All of them started with the IGU. Apart from IGU, there are many other organizations coming up which promote golf amongst the youth such as the Women’s Golf Association of India and Paralympic Golf Association of India.
Golf is slowly and steadily gaining prominence in India where cricket has been the religion for a long time.
It is overwhelming to see youngsters coming to golf courses with their parents and practicing the sport. Indian golf courses are now matching international standards and it won’t be long when international events start happening in India with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and likes coming to our turfs for the same. This game requires a lot of hard work, passion and dedication. It’s a game where you challenge yourself to scale greater courses.