Golf has always been perceived as an elite sport in India. Golf equipment is expensive to buy and accessibility to golf clubs is limited.
To mitigate these issues and make golf easier to play, Protouch Sports, in association with the Bengal Golf Association (BGA), has introduced a Junior Programme, premised on greater accessibility and affordability. Equipment and golf balls are provided for free and children simply need to attend wearing sports t-shirts and shoes. The cost of a single lesson is Rs 500. This Junior Programme doubles as a talent hunt, where promising children will be given professional coaching and financial support to play tournaments. Underprivileged students will also be given free coaching as part of the programme, which is conceived and conducted by Protouch Golf Academy, voted as the best golf academy in India. Advanced coaching by certified coaches, with videos screen analysis, launch monitor and other gadgets will be used. Juniors will get subsidised access to the golf course as well.
Protouch believes in Mission 2032, which aspires to have an Olympic champion from Eastern India by 2032. The programme hopes to be a catalyst in this aim, but will need the requisite support, especially from corporates. “This programme will be taken to various schools across the city, and I'm sure there is abundant talent in Kolkata, which we’ll tap into,” said Indrajit Bhalotia, the academic director of the programme. Anil Bhargava, president of BGA, said: “We’re happy to tie up with Protouch Sports and look forward to growing the game of golf and making it affordable for everyone.” Udayjit Bhalotia, director of instructions at Protouch, will be overseeing the initiative and creating the Junior Programme curriculum, which will be implemented by NGAI-certified coaches.
