Sri Lanka Golf tees off on talent quest
The Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU), in its quest to find talent across the country, has launched 4 Golf Academies in strategic locations. The programme commenced in August 2017, in a partnership with HSBC “Future Lions”, when the inaugural HSBC International Sri Lanka Junior Golf Championship was held at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC).
Today, the SLGU maintains a Colombo Academy at Welisara, a Kandy Academy at Victoria Golf & Country Club (VGCC), an Anuradhapura Academy at Eagles Heritage Golf Club and a Kilinochchi Academy at Kilinochchi Central College. The RCGC and the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club manage their own Junior Golf Academies, with little assistance from the SLGU, having been in existence since 1979 and 1989 respectively, while producing many Golf champions.
“The SLGU has started looking for more talented golfers with ‘fire in their bellies’, in more areas around the country, where Golfing facilities are now established. All these students are trained with a purpose, with individual attention to take each one to the next level. All we have to do is ’ingrain fundamentals’ and nurture the talent” said SLGU President Priath Fernando.
He further stated it had been a huge issue to find qualified Instructors in Sri Lanka in the past. However, in 2017, for the first time, 9 Instructors qualified through a 6-day certification programme offered by the SLGU.
SLGU Golf Development Consultant Anil Perera, has trained and certified instructors at the Kandy Academy at VGCC, and is planning to conduct more such training programmes to fill the gaps in Trained Trainer Skills.
Anil has been a driving force in coordinating the operations of these Golf Academies in partnerships with the Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Army, along with the only private entity VGCC. As for the future of Golf in Sri Lanka, there is huge potential from our National Squad. SLGU has now streamlined the structure and process with leadership from Johnny De Saram as Manager of the National Squad.
“This will be a great opportunity for the private sector to join hands with the SLGU to assist talented youngsters engage in Golf which is now an Olympic Sport. A kid engaged in a sport is a kid out of trouble,” said Anil.