SLG Grassroots Programme returns after six years

The second edition of HSBC Future Lions Golf Grassroots Programme along with Sri Lanka Golf (SLG) will return after sixyears from February 24 to April 9 with the involvement of six leading golf clubs namely Shangri-La Golf Resort Hambantota, Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, Victoria Golf Resort Kandy, Eagles Heritage Golf Club, Anuradhapura, Eagles Links Golf Club, Trincomalee and Royal Colombo Golf Club, Colombo.

The programme, to be worked off in above golf courses, will include coaching clinics with hands-on instruction from experienced golf professionals for young golfers of all skill levels. The HSBC Future Lions Golf Grassroots Programme is open to youngsters aged 9 to 12 years across all locations. This year, a special feature will be the introduction of the “Girls on Par” programme which is an initiative to increase the participation and representation of young girls in the sport.

The programme is designed to introduce the game of Golf to children aged 9-12 years in the country and provide them with the opportunity to develop their skills and pursue their passion for the sport. The first leg of the programme was initiated in July 2017, with over 700 young people participating and several of them going on to compete in local and international tournaments.

The second leg of the programme has been built on that success, by expanding the reach of the programme and offering even more opportunities for young people to get involved.

In the inaugural programme launched in July 2017 and 2018, over 700 children were introduced to golf across seven locations. Out of the lot 250 underwent further advanced training and development at the respective academies and what’s significant is that the programme introduced 25 new junior golfers who played at a national level thanks to this national effort. What’s significant is that two junior stars produced by this programme were Adithya Weerasinghe and Thenuk Sathsindu from the Anuradhapura Academy. Both players are single handicappers and are now playing competitive golf and recently were selected to the SLG national junior squad.

The respective schools, especially around the outstation golf clubs, will be notified on dates of the programme by SLG in the next few days. HSBC and SLG invites girls and boys between the ages of 9 to 12 years to attend the Grassroot Programme for a fun day and try golf and learn more on this exciting sport from coaches and instructors who are attached to the respective locations.