Let’s play: CLGC launches India’s first ever golf academy for the masses

Yet,just days before the Eden Gardens dresses up for the much-awaited Twenty20 carnival this April,a revolutionary mission will get underway just a short drive away from the Mecca of cricket — at the Calcutta Ladies Golf Club (CLGC). For the first time in the country,golf is on a mission to shed the elitist tag and throw open the doors of the game to kids from all over the city who hail mainly from the middle-class.

The club,based in the heart of the Maidan,is offering a year-long coaching programme for young golfing enthusiasts from across the city,and monthly charges for the course is as low as Rs 800.

With the blessings of the Indian Golf Union (IGU) and the efforts from the golfers like Indrajit Bhalotia and Vandana Agarwal,the club’s initiative is based on the idea of allowing middle-class children — who are otherwise obsessed with cricket — to take to the sport that has never been as cheap as this. The coaching programme,which will be run on Fridays,Saturdays and Sundays,will begin on April 1,at a time when the Maidan will be gearing up for the IPL championship that gets started on April 11.

Golfer and IGU’s eastern India coordinator Gaurav Ghosh pointed out what makes this programme really special. “The idea is to broadbase the game of golf in the city,” Ghosh explained,adding: “Here’s one big chance for the game to reach a lot of people. This coaching programme has thrown the doors open to the mid-income group,basically,in several ways.

“Firstly,you don’t have to be a member of the club to enroll for the year-long course. Secondly,the course has a got a price level for a large number of people. And then you don’t have to buy your own expensive golfing sets. The CLGC will provide it all.”

Golfer Indrajit Bhalotia,who is part of the faculty that will impart lessons to the kids,pointed out the worth of this programme. “Look,this is the first time when middle-class parents can get their kids to walk in at a club at the heart of the Maidan and learn golf without having to buy anything at all. The golfing sets will be provided by the club. The fees are low and you can actually compare this with cricket coaching in the Maidan,for which the parents at least have to buy the gear. Here,even the equipment is free.

“Of the four golfing hubs that you have in the city — which makes accessing golf all the more scarce in Kolkata — this is a unique set-up,” said Bhalotia,who is playing a key role in the project.

Basic and advanced golfing lessons apart,the CLGC has also roped in reputed physical trainer Anwar Wahab to help out the young guns. As of now,the club plans to reach a capacity of 100 trainees.

Apart from scouting for kids,the club plans to rope in adults as well to ‘sustain’ the programme that will be run out of the CGC’s course year round.