ZIMBABWE Golf Association (ZGA) has upped their development drive with a bias towards spreading the sport to the underprivileged community.
In 2022, ZGA successfully ran a Train the Trainer programme across the country’s 10 provinces and managed to train 400 coaches.
In keeping with its objectives of taking golf to communities, ZGA donated equipment to golf clubs in every province on Friday.
The equipment, meant for kids under 12, will be used free of charge. Parents and guardians can always ask for this equipment when they go with their children to any golf club in the country to play a round of golf.
At the equipment handover ceremony, ZGA president Martin Chikwana thanked their partners and sponsors who made everything possible.
“International Golf Federation and Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews supported us financially and materially. Today, we are also to inform you that we are now moving ahead to distribute the equipment, some of which is before you. The equipment is suited for the young kids in primary school,” Chikwana said.
“May I take this opportunity to express the Zimbabwe Golf Association’s profound gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Sports and Recreation Commission and ZIMRA for ensuring we get a rebate for the donated equipment. I would like to assure the public that this equipment will be put to good use.”
As part of ZGA efforts to upscale the performance of young golfers, 12 Golfers and six Coaches will take part in a High-Performance Camp, which will be conducted by South African PGA Coaches at Chapman Golf Club from 22-24 September.
This is not the first time they have taken players to a High-Perfomance camp in December 2022, and two months ago, they sent players to South Africa.
“Special thanks and appreciation goes to R&A, our International Golf Federation, the Olympic Solidarity Fund, South African PGA and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee for supporting this noble cause already yielding dividends,” said the ZGA president.
ZGA appreciates that golf is expensive, requiring a stakeholder approach for Zimbabwe to produce the next Nick Price or Scott Vincent of this world.
“It takes a lifetime to produce a golfer, and for that to happen, we kindly request everyone’s support,” he said.
