The brain behind this foundation is professional golfer Vishal Chawla, who feels that there is a serious lack of opportunity and quality training for junior golfers. ``We need to generate the interest to play golf in children and make them dedicated to the game. This way we can generate lots of quality players in the world circuit and perhaps even a world champion,'' he says. The foundation hopes to support junior golf and expand the base of golf in India. ``Like in the US, we want every city to have more than 10 golf courses and make the game accessible to every one,'' says Mr Chawla.

The initial kick-off fund for the foundation, a corpus of Rs 3 lakh, was all Mr Chawla's personal money. All the participants were charged Rs 1,000 for the 10-day camp. Each child who opts to become a member of the foundation will have to pay Rs 1,000 per month for which the foundation will permit them entry to golf courses, provide them with personal coaches, physical instructors and give them detailed help on improving their game. ``I am not making any profit from this because golfing is an expensive game,'' he says.

He intends to generate funds by opening the foundations' facilities to adults who want to play the game.

Mr Chawla's foundation will have a four-tier system. The junior level will be at a nominal fee and even free in the case of caddies and other children who are keen to play golf but can't afford it; a basic skill level for adults who want to play weekend golf; an amateur-level for budding professional, and a very advanced level for professional players.

The other three levels will be charged higher rates, depending on the services they opt for, says Mr Chawla.

Mr Chawla, the son of Ravi Chawla of Ravissant fame, went to one of the top golf schools in England. He plays on the professional circuit and also dabbles in hi-end luxury goods. ``I retail cigars, liquor and other hi-end products. And golf and cigar go together. I want to cash in on the disposable incomes available with young professional couples and use it to train youngsters,'' he says.

The foundation has an extensive plan for these youngsters. The training does not end with the camp. ``We will now make a detailed plan for each participant on where he can play the game, who can coach him and how many times a week he should play,'' says Mr Chawla. Each child will be handed this detailed schedule in a week's time and the foundation will follow-up on the child performance. ``For Rs 1,000 a month they will be given coaching, physical training, use of SAI facilities to train and also use golf clubs at very nominal charges,'' says Mr Chawla.

In addition to this the foundation will also hold camps in five other cities-Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Jaipur and Bangalore-by the end of June this year. Later in the year, we will hold camps in the satellite towns near these cities like Noida, Gurgaon, Pune, etc,'' he says.

The foundation is also building a golf school outside Delhi. The school will be a professional golf learning place. It will also have horse riding and tennis clinics, says Mr Chawla.

``Even if one per cent of these children become professional golfers, our aim will be achieved,'' says Mr Chawla.