The Chandigarh Golf Club is currently providing training to at least 10 NRIs who have come to learn golf during their summer vacations.
Arius and Rohan of the United States are keen to learn the game as a part of their curricular activity, which is a must in their school.
“My school requires me to learn a new game which will soon become my primary sports. My father is a member of a golf club in the US, but the clubs there don’t allow young children to play golf. I am learning the basics of the game in India so that I can pursue it as a primary sports when I go back to America,” said 14-year-old Arius, a student of James Liver High School in Chesterfield, Virginia.
Alisha and Kabeer from Holland nodded in affirmation as they are also here to learn golf. “In Holland, it is very difficult for small children to take up a game like golf. Since I am soon going to be in the high school, I want to learn the game quickly,” said Alisha.
Other two golf aficionados are Karman and Shravan, from US and England, respectively. They come for practice sessions at the CGC. “Both my father and grandfather are golf addicts. I used to come along with them and become their caddie. I simply enjoy doing that. This way we spend more time with each other,” said Karman.
Ajay Gujral, coach at the Chandigarh Golf Club, explained the reasons why NRIs are coming here to learn the game. “Golf is a very costly game in foreign countries. A single lesson costs about $125 there, whereas we charge only Rs 400. Besides, these youngsters want to do something beneficial during their stay in India. They opt for sports since it also keeps them fit.”
Quite impressed with the infrastructure and the coaching, these youngsters are looking forward to coming for more such training sessions. “The facility provided at the CGC is at par with foreign countries. I will surely come again next year,” said Shravan, a student in the US.
Bhavna from Chandigarh is learning golf because she believes after a degree in MBA, her knowledge of the game will help her get a good job abroad. “I have started learning golf as it is cheaper in India. Besides, if you are good in sports, you have an advantage of being considered for a job,” said the 21-year-old who plays other games also besides golf.
Lawn tennis not behind
It’s not only golf that the NRI students are interested in. They are also inclined towards lawn tennis, which is quite a rage in Europe, America and Australia. “We had Shwinder Gill from Spain, Anant and Ritu from Canada who really wanted to learn this game. They were impressed with the infrastructure and the facilities here and liked the aerobic and yoga sessions,” said Birbal Wadhera, coach, Chandigarh Club Lawn Tennis Academy.