Children chill out with golf to beat Delhi heat

New Delhi : With the Delhi summer at its peak, you would expect kids to paddle about in cool swimming pools, or queuing up at ice cream bars. Well, here's a surprise: children in this city appear to be taking to the game of golf in a big way.

You only have to take a look at the Army Golf Club and the picture is clear. A group of about 40 kids braves the Delhi heat every day to turn up at the club's practice range to learn the basics of the game.

It's a two-week coaching programme – one of many being held across Delhi – and the daily grind runs well into the afternoon.

"It's a nice way to spend our summer vacation," said 11-year-old Tanishka Dhanker, nurturing a dream to be a future Michelle Wie, the top-notch golfer from Hawaii, US.

The students line up for practice at 9 a.m. sharp, learning to get their swing right over two sessions of two-hours each.

"We don't feel the heat playing the game because the game in itself is hot. If I get a chance to improve my game I can even go and play in the professional tour," said Angad Jeet Singh, a little ambitiously.

Singh, 15, idolises the American golfer Tiger Woods, and feels that more clinics like these would help young golfing talents.

Conducting the coaching programme is the Professional Golfer's Association of India (PGAI) and Indian Golf Union (IGU), the parent body of the sport in the country.

"We have created a lot of good golfers and we want more," said Rommit Bose, the chief instructor.

"The junior programme is targeted at the younger group so that we can nurture more talents in the country."

The two-week course costs Rs.5,000 but those who can't afford it can have it for free.

"Golf is an expensive sport but we have to support kids who have the talent. So we have decided to give lessons to the underprivileged free of cost. Here, out of the 38 students, we are not charging 17," said Bose.

With golf kits starting out at about Rs.15,000, the programme lends free equipment – supplied by TaylorMade, the golf wing of Adidas group – to those children who can't afford to buy one.