From The Fairways: Priority of UGA is juniors, nationals

During a recent visit to the World Junior Open at Royal Musselburgh, Scotland it gave us an opportunity to judge how the UGA junior golf structure measures up to other countries.

Sixty two other golfing nations were present for the championship ranging from the established golfing countries of USA, England, Scotland, Australia, South Africa and Sweden as well as many developing nations on the golfing scene.

Junior golfing programmes of various styles are prominent in all the represented countries - this Junior Open is an extension of each country's programme with one junior per country, all under of the age of 16 on January 1st 2002, in attendance.

Discussions took place both formally and informally with many of these golfing countries and associations, both administrators and players to compare notes and ideas.

It has always been the philosophy of the UGA to learn from others experiences and history rather than re-invent the wheel start from nothing with a blank piece of paper.

A standard model for junior golf does not exist and each country should tailor a programme according to numbers, facilities and resources of their home land.

The UGA in its last Junior Development Programme season had 148 expats and 68 UAE Nationals on its register in addition to healthy junior sections at many of the clubs throughout the UAE.

The priority of the UGA is juniors especially the UAE nationals and credit must be given to the original driving force of the JDP, Mohammed Buamim as well as all the clubs and corporate patrons for their contribution and Martin Duff and his team for managing the Programme.

Great strides have been made in the UAE, with Faris Al Mazrui and Rashid Alabbar leading the way as well as the likes of the Al Mosharrekhs, Nabil Sharif and others all genuine mid to low handicap holders. The existing crop of UAE National juniors has mostly come through golfing families.

The next stage is to introduce the next generation who do not come from golfing families. Schools are an option as well as free subsidised golfing programmes.

However, the UAE, with restricted capacity, is not looking for hundreds and hundreds of juniors - the facilities could not accommodate these numbers especially bearing in mind that during the peak golfing season the UAE is dark at 5.30 pm.

It is certainly not the case in say, Scotland or Sweden where golf is playable up to at least 10.00 pm at all courses at the right time of the year.

Free golfing lessons for juniors are offered in many countries as an incentive introduction to the game.

However, without genuine commitment there is a point in time where totally free lessons and free access to golfing facilities has to stop and parental support is essential financially, physically and emotionally along with support and encouragement from the association.

The UGA structure involving a pyramid of golfers with a wide catchment area of 400 puls juniors rising to a 30-man UAE junior squad and an eight-man UAE team of both expats and nationals, the healthy calendar and order of merit, coaching initiatives, an award structure from the complete beginner to the single figure golfer involving rules and etiquette, psychology and not just the ability to hit the golf ball, has made a significant impact in its four years.

The structure is producing quality golfers. However, success is not guaranteed and no one should be complacent.

The ingredients are there especially with the UAE's fine golf courses and facilities for the junior golfers to go as far as they want to.

More experience in international and overseas competitions is required - not just domestic events over your own familiar golf course in your own familiar environment against people you know.

The real success will be the continued development of the Junior Development Programme introducing the next generation of UAE National golfers from the non-golf related families.

Nick Tarratt is the General Manager of the UAE Golf Association (UGA)