MGA STATE JUNIOR CLINIC EXPERIENCES GROWTH IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF THE GRASSROOTS PROGRAM SURPASSES 600 PARTICIPANTS

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - MGA Web Editor

The juniors posed with the officials at the junior clinic in Negeri Sembilan	Sukree attending to one of the juniors	Juniors at the State Junior Clinic in Kelab Golf Sarawak
Juniors at Miri GC listening to Pro Faridil with rapt attention	The juniors at the MGA State Junior Clinic at Clearwater with the officials	The juniors at the State Junior Clinic in Keningau, Sabah

MGA State Junior Clinic inaugurated this year has been a great success, introducing more than 600 children (boys and girls) to golf in one season.

The grassroots junior golf program, a joint collaboration of the Malaysian Golf Association, its affiliates and state golf associations covers a wide range of topics from fundamentals of golf swing to putting, pitching and bunker play. A motivational talk is also included in the program to educate the juniors on golf career prospects. The clinic is held twice a year for each state.

The most recent clinic was conducted in Seremban International Golf Club (SIGC) where 23 juniors comprising of 6 girls and 17 boys attended the clinic conducted by MGA's Roaming Pro, V Gunalen and assisted by 2 local pros from the ASEAN Tour, Mohd Sukree Othman and M Sasidaran. The juniors had an enjoyable and educational session with the Pros. At the end of the clinic, Mr Shanjoy Choudhury, Negeri Sembilan State Rep presented a memento to Tuan Haji Mohd Yaacob, Captain of SIGC and Vice President of Negeri Sembilan State Association.

After Negeri Sembilan, the team of Pro Faridil Atras, Pro V Gunalen and Bambang Sumateri went to Sarawak to conduct the clinic at Kelab Golf Sarawak on November 21 where 31 juniors comprised of 22 boys and 8 girls attended the clinic. The team was assisted by local Pro, Abdul Samat.

The second clinic was held at Miri Golf Club on November 23, with 43 juniors comprised of 30 boys and 13 girls attended the clinic. The team was assisted by Pro Shanmugan, the Resident Pro of Miri Golf Club.

After Sarawak, they went to Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort to conduct the golf clinic for Perak State. 23 juniors comprised of 17 boys and 6 girls attended the clinic. Mr Low Teck San, Perak State Rep was present to give a short speech to the juniors and to give away a memento to the host club.

The second clinic in Penang was held on November 29 at Bukit Jawi Golf Resort. 32 juniors attended the session which was conducted by Pro V Gunalen, Pro Faridil Atras and Bambamg Sumanteri.

After Penang, the team went to Sabah to conduct the state junior clinic in Keningau Golf & Country Club on December 10 and Sabah Golf & Country Club on December 12. 62 juniors turned up at Keningau comprised of 38 boys and 24 girls while at Sabah Golf & Country Club, 16 boys and 6 girls attended the clinic.

The last clinic conducted for 2008 was in Saujana Golf & Country Club on December 14, where 36 juniors comprised of 7 girls and 29 boys participated.

MGA would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in the clinic directly or indirectly for their contribution towards ensuring the success of the program.

All in all, the clinics were conducted successfully and the program will continue in 2009.