Kota Kinabalu: Malaysian Ladies Golf Association's (Malga) "Golf For Girls" Junior Development Programme has caught the eyes of the Royal & Ancient Scotland (R & A), which is the World's Governing Body of Golf and put Sabah on its map with the just concluded golf coaching seminar held at the Sutera Habour Golf Club on Wednesday.The two-day seminar conducted by Professional Jim Staereling, Director of Training of PGA Holland was supported by R & A, the State Youth and Sports Ministry, Sabah Sports Council and the Sabah Education Department.
A total of 25 selected schoolteachers from across Sabah took part in the programme and Jim was very pleased with what he saw throughout the sessions.
"It is a very good programme and some of the teachers are very good in the game themselves which is very important as they must have an interest themselves to teach the kids and they are also very enthusiastic and learnt the craft very fast."
These teacher's main task is to return to their respective districts with their learnt knowledge to encourage more girls to take up the sport.
According to Malga Vice President Datin Jeanette Tambakau, the association will then monitor their monthly progress and will hand pick the talented ones to join their development programme on a weekly basis at Sutera Habour.
"We feel that every schoolgirl in Sabah should have a chance to play golf as it brings assets in life such as timekeeping, honesty and commitment."
"The programme since it was launched in 2006 and with the strong support from Datuk Edward Ong, who is the owner of Sutera Habour has produced one Sabahan professional, Aretha Pan who finished a creditable 17th position in her debut at the recent Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) in Taiwan."
"We are indeed very proud that she is our first Sabahan girl from the "Golf For Girls" programme who turned professional this year."
"We believe with her leading the way, our Malga junior golf development programme in Sabah is destined to nurture many more champions in the future."
Jeanette also thanked all the state bodies and R & A for their support in staging the event.
