More junior golf sets for NEGC

From left: Nuwara Eliya Golf Club Vice Captain Priyanga Hapugalla, Nuwara Eliya Golf Club Captain Firaz Hameed, Sri Lanka Golf Union President Priath Fernando and Manager Golf Promotion and Events Dian Abeyewardene

Sri Lanka Golf Union President Priath Fernando handed over 10 more junior golf sets to Nuwara Eliya Golf Club Captain Firaz Hameed in the presence of NEGC Vice Captain Priyanga Hapugalle and SLGU Manager Golf Promotion and Events Dian Abeyewardene.

Golf, recognised as the fastest growing sport in the world, is long considered a “rich man’s” sport in Sri Lanka but now the doors are being opened by the Sri Lanka Golf Union with the blessings of the Ministry of Education to introduce golf to schools island-wide without limit.

R & A (Royal & Ancient), the international governing body over the local governing body of golf, assists the SLGU with junior golf sets and other equipment to develop the game at school level.

The NEGC, which boasts of the oldest golf course standing in Sri Lanka, has over the years promoted golf among schools in Nuwara Eliya and is currently actively training a pool of over 30 juniors.

NEGC has produced top golfers and among them K. Prabagaran is a former National Champion and subsequently turned Professional. Prabagaran won the Sri Lanka Open twice and is very successful on the PGTI – Professional Golf Tour of India. 

The NEGC Captain intends to increase the numbers of juniors now playing by reaching out to more schools and the continuous support from R&A with equipment can help the SLGU realise the vision of producing world class golfers from Sri Lanka in the vision of 2020+.