Interview with Anil Seolekar: "Looking at golf as a curriculum in schools"

Anil Seolekar

Anil Seolekar, Western India’s major golf promoter and founder of Oxford Golf and Country Club, was unanimously elected president of the Indian Golf Union (IGU), the governing body of the sport in the country.

Seolekar, who served as vice-president of the IGU in the outgoing body, said he was optimistic about taking golf to a new level with a package that will involve junior training, excellence programme and feeder tour to make the sport inspiring for the youngsters to take up.

Seolekar spoke to sportskeeda.com about golf and what is in store for golf and to boost the game, soon after taking over as the president.

Q: Golf has seen some new horizons in recent times, especially Western India. What is that that you would emphasis on promoting the sport?

A: Emphasis is on junior and women areas, we would like to see this game grow as a family game and have more family time sphere a as a focus. We also propose to have the masses involved in the game by creating the facility to be able to play the game whether a driving range access or golf course.

Q: Do you have any package for the youngsters in the country? It is only sports which is yet to hit the school levels, do you have any plans to get the sports in this eluded arena (schools)?

A: Yes , we are looking at having the game of golf as a curriculum in schools as that will be key to have each kid hit the ball, as it's a game for personality development and personal skill and PR it is imperative to have it as a subject in school level. It will become a curricula and syllabus.

Q: What has to be done to boost this sport?

A: Grass Root and second tier city concentrated introduction and facility to hit the ball. We will have more academies and teaching outlets in all cities across India.

Q: Do you agree with the saying that this sports is only for the elite group?

A: No ways , it is not. Yes it is a sport that takes more time vs others. It is not at all elitist. It's very affordable compared to all games ND club memberships if all are weighed with a comparison of take back home values.

Q: Caddy’s do play a major role in the sport, any plans for these people behind the iron curtain?

A: Yes a strong talent pick proposal, nurturing growing the talented, it is happening now but could be enhanced of local clubs give them more facility to play and hone their skills. Also a strong skill development plan for empowering them to take up the sport in various allied activities of the golf business to enrich their lifestyles and social status.

Q: National Handicapping System (NHS), can we see some light in this aspect?

A: Yes this is imperative to happen/ this national system will get all players of golf registered club and non-club members the distinct status of being able to play at clubs with a handicap card and mainly for non-club membership golfers a boon. We have introduced it last year and slowly the entire golfing clubs and community are taking up to the same and this movement will bring synergy of handicapping across India.

Q: Cricket and some of the other events do have National Academies, Can we see one such academy coming up?

A: Yes we are. One in Chandigarh / we propose 3 more regional academies of excellence in the near future.

Q: Do you feel that government should play a role to promote this sport like other sports?

A: They will, once we have champions and the nation takes to golf that is happening now. Being a Olympic sport all the more we will be a noticed sport and benefits will come by.

Q: What are the chances of international events coming to India?

A: Definitely this depends on sponsors so it will happen like we attract a huge crowd at the Indian Open , we plan to revise the Indian Masters and Indian Classic too.