Oman Golf Association to take golf into schools

Muscat: During a recent visit to Oman hosted by His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Kais Tarik Al Said, Chairman of the Oman Golf Association (OGA), Mr Neal Graham, The R&A Development Manager for the Middle East and India, was thanked for the support given by The R&A to the OGA to grow the game of golf in the Sultanate.

Through this support the OGA is pleased to announce that from the start of the next academic year it will be introducing golf into local schools through The R&A Unleash Your Drive in Schools Programme. The programme which has been created by The R&A in collaboration with the Golf Foundation is a six part beginner programme delivered to primary schools using specially designed equipment provided to the OGA by The R&A.

The classes will feature fun games and challenges as well as nine mental resilience tools which will not only help to master the game of golf but also to develop key life skills that are essential for long-term mental well-being.

Neal Graham said “The R&A Unleash Your Drive has proven to be a real hit with young people in Great Britain and Ireland thanks to the great work of the Golf Foundation. The programme is now active across the Middle East in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Lebanon. Our aim is to replicate the success by introducing the sport into schools throughout Oman .”

His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Kais Tarik Al Said added “The Oman Golf Association would like to thank The R&A for providing us with the equipment and knowledge to introduce the great game of golf to a younger audience in Oman. Golf can have a significant impact on physical health and with the work done by The R&A we are confident that Unleash Your Drive will positively impact the minds and bodies of Oman’s youth. We are excited to start this programme and uncover the next generation of golfers.”