Magala rallies parents to send their children for golf lessons

The annual Uganda Ladies Golf Union (ULGU) holiday golf clinic has started with over 30 children in attendance at the Uganda Golf Club course.

Unlike past clinics that normally run during the December to January holiday; this one will be continuous with more lessons being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays according to ULGU president Eva Magala

"The official holiday program will close on January 25, but we shall continue to hold lessons for the children whose parents will be able to drop them on those two days to allow for the development of the golfers," Magala said.

She said this was necessitated because the children would return the following year stale and having forgotten what they were taught because of the long break in-between.

"We want to see continuity of the skills passed on all the time; so we are getting organized to ensure there is continuity at all the golf clubs so that we have a stronger junior program throughout,"

 Children who turned up for a golf clinic in Kilembe. The gulf between upcountry and city is evident though the talent remains the same or even better with upcountry golfers. Courtesy photo

"So I urge all parents out there even non golfers to send their children to these clinics because golf is one of the sport that can make you star by only practicing, only  giving it your mind and time and it is the only sport you can play alone and play up when you are over 90 years," Magala stated.

Top lady golfers like Irene Nakalembe, Flavia Namakula, Sheila Kesiime and professional golfers Abbey and Hussein Bagalana as well as Ronald Otile and Daniel Baguma fresh from a golf course in South Africa are passing on the skills to the youngsters.

Magala said she was going to put more emphasis on the girls because many who came before have disappeared yet she is bent on grooming a new ladies team as her and the current team members are ageing out.

The Uganda Golf Union has in the same breath opened up golfing academies at all clubs in the country. One which caught the eye of many golfers is that of Kilembe where needy children could be seen practicing on the course.

Dressed in rags the children drew sympathy with Entebbe Club golfers fundraising for them with golf balls and other necessities.