Debut golf camp makes inroads
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday December 18, 2015 12:04
The camp, which was held at Blue Tree World of Golf in Gaborone, attracted 17 children.
The camp organiser and coach, Mpho Kelosiwang said the camp was meant for children between the ages of six and 14. Kelosiwang said activities that were covered during the camp included; gaining strength, quickness, speed, agility, balance and confidence. He explained the activities differed depending on the child’s age.
He said the camp gave the children a chance to have fun while playing the sport. He noted that golf was a boring sport because players spend the day hitting the ball the whole day. As a result, it does not attract many people, especially children. Kelosiwang said the plan was to continue sensitising the community on the sport and shed away the status that golf is for the elite. He said the aim of his academy is to create the best athletes possible.
He said by catching them when they are young, they become attached to the game. He pointed out that it did not mean all the children who participated in the camp would take up golf as their choice of sport because they might change when they grow up. He however said there are still those who would continue with the sport and put the country in the map in future.
“We had first time players and those have had played before were being accelerated on their skills,” he said. “This is an innovative approach towards golf development in the country.” He explained that the idea was based on the principles of Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) and Titlist Performance Institute (TPI). He said children played three holes while others played six and nine holes. He said the interest was high and they had to be careful not to overwhelm themselves. He said the idea was to have a number that they would be able to give attention to, hence the need for the ratio to be balanced with that of coaches.
Kelosiwang is a TPI Junior Level Two qualified coach and he conducted the training together with another leading PGA Professional, James Samson. The camp ended with the future golfers showcasing the skills they acquired. He said the plan was for the camp to continue next year.