Grassroots progress disappoints visiting golf coach

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Friday July 2, 2010 00:00

Addressing a media conference at the BGU offices in Gaborone this week, Johnson said during his last visit, the golf union had shown promise with a hardworking and determined technical team.

'However, I have to admit that the junior structure, which is one of the main reasons I was here last year, has not been properly looked after,' said Johnson. He said when he visited in 2009, a lot of youngsters from clubs showed enthusiasm as they registered for his course, which offered basic golfing skills. 'Now it seems the enthusiasm has gone because I have not received feedback on the progress of the course,' he said.

Johnson said he will put a performance monitoring system in place when he leaves so that he gets feedback on the number of youngsters recruited by clubs. He said the idea behind the development programme is to bridge the gap between young and senior players. The objective is to engage both seniors and juniors in numerous competitions including inter-club matches. Johnson said that Botswana has great golf potential. 'I have seen a lot of people who have never played golf looking like promising players just after their first swing,' he said. He hailed Batswana children as very adaptable and fast learners.

Johnson, however, pointed out that one of the biggest challenges Botswana faces is the unavailability of land. He said that at first the plan was to have simple golf courses where instead of grass, soil is mixed with diesel oil to make a field. 'This has however proven impossible because the government of Botswana doesn't allow oil and soil mixed meaning we have to turn these grounds into greens,' he said. He said that this can be costly as artificial grass may be needed.

Meanwhile, Johnson conducted a golf awareness course for media practitioners at the Gaborone Golf Club on Wednesday. The course was meant to educate journalists on golf rules and regulations. Johnson has been a golfer from an early age. His father and brother were also golf professionals. He leaves Botswana on Monday afternoon.