With a noble objective to promote the game of golf, the Asian Golf Industry Federation launched its pilot “Grow the Game” initiative in Vietnam from August 2010 to February 2011.
The initiative was endorsed by the Vietnam Golf Association. Golf courses and driving ranges throughout Vietnam were invited to submit their proposals and after a short listing and several rounds of deliberation, the AGIF awarded a grant of USD$10,000 to The Montgomerie Links to implement their programme.
The “Grow the Game” initiative across all socioeconomic strata in the central coast region ofVietnamwas successfully concluded with over 3000 Vietnamese being newly introduced to the game of golf! Congratulating the Montgomerie Links, Wong Khen Jee of the AGIF commented, “The AGIF is very satisfied with the completion of our initial “Grow the Game” programme inVietnam. The Montgomerie Links team was very thorough and professional in their implementation of the programme and we hope that many of the thousands of Vietnamese introduced to golf will continue to learn and play this great game.”
The programme was supervised by Lee Marshall, head professional at the Montgomerie Links Golf Academy. It is a comprehensive golf programme devised specifically to introduce people of all ages to the game of golf through basic requirements and skills. As part of their strategy, the Montgomerie Links took golf to an array of local schools, retail outlets and mixed used developments where Lee assisted by his local coach protégées, put golf clubs in people’s hands, taught them basic golf skills and introduced them concepts of the sport.
“It’s extremely gratifying for The Montgomerie Links to accomplish our goal and introduce over 3000 Vietnamese to golf for the first time, thanks to the AGIF grant with support from the Vietnam Golf Association,” said general director Jon Tomlinson. “Most important, it’s an affirmation of our passion for, and approach to, bringing golf to the area which now also allows The Montgomerie Links to drive our instructional golf program “Let’s Go Golf” to encourage these new golfers to become regularly active in the sport”.
After scoring a first in the Vietnam market, the AGIF is currently working on their next programme in another Asian market to be implemented in late 2011 or early 2012. More information will be announced in the coming months.