Get the middle class hitched to golf: Jeev Milkha Singh - Times of India

NEW DELHI: Jeev Milkha, an alumnus of the Chandigarh Golf Course, an institution once infamous for its strict members-only entry policy, on Monday once again advocated the need for public golf courses and driving ranges if the sport had to become acceptable across all classes in India. "Golf in India is considered an elite sport. It is not possible for everyone to play in private courses. We need to give opportunities to all who want to play the sport. And for that, we need public golf courses," said Jeev. Stressing the need for golf to become main stream in the country, the 41-year-old European Tour regular also offered to meet the Union sports minister, Jitendra Singh, on the issue. "I have been requesting the government because it is the government which has to allocate the land to build public courses. I am willing to meet the minister and discuss ways to make courses public and more accessible to the regular sports enthusiasts," said Jeev. "With golf becoming part of the Olympics now, it is even more imperative that more of the middle class get access to the sport," he said, adding, "Throughout history, we have been a race of archers and shooters. Somewhere, golf has the same skill sets. Maybe as a people, we take to golf naturally and we must take care to hold on to that." It is possible that while there has been a mushroomin g of private golf courses across the country, it has not helped increase the talent pool for the sport in urban India. Rather than promote it, the exclusive nature of such ventures may actually be keeping the regular middle class sports enthusiast away while only encouraging the casual, weekend golfer. This could prove detrimental for the sport rather than help improve it. Jeev cited the example of his chauffer. "There is a growing interest in the sport, and many from the middle class want to pick it up, but the means are lacking. My driver's son watches me play. And now, he's expressed his desire to pick up the sport. But it is impossible for someone of such limited means to get access to courses that would charge over a lakh for membership, or where the entry fees too are exorbitant." Jeev was speaking on the sidelines of the event where he was announced as the brand ambassador for Volvo Auto India. via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG3nk9lPJmEPM5QPsnMMA8QPNOkkQ&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/golf/top-stories/Get-the-middle-class-hitched-to-golf-Jeev-Milkha-Singh/articleshow/19450900.cms

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