By Khairil Hassan

Brunei juniors benefit from golf clinic

Article from Borneo Bulletin Weekend. Published on Saturday Jul, 31 2010

Beck shows a participant on a swing. - PHOTOS: KHAIRIL HASSAN

Shergill showing one of the participants how to hold a club.

Brunei junior golfers enjoyed some important lessons taught by Brunei Open defending champion Darren Beck of Australia and India's Gurki Shergill during a junior golf clinic yesterday.

A total of 35 juniors were present at the golf clinic which was organised in conjunction with the on-going Brunei Open at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.

Asian Tour stars Beck and Shergill were thrilled to see the talented Bruneian juniors.

"There's a lot of talent in these kids. They have solid golf swings and with proper guidance, they will improve more in the future," said Beck.

"I taught them how to chip and concentrate on their short game because many of them come here and they start hitting with their drivers. They need to learn that there is more to golf than just hitting a long shot," he added.

Beck also believed the Brunei Open has played a huge role in promoting the sport to the younger generation in the sultanate.

"It is good that these kids can watch the Brunei Open. They can learn from us and see what we do on the golf course. It will generate an interest among the other young kids," said Beck.

Shergill echoed the sentiments of Beck. "Looking at the age group here and how they were hitting the ball, I would say that these young golfers are heading in the right direction.

"The Brunei Open serves as a motivation for them to improve and do better. It is a big thing to have an Asian Tour tournament in your country and it will inspire many to take the game seriously," added Shergill.

Muhd Irwan, 12, who won the Junior Golf Association Championship, was among the juniors who participated in the golf clinic.

"Darren changed my swing a little and I'm hitting it further by at least 10 metres. If I continue to practise with his advice, I'm sure I will be hitting my ball much further," said Irwan who hopes to turn professional in his 20s.

Sheikh Jamaluddin, the chairman of the Brunei Open Organising Committee and Director of Brunei Tourism, was delighted with the grassroot development of golf in Brunei.

"I have seen it with my own eyes. The young golfers in Brunei are more interested in the game now. I go to the driving range and I see more junior golfers. Four or five years ago, it will be quite empty. Now, it is regularly packed with youngsters.

"The interest of the game is growing. I started all these with the goal of promoting Brunei as a holiday destination for golf packages and now it has indirectly created an interest in the younger generation of Brunei," said Sheikh Jamaluddin.