YMG goes international

Dateline: August 2005


Young Masters Golf has joined forces with the United Arab Emirates in their quest to produce and identify a future generation of champions in the region where popularity of the game has scaled new heights thanks to the European Tour events like Dubai Desert Classic and Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Pictured (left to right): Chris Smith, of YMG , Henrik Stenson, GiD Global Ambassador, Peter Cowen, of Peter Cowen Golf Academy, Mohamed Buamaim, GiD Vice-Chairman, and Nigel Blankcrane and David Gosling of YMG, at the signing ceremony at the Bristish Open, Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

The UAE Golf Association, in conjunction with 'golf in DUBAI,' has signed up with UK golf coaching company YMG to provide juniors in the UAE with a much-needed springboard to success in what the association sees as a massive boost for golf in the region.

Association with YMG
"We are delighted to have formed this association with YMG," said Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, Secretary-General of the UGA. "UAE junior golf will now really pick up steam with a professional organization like YMG joining us in our endeavour to spread the game."

He continued: "We have one of the best facilities in the world and each golf course is equipped with the state-of-the-art academies. The specially-designed YMG programmes will help kids recognize personal values, interests and talents needed to achieve their dreams.

"YMG will be fantastic for us..."
"The game of golf offers so much in the way of excitement and opportunity for kids and the YMG programme, I am sure, will be fantastic for us," Al Hakim added.

The Young Masters Golf Junior Golf programme was developed by a team of highly-experienced British PGA Professionals and is currently being offered to youngsters at over 600 golf clubs and facilities throughout the UK and Ireland. In just four years, more than 35,000 youngsters between the ages of 4 and 17 years of age have been introduced to the game by Pros using YMG.

Tremendous success
The programme's tremendous success is attributed by many to the fact that it not only teaches children the skills required to play the game, but places as much emphasis on the rules and etiquette that make the game so unique, and all in a structured, challenging and fun atmosphere.

"YMG provides a perfect introduction to golf by showing youngsters everything they need to know to enjoy this brilliant game for the rest of their lives," said YMG's Dave Gosling, after the signing the agreement with Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman of Golf in Dubai (GiD) and Chairman UAE JDP Programme.

"We are delighted to be associated with the UGA and Golf in DUBAI," said Mr Gosling, "and, I know that with YMG, we will soon be hearing a lot more about the rapidly developing UAE junior golf scene."

Signing at the Open
The signing ceremony took place recently on the Golf in Dubai stand at the 135th Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in the presence of world number 17 European Tour player Henrik Stenson and renowned coach Peter Cowen, both GiD global ambassadors.

Henrik Stenson
Endorsing Abdul Aziz Al Hakim's views that golf has so much to offer youngsters in the UAE, Henrik Stenson said: "When you are that young, you have to enjoy the game. You can't be too serious too soon. There is always the danger of losing interest, no matter what sport you are pursuing, but if you love what you are doing, you will be successful " he said.

The UGA-YMG partnership is seen as a step to put the youngsters on the road to golfing success. The association will also be utilizing YMG's new 'Mighty Masters Golf' programme, which provides structured golf training for children in schools to further widen the appeal of the game.

Pictured:

Chris Smith, of YMG , Henrik Stenson, GiD Global Ambassador, Peter Cowen, of Peter Cowen Golf Academy, Mohamed Buamaim, GiD Vice-Chairman, and Nigel Blankcrane and David Gosling of YMG, at the signing ceremony at the Bristish Open, Royal Liverpool Golf Club.


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