The Bangladesh Golf Federation needs to cash in on the recent success of ace golfer Siddikur Rahman in order to promote the sport as there are immense opportunities to succeed if managed well, officials and coaches said on Wednesday. Siddik won his second Asian Tour title by clinching the Indian Open on Sunday, ending the title-drought that followed his 2010 Brunei Open victory, and took the popularity of the game among the masses to new heights.
Words like ‘birdie’ and ‘bogey’, as well as ‘under-par’ and ‘over-par’, are becoming more familiar to students and professionals in different fields, and proper branding can only help the game as there are many golfers in the pipelines waiting for the right break.
‘We must encash the success of Siddik in order to take the game forward,’ Retd Major Anisul Islam, a former employee of the Bangladesh Golf Federation’s development unit, told New Age on Wednesday.
‘[The] Hero [Indian Open] is a major tournament in Asia and Siddik’s triumph only proves his ability as a golfer in the international circuit,’ said Anis, who was associated with the BGF from 2006-2012.
‘There are several other professional golfers waiting for the right opportunity and if we can just back them with proper training and sponsorship it won’t take long to make our presence noticed,’ he added.
According to Anis, there are 60 golfers registered in the Bangladesh Professional Golfers Association, which was formed in 2009 but has yet been unable to become a strong platform because of failures to put in a coordinated effort.
‘Professional golfers need to have strong sponsors looking after their financial aspect, as well as preparing them by arranging proper training in home and abroad,’ said Anis.
‘[The] federation must work hard to develop a strong relation with several corporate bodies, because it helps the player to perform freely.
‘Unfortunately that is not the case with most of our professional golfers, putting hindrance in their overall growth as a pro,’ he added.
Each year, the BGF receives £18,000 from golf’s international governing body, The R&A, some of which is directed towards developing emerging Bangladeshi golf talent.
A large portion is also used in the classroom to teach important lessons, like the value of good nutrition, as well as the more traditional academic subjects.
Where there is a shortage is the number of professional tournaments available to local pros.
Building Technology & Ideas Ltd hosted an International Golf Championship in October with 72 golfers from Bangladesh, India and Nepal taking part, which was eventually won by Jamal Hossain Mollah, Bangladesh’s second best player.
Jamal and Sakhawat Hossain Sohel have participated on the Asian tour, while players like Dulal Hossain, Zakir Hossain, Mohammad Soyhum, and Liton Howlader are not far behind.
But unless more professional tournaments are arranged, it will be difficult for the golfers to take their games to the next level, according to coach Abdul Matin.
‘There are lot of amateur golf tournaments in our country, but it won’t have any big impact because of lack of professional golf tournaments,’ said Matin.
‘If there are 10 to 12 professional golf tournaments then the standard would have raised substantially,’ he added.
There are 12 golf courses in Bangladesh, including five international standard 18-hole courses, which could be used to develop the golfers in order to help them shine on the international stage.
-With New Age input
