TGU to invest more in junior development

Tanzania Golf Union (TGU) has prepared a five-year strategic plan whose chief goal is to develop the game right from the grassroots level.

TGU Chairman Gilman Kasiga said in Dar es Salaam recently that the programme will heavily focus on developing junior ranks and increasing the number of ladies golfers in the country.

The junior development plan intends to offer everything a junior golfer needs to continue and speed improvement, step into the tournament and achieve better results to have future strong national teams and increase the number of players.

Also, the strategic plan, Kasiga said, aims to develop golf trainers to increase a number of quality golfers and mostly the teaching abilities at all levels to meet the international standards.

Kasiga said any development is highly dependent on the presence of qualified trainers, and TGU has a responsibility to support the move.

“We can have many talented players, but without going along with the growth of trainers’ standards, it will be difficult to reach the desired goal,” he said.

In developing ladies, he said the union has planned to cooperate reasonably with the Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TLGU) under President Queen Siraki in achieving the feat.

He said they are aware that ladies have been on the front line and represented the nation well in international competitions. For example, Arusha Gymkhana Club (AGC) golfer Madina Iddi sparkled in Kenya.

Madina defeated his opponents from Uganda, a  Kenyan host and countrymates to win the 2023 Kenya Amateur Ladies Golf Open Stroke Play Championship trophy for the second time after winning his first title in 2015.

Kasiga said that when the strategic plan is completed, they will present it to the National Sports Council (NSC), the major stakeholder in sports development, before starting its implementation.

TGU bets on its affiliated clubs, including Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC), Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Lugalo Golf Course, Moshi Gymkhana Club, TPC Moshi, Kilombero Golf Course, Mufindi Golf Course, Arusha Gymkhana Club (AGC), Kili Golf Club and Morogoro Gymkhana Club.

Adding, he said the union plans to conduct a golf clinic in Dodoma once the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces course under construction at Ihumwa, near the Government City popularly known as the Magufuli City, is completed.

He said the clinic’s goal is to motivate and increase the number of public servants’ participation in the game.