"The long-term objective is to nurture a team of young golfers into professional stars, who can represent China, for instance, at the Olympics," said Zhang Xiaoning, director of the Small Ball Sports Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport.
"From an outreach perspective, we also hope that more young people will be able to experience golf and fall in love with this great sport," he added.
Guan Tianlang, 14, who recently became the youngest ever participant in The Masters, said such programs provide a platform for young players like him to learn from top players.
"Since the start of the program in 2007, I have participated in many tournaments and had the honor and privilege of playing a hole with Tiger Woods at the 2010 WGC-HSBC Champions Pro-Am tournament," he said.
"I love golf, and I hope that more people of my age can take part in and find passion in this wonderful game," he added.
However, Li Dazheng, deputy director of the Multi Ball Games Administrative Center, also cautioned that major sporting achievements at a young age can serve as a "double-edge sword" for the future development of the young players.
"One reason why young Chinese golfers can achieve great things is that they don't need to support their family and can focus on their sport," he said.
But these honors can be a burden in later life, if dedication to sport is only at the expense of their lives at home, he added.
He said that the program, which will feature winter and summer golf camps, will help shape their personalities, rather than simply training them to become soulless, robotic players.
Turn white rabbit to 'gold' - A young entrepreneur's goal
Feedback
RSS
