The ongoing MOJO In-The-City Golf Project is set to continue into the summer term. Two primary schools, St Aloysuis and St Anne’s, were introduced to the Starting New at Golf (SNAG) programme last October. Since that time, Jamaica Golf Association (JGA) instructors have conducted coaching sessions with 54 children from both schools.

The SNAG programme, a creative way of introducing golf to youngsters, was created in Canada. The system has been used extensively in Trinidad & Tobago, where they hope to have the programme running in all their schools. All the elements of golf are involved, but in a modified format. The equipment allows players to make all the necessary golf shots and can be adapted for use anywhere. The JGA has taken the game to the students in their environment two afternoons each week.

Sixteen promising students have been identified for the second phase of the programme and they will be taken to the Caymanas golf course to be formally introduced to the game. Sessions will run twice per week with an assigned coach. Ten students will go on to the third phase and it is hoped that these students will show enough potential to be invited to train with the national junior team.

Initial sponsorship of the programme evolved from the MOJO 6 LPGA Tournament, which was played at Cinnamon Hill last April. MOJO Marketing, organisers of the MOJO 6 LPGA Tournament, saw the project as a worthwhile venture and a way to introduce students to the game of golf, build a cadre of players who will hopefully go on to represent the country in the sport and also remove the stigma of golf being an elitist sport. MOJO Marketing continues to sponsor the programme.

Wayne Chai Chong, President of the JGA looks at the SNAG Programme as the future incubator for golf. He advised that with the limited start, he has already seen exceptional talent displayed and is very excited about what the coaches will find when they expand to other schools.