Parents say golfing teaches good life lessons

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Exposing children to golf at an early age through school programs has nothing to do with flaunting family wealth, but is a way to pass on strong values to youngsters, parents of promising junior golfers said.

Despite concerns that introducing golf into the school curriculum might trigger comparisons of family wealth, parents praise the game's influence on their children.

One such parent is Wang Haiqiang, father of national youth team player Wang Xinying. "I hope playing golf can teach her honesty, integrity and dedication, which she can hardly learn from textbooks," Wang Haiqiang said.

Although his daughter has demonstrated the potential to be a future pro star by winning a series of amateur and pro tournaments, he insisted the 14-year-old should never give up her academic studies.

"Striking a balance is also a challenge for her, which requires her to better manage her time and improve her efficiency," he said.

Zhang Jianjun, father of rising junior Zhang Junbin from Shenzhen, attributed his son's gentle manner and social skills to his seven years of golf training.

However, both fathers acknowledged that teaching a child to play golf remains a heavy financial burden for normal families in China, where affordable public facilities are rare.

The lack of government-owned inexpensive practice ranges has slowed down the pace of the campus promotion, especially in small cities.

The Chinese Golf Association launched a junior golf program in 2007, aiming to popularize the sport at more than 300 primary and secondary schools around the country. But only about 30 schools in cities where golf is popular, such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Haikou, followed through by introducing actual golf practice on courses.

The situation varies sharply with the US, where countless public courses at universities, communities or national parks play a major role in engaging students.

Gary Gilchrist, head coach of the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, who guided China's first major championship winner, Feng Shanshan, said there isn't much golf training for young children at schools, but anyone interested could find nearby ranges.

"Over the years, in the US, golf has become more and more affordable. What used to cost $130 for a round now costs only $35. Once the infrastructure is built, golf became affordable," said Gilchrist, who also helped Yani Tseng from Taipei become the world's No 1 female golfer.

According to the National Golf Foundation, there were 15,753 golf courses operating in the US last year, despite the fact that the number is down 299 from 2005. China has more than 400 courses, including those under construction, a CGA industry report said last year.

Questions:

1. What can golf teach young children?

2. Who tried to promote early golf education in China?

3. How many golf courses are in China and the US?

Answers:

1. Strong values such as honesty, integrity and dedication.

2. The Chinese Golf Association launched a junior golf program in 2007.

3. According to the National Golf Foundation, there were 15,753 golf courses operating in the US last year; China has more than 400 courses, including those under construction.

About the broadcaster:

Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.