Tom Green and Marcus Dunning, who have taken over the popular Grass Roots Golf programme and re-branded it Golf DXB, have plans to reach 18,000 school children before the end of the year and introduce them to golf.
The 23-year-old Green and Dunning, 27, were both part of Grass Roots Golf when it was run by Mark Gregson-Walters, who sold the business to the two young English PGA professionals when he moved over to the European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) last month.
Winner of the 2013 Middle East Golf Awards (MEGAs) for the ‘Youth Development Initiative of the Year’, Grass Roots Golf was already an established name in the business, but Green and Dunning have major plans to ramp up the business.
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“Starting this month, there are two main initiatives that we are launching that we hope will have a significant impact on golf as a sport in the UAE,” said Green.
“In our Tee It Up scheme, we will be seeing 18,000 children within school time during their PE lessons in September and October. We have already tied up with 23 schools for this, and we are adding some more.
“We are also planning to take this programme to Sharjah, but we are just waiting for all the approvals and we will reveal the details soon.
“Even if we have a conversion rate of one per cent, which I think is extremely likely, we will add so many new golfers and help grow the game in the UAE.”
The second programme that Golf DXB are launching is the ‘Learn Golf DXB’, which Green and Dunning believe, will revolutionise the perceptions of golf in the UAE and increase participation rates amongst adults in the game.
Operating out of their base at The Track, Meydan, it gives aspiring golfers a chance to get 12 hours of tuition for less than Dh1,000.The first lesson is free and introduces the participants to golf.
This then moves on to the next stage, which is Learn Golf in a Week. The classes will be held during weekdays from 7pm.
Thereafter, a player will move to the Intermediate Group, which will be held every Saturday at 6.30pm, and finally, the Advanced Group. The last three stages will be completed in four sessions each and the cost of each stage is Dh325.
Well done Helen Robertson. 5 lessons has completely changed the way you hit the ball. Enjoy your new chapter in Sco… pic.twitter.com/9KVcYce3P3
— Golf DXB (@GolfDXB) September 15, 2015
All equipment will be provided by Golf DXB.
“From our experience, providing that they practice between lessons, this system will produce competent golfers who are ready to hit the golf course. We can even help them to get their EGF handicaps and direct them towards the most effective way to play golf in the UAE.
“We are confident that this model will result in mass participation in the game,” concluded Green.
“We are very gung-ho about both the schemes. Anyone who has heard about ‘Learn Golf DXB’ cannot help but comment how economical it is. That’s almost Dh75 per session, equipment included!
“We must also mention The Track here, who have been just brilliant for us. Being the only payand- play course in the country with the most affordable green fee, they completely understand what we want to do.”
For more info, call 050 3986389, or visit www.golfdxb.com.
