Doha: Qatar International Golf Club (QIGC) Doha’s revolutionary new golf project that aims to grow the game of golf in Qatar has launched its Pearl Coaching Programme to encourage more juniors to take up the sport. The initiative will give more than 2000 pupils the opportunity to try golf for the first time.

The Pearl Coaching Programme focuses on the ‘teach the teacher’ premise.

Since October Qatar International Golf Club has been working with PE teachers across Qatar to give them the skills and equipment needed to run their own sessions which introduce the game of golf to youngsters. It is the exciting first steps of the new facility’s community engagement programme which aims to provide a complete golfing journey.

The landmark project for Qatar and the World of Golf will support beginners in schools all the way through to professionals playing the Jose Maria Olazabal-designed championship courses when the facility opens.

The Pearl Programme is already up and running at Qatar Academy as well as the Al Markhiya Independent School for Girls where golf educational programmes have been integrated into the schools’ offering. In early 2016 the Pearl Coaching Programme will be expanded into a number of additional schools with the aim of bringing golf clubs into the hands of more than 2000 6-12 year old’s across Qatar.

The programme is headed by QIGC’s Director of Instruction PGA-certified Rhys Beecher. With vast experience across Europe and the Middle East Beecher will be responsible for overseeing and delivering this world-class development programme. Beecher represented both his home country of Wales and his University as an amateur before turning professional at the age of 21. He has also completed leading courses specialising in psychology fitness and nutrition and is accredited by the Hank Haney Pro Coaching Program with Haney best known for his work coaching the legendary Tiger Woods.

Speaking on his new role as Director of Instruction Beecher commented: “I’ve been an instructor for many years and worked at some of the world’s best courses but having the chance to be part of Qatar International Golf Club’s vision for the future of the game is one of the most exciting prospects in golf worldwide. The entire facility and initiatives like the Pearl Coaching Programme has been designed to support players of every ability and background and most importantly to make golf fun and accessible for everyone.

This is without doubt the biggest challenge and opportunity of my career as the project could truly change the way golf is taught and I am proud to be a part of that journey. The designer of our golf courses Jose Maria Olazabal believes that long-term growth of golf can only happen if we make the game easily accessible and fun for kids. We share that belief with thePearl Coaching Programme” he added.

Qatar International Golf Club’s Pearl Coaching Programme covers five levels of teaching from supporting youngsters picking up their very first club right through to learning to play a course and to the elite end of the game. Levels one to three are designed to be taught in schools themselves and focus on promoting the sport’s key values including health and wellbeing concentration socialisation and team learning.

Mohammed Al Naimi Deputy General Manager – Qatar International Golf Club said: “Qatar International Golf Club’s vision and mission is clear: to grow the game of golf in Qatar. That starts by giving young people the opportunity to experience golf through initiatives like our Pearl Coaching Programme.

“Golf is a wonderful sport it has a strong focus on respect honesty and perseverance – all important values for any society – and we hope that through our programme young people across Doha will embrace these values even more.

“We want to go beyond golf and getting golf clubs in hands. We are all learning from this unique project which is constantly evolving whether it’s on sustainability or technology so we see a real opportunity to educate the next generation in Qatar. We want to go into classrooms and share the process of constructing this revolutionary facility with students.”

The Peninsula