Dubai: Ryder Cup star Rafael Cabrera-Bello popped into Dubai’s Shaikh Rashid School for Boys for an impromptu golf lesson last week.
The event kick-started an initiative by the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) supported by the European Tour and DP World Tour to deliver introductory golf lessons to over 6,000 local schoolchildren by the end of the year.
“Just watching the kids smile really makes my day,” said the Spaniard 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner. “I’m happy to be given the opportunity to be here watching the kids play golf for the first time and seeing how excited they are.
“I think this initiative is a great idea to get golf into physical education classes. If schools have the capacity to implement this initiative then I think they should go for it as it will do a lot of good for the sport in this region.”
Adel Zarouni, EGF vice chairman said: “We aim to spread golf in schools to attract youngsters who will hopefully be good golfers in the future. Golf is mostly played by expats here, but this is a way for us to get through to local schoolchildren. Rafa is an inspiration and he is helping us to get through to the schools and reach the kids.”
