IGPL legend and Leander Paes launch grassroots mentorship programme to train India’s next-gen golfers
New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS/WISHAVWARTA) The Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), together with the Indian Golf Union (IGU), the Professional Golfers’ Association of India (PGAI), and The Golf Foundation (TGF), announced the ‘Golf Growth Initiative’ on Thursday, a groundbreaking programme that aims to develop the next generation of Indian golfers.
Launched at Delhi Golf Club (DGC) with tennis legend Leander Paes in attendance, it represents a significant shift in golf’s development by bringing the sport directly into schools and playgrounds, ensuring talent from all parts of India is nurtured and prepared to compete at the highest levels.
This ambitious programme unites the entire golfing community, including mentorship from renowned golf legends like Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar, SSP Chawrasia, and Gaurav Ghei, to expand and improve the sport. The IGPL announced a strategic partnership with The Golf Foundation (TGF) to enhance grassroots scouting. Additionally, IGPL revealed plans to immediately establish state-of-the-art training centres in Orissa, Gurgaon, and Andhra Pradesh this year. These centres will act as regional hubs for spotting emerging talent and offering professional-level infrastructure.
Moving beyond traditional academies, the initiative will host interactive golf sessions in schools, introducing the sport to thousands of students for the first time. This partnership includes the IGU, PGAI, schools, and corporate partners, forming a coordinated framework to spot talent early.
Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL, said, “Indian golf is getting bigger and better, and the time has come to build a generation that can dominate the world stage. To do this, we are taking the game directly to schools and playgrounds, ensuring that no talent is left behind. This requires a huge collective effort, which is why we are joining hands with Amit Luthra’s foundation and the IGU. We are creating avenues where youngsters don’t just train, they learn and play alongside experienced legends to become winners.”
A core element of the initiative is a comprehensive mentorship approach, where young players will train and compete alongside Indian golf stars. Legends like Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar will actively guide new talents, helping them become competition-ready on the international stage.
Indian golf legend and IGPL Icon Player Jeev Milkha Singh said, “I have always believed that for Indian golf to grow, we need to give back to the next generation. This initiative is close to my heart because it provides young players with the kind of structured guidance and mentorship that can shave years off their learning curve. By bringing experienced pros and raw talent together on the same platform, we are instilling the belief that they can beat the best in the world.””
Tennis icon Leander Paes, partnering with IGPL to bring an Olympic-level vision to the training infrastructure, said, “I have always believed that Indian athletes have the potential to rule the world stage. Partnering with IGPL is about bringing that Olympic mindset to golf. We are building a system where talent is identified early and nurtured with the best infrastructure. This initiative is about giving our youth the belief and the tools to win at the highest level.”
Expressing the federation’s strong support, Major Bibhuti Bhushan, Director General of the Indian Golf Union, said, “This is a significant moment where the entire fraternity is joining hands for a common goal called Golf on Wheels. Unless golf is introduced to schools, government schools, or tier 2, tier 3 cities, or villages, we will not find big talent, as has happened in cricket and elsewhere. The IGU is proud to back IGPL on this initiative because it fills a critical gap, connecting grassroots passion with professional guidance. Seeing icons mentor young talent is exactly the kind of structured support Indian golf needs to grow.”
Amit Luthra, Founder, The Golf Foundation, added, “Partnering with IGPL allows us to take golf to schools and playgrounds on a massive scale. We are removing barriers to ensure talent from every corner of India gets the right opportunity. This initiative guarantees that the next global champion can emerge from anywhere, equipped with world-class mentorship from day one.”
The IGPL Golf Development Programme will be rolled out in phases, starting this year with new centres in Orissa, Gurgaon, and Andhra Pradesh. These centres of excellence aim to promote the long-term growth of golf across India.
