Sunday 15 / December / 2024
Muscat: Oman Golf Association (OGA) took a significant step forward in their drive to introduce more women and girls to the game of golf with the signing of Renaissance Services as sponsor of their GOladies programme on Wednesday.
Under their mandate to grow and govern the game of golf within the Sultanate, the OGA are committed to offering a wide cross section of the population an opportunity to experience golf. This commitment was underlined in 2018 when they became an early signatory of the Women in Golf Charter.
Championed by The R&A, golf’s global governing body, the charter aims to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf around the world and to enable more women and girls to flourish and maximise their potential at all levels of the sport.
Acting upon the charter, and with the support of The R&A, the OGA launched its GOladies programme in 2019.
The programme offered women and girls a complimentary course of group lessons in which they were introduced to the basics of the game and the golf industry in Oman. Prior to COVID, over 200 participants had completed the programme.
With the exciting announcement of Renaissance Services becoming the title sponsor of the GOladies programme, the OGA are pleased to be able to offer GOladies sessions at each of the golf courses in Oman throughout 2024 and beyond.
The introductory lessons are an enjoyable and relaxed way to experience golf for the first time and to make the game, and the golf courses in the Sultanate, more approachable for a significant portion of the population.
OGA Chairman His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Kais Al Said, said “The health benefits of golf, both physical and mental, are well documented and although the ultimate aim of the GOladies programme is to create more women golfers, we strongly believe that participating in the programme is beneficial in its own right. Through this introduction we will undoubtedly discover some talent, who may go on to play golf at a high level, or it may open the door to a career path within golf or the wider leisure tourism industry. We are grateful to The R&A, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, and in particular to our new programme sponsor, Renaissance Services, for their support allowing us the chance to provide this opportunity.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mohana Prabhakar, Chief Communications & Corporate Affairs Officer, Renaissance Services, said, “Renaissance is delighted to collaborate with the Oman Golf Association for the GOladies programme. We believe in the unifying power of sports and its capacity to inspire positive change. The GOladies programme will not only foster an inclusive and welcoming environment but also enable women to excel in sport and offer them opportunities in allied fields like hospitality and event management.”
