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OMAN

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OMAN

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Swinging a golf club is a good work out, some may exhort. Spending long hours in the fairways and greens is a good relaxation method, others may argue. But in the case of 18 women in Muscat, the game has brought about huge changes in their lives, T A Ameerudheen discovers

Well suited for ladies

Nabila Al Jahadhmy Personal Assistant, CEO, Qalhat LNG I like putting and chipping, and I have to improve my driving skills. I will continue the training as wanted to learn more. If possible, I would like to participate in competitions too.

Talha Al Said Group Executive Director, IBD Group One has to learn a lot and should be committed. For example, if you want to hit the ball perfectly, your posture and the grip on the club should be proper. So I am taking it as a challenge.

Sabah Salim Al Harthy Housewife Golf is well-suited for ladies where they do not have to shed their religious beliefs. It is not a tough game and I find it as an avenue to relax myself and socialise.

Hajer Salim Al Harthy Student, Higher College of Technology I am enjoying it very much and since my mother, father and brothers are all into golf, which is a topic of discussion at our home.

Aseel Hassan Strategic finance manager, Qalhat LNG I enjoy putting, which is a sport with an aim to do something. One should have the focus to successfully do it.

Elham Ali Teacher, Bahrain My aim is to play 18 holes and I will definitely encourage my students to take up golf.

t was a pleasant Tuesday evening when the sun was about to dip over the horizon and the sliver of a moon emerged in the azure sky revealing the beauty of the symmetrically arranged, magnificent dunes at the Al Mouj Golf CourseBut six women, committed to a new goal, still moved around the greens! Nabil Al Jahadhmy drove the ball straight to the bunker, Sabah Salim Al Harthy polished her putting prowess, Talha Al Said once again tested her perfect grip on the Club, while Hajer, Aseel Hassan and Elham Ali attentively listened to the tips from the coach, all under the bright artificial lights that outshone the majestic moon light. They hail from different walks of lives (students, teachers, housewives, top executives of major business houses) but they all share a common passion for, according to them, the beautiful game that is well-suited for ladies. It had been an unimaginable proposition a couple of months ago. Some of them had no other option but to watch Tiger Woods and other legends in action on their television sets at the insistence of their kith and kin. They only saw the vast swathes of the green. They neither knew the rules nor etiquette of the game, though some of them knew the games movers and shakers, thanks to the spoon-feeding from their golf-mad colleagues. Some of them were not even ready to try their hands in a dull game but were subsequently pushed to play it when the entire family began to flock to the golf courses with their heavy baggage. But the lives of some 18 women in Muscat have now undergone a sea change after they enrolled in the ambitious ladies training programme, launched by the Oman Golf Committee (OGC) with the support from Oman Gas Corporation, and began learning the tricks of the trade. The programme, first of its kind in any of the GCC country, aims to inculcate a passion for golf among the women. Now, golf has become an avenue for relaxation for some, while others find it as way to overcome the mental fatigue after a hectic days work in office. But they unanimously agree that it is an ideal sport for women. Women do not have to compromise on their religious believes while playing golf. We can wear the Hijab. No one will come in close contact with us during the game, says Sabah, a housewife. Ive never been to a golf course before joining for training. Now I am enjoying the game, thanks to the guidance from the expert coaches. I am making slow progress, but I am sure that I will get there, says Nabila, Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, Qalhat LNG. Talha Al Said, Group Executive Director, IBD Group opens up her mind: I come here every Thursday between 11 am and 12 noon. It

never affected my work schedule and family life. Though I have a busy schedule in office, I am not stressed out. But golf gives me an opportunity to meet people, talk to them, socialize, get fresh air, set focus and learn different things. I have been nurturing the ambition to learn the nuances of the game for long. When Oman Golf Committee decided to launch this programme I was the first one to pounce on the opportunity For Sabah, golf was not something strange. She hails from a family full of golfers, but the game never caught her imagination. The training, however, changed my outlook. Now I realise that it is a cool game, and definitely better than football, she says. She feels that the sport will become popular in Oman in a couple of years. We have got some of the best golf courses in the world. This will appeal to the local population and I am sure more and more men and women will learn the game. Of late, she began following the developments in the golfing world too. Tiger Woods is my favourite. He might have lost the World No. 1 ranking, but I want him to ascend the peak once again. I wish I could meet him one day. For Aseel Hassan, Strategic Finance Manager, Qalhat LNG, the one-hour break every week gives an opportunity to get away from everything. I feel great while spending one hour in the greens. And, Elham Ali from Bahrain, who has been working as a teacher in Muscat for quite some time, echoes the same views. I am ready to spend extra hours at the course. For, I know golf is all about perseverance and commitment. The beginning The Oman Golf Committee needs full praise for kick-starting such a programme, but the OGC officials say the women should be hailed for mooting the idea. We have implemented a valuable suggestion put forth by some of the women, said OGC vice-chairman Salim Al Harthy. Coach Chris Jones adds, it is a pleasure to work with this enthusiastic group of ladies. Everybody is giving her 100 per cent and it is heartening to note that they are enjoying the game.

GREEN MOVES