Golf Saudi this week saw the rollout of the innovative Starting New At Golf certification program here. Better-known as SNAG, the program includes all the basics of golf, helping to teach beginners and build-up their skills. SNAG has become popular globally, due to the fact that it can be played both indoors and outdoors, ensuring anyone can learn, anyone can play, and anyone can teach golf. Taking place this week at Riyadh Golf courses, the level one and level two certification programs were delivered to 28 people on Monday and Tuesday, with all 28 participants being fully certified. Today, as part of the final session, all certified SNAG coaches then delivered sessions (as the concluding part of the certification process) to school children at the Tadrees' Dar Al Baraah National School in Riyadh. Majed Al Sorour, CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said: "We have identified SNAG as the key platform for the early stages of Golf Saudi's ‘Get into Golf' schools program, which focuses on introducing golf at grass roots level, to non-golfing Saudi Arabian children." Al Sorour continued: "Mass Participation forms one of Golf Saudi's key pillars, with the aim of introducing, educating and entertaining citizens about golf, particularly young people. Our view is that when children play a sport, if they have fun, it is far more likely that they are going to come back, pursue it and potentially become future golfers." SNAG is the brainchild of former US PGA Tour professional Terry Anton and the program ensures golf is easy to learn, thanks to its colorful, portable and very easy to use equipment, as well as having the game's rules explained in a simple fashion. There has never been a system dedicated to the development of new players that is both easy to teach and learn, until SNAG. Once the program has become a proven learning and training system and begins to grow, Golf Saudi will then scale it. To therefore oversee its development, a number of attendees from Golf Saudi were present during the three days, including: Steven Troup, director of instruction, Bouchaib Al Jadiani, head of mass participation, Theo Potgieter, golf operations manager, Rawan Al Salim, program manager, and Razan Al Hussain, communications officer. There were also four PE teachers from the Tadrees' Dar Al Baraah National School and another 19 attendees from local golf clubs in Riyadh including Riyadh Greens, Nofa Resorts, Intercontinental and Dirab Golf Club. Zouhaier Jebri, the PGA Professional from Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, was also in attendance. Trainer Jordan Lawrence, who delivered this week's sessions, is extremely well experienced with SNAG programs in inner city communities and school groups, and was impressed by what he saw during the three days: "I am very pleased how this week's upbeat SNAG sessions went and how well they were received by both the teachers and school children. This program is the first step in transitioning non-golfers to the golf course in a fun, safe and engaging way. This week has demonstrated that SNAG is the perfect starting place for any child on their future journey to becoming a golfer. This week's first SNAG certification program has been delivered to the group of local golf coaches, golf club staff and physical education teachers for the purpose of creating a nationwide network of knowledgeable, skilled grass roots coaches, which is in turn adding to Golf Saudi's Mass Participation pillar. — SG
