FOR the majority of local Zambians, golf is known to be a sport for the elite to which Jairos Dinga, Mansa Golf club chairperson objects. Golf is neither exclusively for the well-to-do nor is it for the physically handicapped or old people, but everyone can enjoy the game.

Dinga said his club in Mansa has six young players who have continuously displayed intense interest and are doing very well as far as the sport is concerned.

Speaking shortly after the Inyatsi Constructions-sponsored Mansa Open Golf tournament last weekend, Dinga said his club places emphasis on promoting young players in order to harness the nursery and secure the future of the sport in Mansa.

He further called on girls to take keen interest in the sport. And during the Mansa Open golf tournament, three pupils; two of them Grade 7 school goers; Henry Kunda of Mansa Primary School and Peter Chisala from Parl Gate Private School, each won a washing machine and sun beam roaster, respectively.

The other Jerry Mushota, a Grade 10 pupil at Mansa Secondary School won a conventioneer cooker during the same tournament.

Dinga, who first showed interest in golf then as a Sub A pupil at Kaloko Primary School in Ndola said, his dream was to promote young people.

Having engineered his early days as a golfer, first by admiring people that played the sport in Ndola - soon he joined the sport as a caddie at Ndola Golf club.

Though not a competitive player, Dinga went up to Kansenshi High School, and now that he was older, his interest seriously industrialised in 1982, and more times he started teeing and following the general routine.

A designer by profession, Dinga relocated to Mansa in 2006 and continued to play golf exhibiting natural talent until last year when he took over from Eddie Nyendwa to run the Mansa Sports Club as chairman; the club houses basketball and volleyball clubs in addition to Golf.

He explained that his dream is to see as many young people join the golf club and play competitively in future.

He also wants to ensure the club maximises from the local residents and exhibit social interaction.

Dispelling assertions that golf was for the elite considering the high price of buying equipment such as golf clubs, shoes, golf balls etc., Dinga said depending on the patronage of the club, golf can be played by anyone without dignifying class, flair or elegance.

Mansa Golf club, however, is without challenges as it lacks a proper water reticulation system for watering the greens, adding that golf is played on browns because the club lacked funds to refurbish the 36-hole course.

He thanked Inyatsi, the contractors of the Chembe-Mansa road for helping rehabilitate part of the club, saying it was now time for Mansa residents and others in Luapula Province to join hands so that they can rehabilitate the club and bring it up to the required acceptable standards.

He called upon the executives and heads of departments in Mansa, Luapula Province to find time to socialise at the club. John.kapesa818@yahoo.co.uk - 0955710975