A golf institute for children

Duc Tam

An Australian trainer gives basic skills to children at Hanoi Golf Academy - PHOTO: HANOI GOLF ACADEMY

With his professional expertise, Duong established the Hanoi Golf Academy in Hanoi in July last year in the hopes of promoting the sport among youth and children and discovering golf talent as well.

Talking with the Daily, Duong says in the U.S., people consider golf a true sport and can earn a living from it. But in Vietnam, people think of it as entertainment. This might explain why golf is exclusively played by well-to-do people.

“That way of thinking makes it hard for golf to develop in Vietnam and cultivate professional golfers,” Duong says.

The fee for learning golf at Hanoi Golf Academy is VND4.5 million (US$206) for nine sessions in two months while a set of golf clubs for children costs some VND5 million.

The price is quite high compared to incomes of many people but it is still lower than the cost for learning to play the piano, Duong says.

Last year, only 20 children joined classes at the academy but the number of trainees has increased to 50 this year. Duong is looking to expand his business to Danang and HCMC in the future.

To encourage young people and children to learn golf, Hanoi Golf Academy cooperated with Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize free golf courses for children under 13 in May. Duong and two other Australian professionals taught the kids with all equipment provided by the academy.

Paying foreign trainers US$10,000 per month, Duong has also opened classes for adults to generate revenues for maintaining his academy.

According to Duong, golf helps players practice patience and stay calm as it requires people to be careful in every movement.

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