The Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Thanneeru, fourth from right, inaugurating the academy in Udhagamandalam on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Ootacamund Gymkhana Club (OGC) launched the Academy of Golf Excellence, powered by Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy (TGSA), on Sunday.
It will be the first structured high-performance golf training partnership in OGC’s 130-year history thus creating a clear pathway for juniors and youth to pursue competitive golf and future scholarship opportunities in India and abroad.
“This is about legacy and access. For more than a century, OGC has been a home for golf in the Nilgiris. Partnering with TSGA allows us to open that legacy to every child who wants to learn the sport the right way,” said Shyam Sundar, the OGC Head.
Known for its High Performance Center in Kolar, TSGA has built one of India’s leading pipelines for developing elite golfers. The Ooty program will adapt TSGA’s curriculum for the Nilgiris while making top-tier coaching accessible to adults and children, both beginners and existing golfers.
“Our commitment is simple – grow the game by making world-class training and knowledge available to young players, early,” said Tarun Sardesai.
“Whether a child dreams of becoming a tour professional, aims for college golf and scholarships abroad, or simply wants a sport for life, good coaching at the right age changes the trajectory,” he added.
“As a club, we are committed to supporting this program for the long term – from dedicated access to our course and practice facilities to continuous coach availability and outreach with local private and government schools. We want every youngster in The Nilgiris to have a fair shot at the game,” said Satish Balagopal, Golf Captain, OGC.
The Academy was officially inaugurated by the Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Thanneeru.
For details, contact coach Aaseem at 9996866260.
Published – October 13, 2025 06:28 pm IST