INDIAN GOLF PREMIER LEAGUE (IGPL), in association with the Indian Golf Union (IGU), the Professional Golfers’ Association of India (PGAI) and The Golf Foundation (TGF), has unveiled the Golf Growth Initiative, a long-term program aimed at building a strong pipeline of future Indian golfers.
Launched at the Delhi Golf Club in the presence of Indian tennis great Leander Paes, the initiative signals a significant shift in golf development by taking the sport directly into schools and community spaces. The program seeks to identify and nurture talent from across the country, equipping young players to compete at the highest level, according to the media release.
The initiative brings together the wider golfing ecosystem, with mentorship from leading Indian golf legends including Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar, SSP Chawrasia and Gaurav Ghei. As part of a key announcement, IGPL confirmed a strategic partnership with The Golf Foundation (TGF) to strengthen grassroots scouting efforts. To support this vision, IGPL will establish training centres in Orissa, Gurgaon and Andhra Pradesh starting this year, creating regional hubs for talent identification and access to professional-grade infrastructure.
Moving beyond conventional academy models, the program will conduct interactive golf sessions within schools, introducing the sport to thousands of students for the first time. The effort will be supported by a collaborative framework involving the IGU, PGAI, educational institutions and corporate partners to ensure early and systematic talent identification.
A cornerstone of the initiative is its 360-degree mentorship approach, allowing young golfers to learn, train and compete alongside established Indian stars. Players such as Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar will play an active role in mentoring emerging talent, with a focus on preparing them for international competition.
The IGPL Golf Development Programme will be rolled out in phases, with the centres in Orissa, Gurgaon and Andhra Pradesh spearheading the initiative this year, laying the foundation for sustained and long-term growth of golf in India.
IGPL CEO Uttam Singh Mundy said, “Indian golf is getting bigger and better, and the time has come to build a generation that can dominate the world stage. To do this, we are taking the game directly to schools and playgrounds, ensuring that no talent is left behind. This requires a huge collective effort, which is why we are joining hands with Amit Luthra’s foundation and the IGU. We are creating avenues where youngsters don’t just train, they learn and play alongside experienced legends to become winners.”
IGU director general Major Bibhuti Bhushan commented, “This is a significant moment where the entire fraternity is joining hands for a common goal called Golf on Wheels. Unless golf goes to schools, government schools, or tier 2, tier 3 cities, or to villages, we will not find big talent. Like what has happened in cricket and anywhere. The IGU is proud to back IGPL on this initiative because it fills a critical gap, connecting grassroots passion with professional guidance. Seeing icons mentor young talent is exactly the kind of structured support Indian golf needs to grow.”
TGF founder Amit Luthra added, “Partnering with IGPL allows us to take golf to schools and playgrounds on a massive scale. We are removing barriers to ensure talent from every corner of India gets the right opportunity. This initiative guarantees that the next global champion can emerge from anywhere, equipped with world-class mentorship from day one.”
