More than 40 golfing enthusiasts took part in Myanmar’s first ever R&A Level 1 Introductory Rules School early last month. The two-day event in Yangon at the Myanmar Golf Club saw the group take part in a series of classroom teaching and practical demonstrations of the game’s most significant Rules. Significantly, in a change from previous Introductory Rules Schools, the School was organised by the national federation, the Myanmar Golf Federation, and conducted by MGF Rules Officials Peter Myo Tun and Myatt Khain using bespoke materials provided by The R&A Rules Department to put together the School’s programme.The R&A has adopted a three-tier Education Programme and increasingly it will look to work with its affiliates to deliver the Level 1 and Level 2 Schools as part of its three-tier Education Programme.
The Level 1 School is based on the Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf and covers the basics such as the teeing ground, out of bounds, water hazards, bunkers and the putting green. The programme involves a mixture of classroom type teaching with presentations, lots of diagrams and videos, and an on-course practical demonstration – always the most popular and fun part of the School. The response to the School was another sign of the growth of the game in the country. Invites were issued two months in advance to all golf clubs, practice ranges, private teams, as well as top amateur and junior golfers throughout Myanmar. Eventually, 41 attendees were accepted including delegations from Mawlamying, Mandalay and Taunggyl.
The event’s organiser Myatt Khain, who is currently translating the Rules of Golf 2012, said: “Our aim is to uphold the Rules of Golf, make sure the game is played in Myanmar in accordance with the Rules of Golf and to help the Myanmar national team participate in international events more efficiently by knowing the Rules.” “We plan to hold our next Level 1 Rules School in April and we hope to have attendees from other south-east Asian countries taking part.”The next R&A Level 1 Introductory Rules School takes place at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, Sri Lanka on the 25th of this month. That will be preceded by a Level 2 Rules School, held in conjunction with the Indian Golf Union, at the National Golf Academy of India, Chandigarh Golf Club, Chandigarh on 20 and 21 January.