Golf: S'pore team will be fine-tuned for WGC

Have no fear, M Balraj is here.

Through the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) World Golfers Championship (WGC), five golfers have earned the opportunity to represent Singapore at the WGC Finals in Durban, South Africa, from Nov 1 to 8.

They produced some impressive golf to top their respective handicap divisions during the final round at Sentosa's Serapong course yesterday, but the quintet will surely need to polish their game before the big test in Durban.

That's where Balraj (inset), a golf instructor of 21 years, comes in.

The 52-year-old will coach the Singapore team over four lessons before the golfers set off for South Africa at the end of the month.

"Some of the guys, like Cody Lim (Div A champion) are very good, and already have coaches," Balraj said.

"The players in the D and E divisions are the ones I'll be helping more - but, of course, I'll help anyone who seeks advice.

"In golf, you never stop learning, no matter how old or experienced you are."

Balraj has already mapped out the four lessons, which begin on Oct 20.

"For the first lesson, we will work on the short game and then also do ball-fitting at the driving range," said Balraj, who represented Singapore at the 1989 World Team Amateurs in Sweden.

"Later on, I will check on their swing and prepare them mentally.

"The courses in South Africa are challenging like Serapong, but it can get very windy there.

"So, I'll have to coach them on keeping their shots low as well."

This article was first published on Oct 8, 2014.
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