CAREER IN GOLF INDUSTRY: File pix of Johari (extreme left), a caddy from Damai Golf and Country Club looking at club executive Lily Stephens (centre) giving tips to young golfers.
KUCHING: The National Youth Golf Skills Academy (AKBG) is in the process of recruiting youths in Sarawak to take up its courses on golf caddies, marshals and starters.
Interviews sessions for the potential trainees are to be held today (March 26) at the respective Youth and Sports Department (JBS) offices in Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Bintulu and Miri. There are two sessions of interviews – 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4pm.
AKBG is a project under the Ministry of Youth and Sports and targeted at youths aged between 18 to 25 years old.
They will be taught the necessary knowledge and skills needed to work in the booming golf industry.
According to JBS assistant youth and sports officer Rosmene Rasid, there are good career prospects for AKBG graduates.
“There are good job opportunities for our graduates because there are 190 golf clubs throughout the country who are looking for good caddies, golf marshals and starters,” he told The Borneo Post in a telephone interview yesterday.
There are currently many foreigners working at the golf clubs. AKBG is aiming to produce more qualified local trainees in the future.
“They can earn very good income including tips given by golfers. The tips may vary from RM50 to RM200 per round of golf,” said Rosmene.
“We are actually looking for more trainees from Sarawak because we have found that they are highly committed and eager to complete their studies.”
Upon being selected, trainees are required to complete their 9-month studies at AKBG centre at Kompleks Rakan Muda in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. Practical training sessions are conducted at Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA) in Kuala Lumpur.
There is also the 21-month course for those interested to become golf marshals and starters. Those who graduated from the academy are awarded Certificates in Sports Technology majoring either in golf management or golf operation skills. Trainees are given free accommodation, meals, uniforms and the necessary equipment throughout their course.
Courses at AKBG are open to both men and women candidates who are single and possess the minimum academic qualification of a pass in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Potential trainees need not have played golf before.