Panta Rei - Golf : a Globalisation of an Elite SportISSA and ISHPES - Joint World CongressSport in a Global WorldPast, Present and FutureCopenhagen July 31-August 5, 2007

At Golf Torino, during FISU World Championships of Golf, in September 2006, Mr. Franco Chimenti, President of the Italian Golf Federation, made an official announcement about the possibility to register directly with F.I.G., abolishing the obligation to be a member of a golf club. This is an experimental procedure that will be revised in 2008. This markings a turning point in Italian golf history. F.I.G. Membership fees range from 60 E for adults to 22 E for juniors. On April 27th, 2007, R.A.I. included this news in their broadcast on “TG1” at 1.30 p.m. so as to further increase the number of new members. In May 2006, at “I Girasoli” Golf Club in Carmagnola (TO), Mr. Paolo Guermani, the President of Piedmont Regional Committee F.I.G. and the General Director of Public Education, Region of Piedmont (M.P.I.R.), started the project “Golf at School”. This was done not to create competition, but rather to expand the choice of sports at school and remove prejudice based on the high price of golf fees. In May 2006, there was a 3-day full immersion course dedicated to the updating of Physical Education teachers in both primary and secondary schools. The meeting was organized in steps, with 50 teachers at a time. Other meetings were set up in October 2006, April and May 2007. These were addressed to new and former teachers aiming at a higher qualification. Teachers involved in the project “Golf and School”, have compiled a yearly plan for 2006/07, part of P.O.F. (planning for instructive proposal). Theses teachers scheduled a number of lessons to be spent at golf clubs. These clubs have come to an agreement about the project and are all situated near the schools involved. They started with 10 lessons for each class, with a P.E. teacher and a golf coach of F.I.G. Students that show a talent for this sport will be given the opportunity to continue with lessons and a minimum of 50 students will be given further lessons during Summer. The added value that led the Italian institutions to consider golf a particularly educational discipline was the opportunity of introducing young students into a wholesome, green and peaceful environment in which it is possible to practice a sport learning its handicap rules that are meant to counter different skill levels. Students learn how to respect natural environments, self control, coordination and dexterity. Such behaviour and skills that have a positive social cogitation and can be easily transferred and applied to their everyday life. Since students are involved, their families are too, soo this project will reach an ever increasing group of people. The Piedmont Region’s project was extended to the whole of Italy on January 1st, 2007. The Federal Board F.I.G. during its meeting on November 29th, 2006, presented an Italian circular i.e. Circular n. 31 of 1st December 2006, addressed to all Golf Clubs and local F.I.G. Organizations. This circular reported that the Federation had approved the financing of furthering the project “Golf and School” for the school year 2006/07, which involves primary and secondary level schools. Only in Piedmont Region, a total of about 2,800 students from 131 classes will be involved.