According to Mr K.V. Sridar, HOD for PE and Aesthetics, the Tiger Cubs were mooted by the school's previous principal, who wanted to take advantage of Naval Base Primary School's proximity to several golf courses. "She also felt that golf should not be a financially prohibitive sport," he said.

Young golfers practising their swing on school grounds before going onto a real golf course.

The golf exposure programme, which began in 2000, involves a series of five golf lessons that take place during PE periods. Thereafter, pupils who are keen to continue in the sport can sign up to join the Golf CCA, which holds practice sessions at the nearby Orchid Country Club. Given its steady efforts to introduce and cultivate an interest in golf at the junior level, it is no surprise that the school is known for sending one of the biggest contingents to primary level golf tournaments.

Unearthing young talents on the green

One of the many pupils who are showing great promise is Megan Lin. Still in Pri 1, Megan has already bagged her first golfing prize as part of a team who clinched the 1st runner up position in the Team category at the 3rd National Primary Schools Handicap PC Golf Championships held this May. She credits her rapid progress to the support of her father and older brother, both avid golfers.

Dane Ang juggles golf balls with his club in between taking a swing. "Golf is relaxing and you feel satisfaction when you take a swing; it's hard to explain why," he says.

The Tiger Cubs have even managed to woo a pupil over to Naval Base Primary School. Dane Ang was formerly attending another primary school, but applied for a transfer so that he could pursue the game more intensely. Dane's passion for golf has led to his family spending more time together. "I started my family on golf!" says the Pri 6 pupil with visible pride. Mr Sridar also shares that they have noticed the pupils who do well in golf have the full support of their parents.

Nadya Goh is a case in point. After her first taste of golf in Pri 1, Nadya found the game to her liking and was encouraged to pursue the sport in earnest by her parents and older brother. Now in Pri 5, Nadya emerged as 1st Runner Up in the 11th Sarawak International Junior Tournament held in Kuching, Malaysia, last November and was champion in the Handicap Division at the 3rd National Primary Schools Handicap PC Golf Championships this year.

Lessons in golf, values for life

Nadya Goh, who represents her school in golf tournaments, hopes to continue with the sport in secondary school.

Five years into the game, Nadya has a handicap of 18.8 and names Lorena Ochoa as her favourite golfer. A shy girl before she started playing the game, she is today a confident young lady and talks about how the sport has transmitted its values into other areas of her life. "You need integrity for scoring, and you learn to respect your opponents," she says. Self-discipline is also required, as Nadya must balance her schoolwork with golf training, which takes place thrice a week.

"Etiquette is part of the golf game - shaking hands with your flight mates before the game, waiting in turn to hit the balls and thanking them after the game is over," states Mrs Amy Jow, teacher-in-charge of the CCA.

School golfers taking turns on the putting "green" to improve their technique.

In the near future, the school plans to create even more opportunities for the pupils to try their hand at the game, with repeat golf sessions during PE at Pri 2 and Pri 3 levels. This means that Mrs Jow would have to scout for more venues so that the pupils can take to the green regularly. But apart from helping to uncover late-blooming golf enthusiasts, the effort is likely to yield great personal rewards for the pupils, as she notes with satisfaction, "You can literally see the pupils mature and feel the confidence growing in them too."