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Gary Gilchrist gives Tim Tang putting tips. Photo: Sam Agars

Hong Kong Golf Association joins forces with world-renowned coach Gary Gilchrist – ‘this is huge’

  • The South African is working with the territory’s coaches to put a programme in place to ensure young players are given the best possible chance of reaching the top

He’s worked with a host of world number ones and now world-renowned coach Gary Gilchrist is teaming up with the Hong Kong Golf Association.

He is working with Hong Kong’s coaches to create a foundation for developing the future of golf in the territory in a partnership the HKGA’s high performance manager Tim Tang says is “huge”.

“He’s coached so many number ones on the LPGA Tour, the PGA Tour, so this is huge, I feel privileged to get to learn from someone like Gary,” Tang said.

“What he has brought is a system, we are trying to lay down the foundation for the future of developing Hong Kong golf.

Ducky Tang (left), Danny Lai (second from left) and Tim Tang (right) from the HKGA with Gary Gilchrist (second from right) Photo: Sam Agars

“His system is proven over 20 years of experience and it’s something that’s never been done here in Hong Kong, someone like Gary with a system where not only he teaches the players but he’s improving all the coaches. The most important part is the coaches.”

Gilchrist has worked with world number ones Lydia Ko, Feng Shanshan and Ariya Jutanugarn in recent times and has also worked extensively in some of the world’s best academies.

The South African first came to Hong Kong in mid-October for a week and will return at regular intervals to mentor the HKGA’s coaches and juniors.

Gilchrist is in the process of implementing a programme that will ensure the territory’s youngsters are given all the tools they need to follow in the footsteps of Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching, the first Hongkonger to play on the LPGA Tour.

Feng Shanshan. Photo: Reuters

“Most places hire people from different countries but for me it is very important to have a training system,” he said.

“You need more than just one or two coaches, you need a team of people that want to take the game to the next level and I think Hong Kong saw the need for that.

“The best people to put their arms around the system are the people who are going to live in that country and eat, breathe and sleep it.

“Rather than relying on some foreigner to come in and give their two cents, have a person like me that can help them design a programme than can last for the next 20 years.

“I think this programme can have an impact straight away. I know together we can do something special and provide something for the students that will help them if they have the desire to go to the next level.”

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