As part of the FirstGolf initiative, which he co-founded, Howard Swan and three colleagues travelled to Ulaanbaatar, to organise and run the Mongolian FirstGolf Festival, designed to encourage the country to learn about and take up the game.
In association with the Mongolian Golf Association and with the support from the R&A, Callaway Golf and the UB Hotel Group the Festival took place over two days, in the city and on a golf resort in the nearby Terelj National Park.
It attracted some 150 people, half of them young children, who were experiencing golf for the very first time.
Teaching the basics of the game – both playing techniques and etiquette – using TRIGOLF and GOLFXTREME equipment donated to the Golf Association by the R&A, the scene is now set to commence an expansion of the game in the country (there are less than 100 registered players).
Swan will set up a strategy for golf and golf development in Mongolia with the Association, particularly for juniors in striving to bring accessibility, affordability and sustainability – FirstGolf’s objectives – to this distant frontier for the game.
FirstGolf www.firstgolfcourses.com
Swan Golf Designs www.swangolfdesigns.com