Golf: Aryaman, nine, putting for glory

Aryaman Singh hit a golf ball for the first time at the Poona Club when he was just three-years-old and since then, his parents, Rohit Singh, a private consultant, and Melrose, have already spent Rs. 35 lakh to promote the golf ambitions of their only child.

Aryaman regularly travels to Dubai to be coached by Justin Parsons, Director of Instruction, Butch Harmon School of Golf.

Aryaman Singh hit a golf ball for the first time at the Poona Club when he was just three-years-old and since then, his parents, Rohit Singh, a private consultant, and Melrose, have already spent Rs. 35 lakh to promote the golf ambitions of their only child.

Aryaman, nine-years-old now, has made a massive impact in Indian Golf Union (IGU) sanctioned tournaments, setting a new junior golf record in India winning the Order of Merit every year since 2014. Interestingly, he has not lost a match for 1,096 days, having won all tournaments since 2014. He has played in the 9 and 18 hole competitions.

Managing to keep his head over the head table at the Mumbai Press Club and adjusting the microphone, Aryaman said : “My favourite golfer is Ropry McIloy and and I want to play the chip shot Jordon Spieth played recently. And I want to better Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors when I become an amateur.”

Aryaman practises (with junior golf equiment) for five days a week and for two to three hours each day at the Poona Club of Oxford Golf Resort (Pune). “I took him to the football and basketball camps initially, but he took to golf at the first camp for juniors at the Poona Club for juniors. He showed good hand-eye coordination...he was told if he hit one ball out of 15 attempts, it would be good and two would be excellent. He got all 15,” said Rohit Singh.

Apart from taking part in the IGU-approved zonal tournaments for juniors, Aryaman regularly travels to Dubai to be coached by Justin Parsons, Director of Instruction, Butch Harmon School of Golf. He has also travelled to California to be coached by Dick Stockton and to London where he attends coaching classes of Mark Roe; both are expert short game coaches. Aryaman whose best has been a 230 yard drive, finished in the top-15 of the Callaway Junior World Championship and in the top-20 of the UK Kids Golf Championships. He has received Certificates of Achievement from Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els.

“I have not approached any sponsor, but for his development lot of money will needed. It will be difficult to sustain without sponsors,” said Rohit Singh.