“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow…” is an old English proverb and one that can be related to the blossoming of the World Golf Development Programme. Lawrie Thornton, former general secretary of the PGAs of Europe, recalls what he believes to be the start of it all back in the mid-1980’s when he was secretary of the Midland Region on the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland. The R&A had been asked by the amateur federation of Pakistan if an experienced golf professional could be sent out to coach some of their better young players since their own knowledge of the game at that time was in its infancy.

Thornton knew just the very chap, a golf pro who was at that time ‘between jobs’ in the UK named Steve Wildman and who was more than happy to go off on what was then a rare golfing adventure, supported by a grant from The R&A.

In those days The R&As income from The Open Championship was little compared to what it is now, with the snowballing of TV rights and other commercial income, but a precedent in terms of future policy was set. During his comparatively short stay there, Wildman found himself required to coach – in addition to the young elite squad – the head of the country’s military regime, General Zia ul-haq, such was the escalating appeal of the sport.

Now with an advanced administration, under the wing of the Education Committee of the PGAs of Europe and with a wealth of talented and experienced consultants/tutors/coaches from which to choose, the initiative has grown from a kind of ‘golf missionary’ status to that of an established part of The R&As annual grant programme to aid grass roots causes around the world. To the non-golfing, and maybe non-sporting reader, the absolute significance of this will not be immediately evident. The fact is that golf is frequently referred to as the ‘last bastion of good sportsmanship’. Those who take it up are, or should be, taught its etiquette and its rules, along with the importance of respecting all other golfers, opponents and partners equally, and to impose self-discipline at all times. Other than at the very elite end of the sport, there is no referee, often no observer at all. When you infringe a rule you impose the appropriate penalty yourself. Or should do. That has to be a better message for young people in sport than the ‘gamesmanship’ and ‘professional fouls’ that appear to be applauded in some other highly-publicised activities.