People choose a field, they work hard at it, a few attain glory but only a very few have both the foresight and vision to realise that they need to give something back to society.

I was thoroughly impressed and pleased when I read that the world's number one golfer, Tiger Woods, did something unprecedented last week off the golf course, opening a $25-million golf learning centre for unprivileged kids.

Woods, a winner of 57 tournaments worldwide and 10 major championships, feels that opening the centre is by far the greatest thing he has ever done because it has the potential to shape many lives. It is estimated that 5,000 kids will pass through the Tiger Woods learning centre by the end of this year alone.

The 35,000-square-foot facility is located next to the HG 'Dad' Miller Golf Course, where Woods played when he was in high school. Kids who want to attend will have to apply by writing their own letters. Those accepted will attend interactive programs in science, math and technology along with golf.

This is no doubt a grand contribution by an individual sportsman or woman and similar to those made by other superstars with vision, such as football's David Beckham and tennis legend Andre Agassis. The US Golf Association has substantial development programs and has been a huge force for the development of golf but it cannot do it all alone.

In Nepal, we don't even have a basic program to mentor our youth players nor a golfing legend like Tiger Woods to give needed support. In fact, the sport's future looks gloomy with no support forthcoming from national authorities.

But instead of lamenting this state of affairs, it is time that we come together and plan how to build up this sport. Golf is growing rapidly worldwide so unless we start to seriously look into this issue we will be left further and further behind.

Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Golf Director at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu. [email protected]