Golf Goes the IPL Way: IGU to Launch Inaugural Sixes Format for Juniors in Franchise-Based Model

Add as a preferred source on Google

New Delhi, March 24: India's golf landscape is on the brink of a thrilling transformation, as the Indian Golf Union (IGU) prepares to introduce the first-ever Golf Sixes Junior Tournament on Monday (March 24), at the prestigious DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram.

Organised in collaboration with The R&A, the global governing body for golf, this innovative format aims to make the sport more dynamic, accessible, and engaging for young players.

With a six-hole, team-based structure, Golf Sixes mirrors the impact of shorter cricket formats like Twenty20 and T10, opening up new avenues to attract India's youth towards the sport.

IGU President Brijinder Singh expressed confidence in the format's potential to revolutionize golf in India.

"We can expect a comparable success story. Just as T20 revolutionized cricket by shortening the game and making it more dynamic and spectator-friendly, this new format of golf does the same. It condenses the sport into a more exciting and engaging experience, allowing a new generation to enjoy the thrill of the game in a shorter time frame. Similarly, Six-Hole Golf could capture the attention of younger players and audiences, potentially driving a significant rise in the sport's popularity," Brijinder Singh said in a statement.

The IGU's partnership with The R&A underscores a shared commitment to long-term growth and development. By focusing on players aged 12 and under, the tournament is poised to nurture golfing talent at the grassroots level.

The inaugural tournament will feature players from six North Indian states: Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh. Each state will field a team of two players, ensuring a diverse mix of talent and increasing interest in junior golf across the country.

IGU Director General & CEO Maj. Gen. (Retd) Bibhuti Bhusan highlighted how the format aligns with the modern sporting landscape.

"The shorter format of six-hole golf is emerging as a promising way to make the sport more accessible and appealing to a younger generation with shorter attention spans. This format aligns with the fast-paced lifestyle of modern youth and opens the door for golf to gain broader popularity," he said.