The next Tiger Woods or Greg Norman could very well come from Bermuda's public school sports curriculum – thanks in no small part to Bermuda Junior Golf Association's (BJGA) ambitious scheme to promote the game at the grassroots levels.

This week has seen BJGA president Quinton Sherlock jr team up with Korean Tour player Eddie Heinen in an exercise designed to bring local public school gym teachers up to scratch on the fundamentals of golf via the BJGA's 'Starting New At Golf' (SNAG) scheme, which has so far been well received.

Using SNAG equipment, which consists of larger balls and larger clubs, the pair have provided "hands on" demonstrations at various locations across the Island where local gym teachers have been armed with essential information about the game that they will in turn pass on to their students in the classroom.

Two years ago the BJGA launched a campaign to increase its membership and introduce golf at the grassroots level via the public school sports curriculum.

Since then the association's membership has steadily risen and thanks to considerable financial backing from the corporate sector, the BJGA are now reaping the rewards from a comprehensive strategic plan to make golf "more accessible" to a wider cross-section of young people in the community.

"It is our intention that golf becomes a regular part of the PE curriculum and this is all a part of our (BJGA) outreach to expose a wider range of Bermudian youth to the game of golf," Sherlock explained.

"And we are now getting closer to having every public school equipped with golf equipment, having a few weeks set aside within their (schools) curriculum to teach golf and then having golf competitions between the various schools."

Last year saw over 600 students receive golf instructions during their regular PE classes thanks in part to Acting Education Officer for Physical Education, Darrin Lewis, who was also influential in the introduction of golf into the curriculum.

Sherlock added: "As we move forward into the second year of our initiative we seek to offer further instruction to PE teachers that will allow them to teach the rules/etiquette via seminars and testing."

Enter Heinen, an American who has also played on the Canadian and Asian Tours who will make a first appearance in the Bermuda Open at Tucker's Point next week.

"SNAG is a programme that teaches kids how to play golf in their Physical Education class," Heinen said.

"The programme is laid out easy and the kids seem to learn the basics so much quickly.

"It is a very safe and effective programme that introduces any new beginner to golf very quickly and effectively. I believe the future of golf in Bermuda looks very bright."

Alex Madeiros, CEO of local golf management company To-A-Tee Bermuda, agrees that programmes such as SNAG can only help create well-rounded golfers for years to come.

"Bermuda Junior Golf Association and their new president (Sherlock) and the executive are doing a fantastic job. These kids are our future and golf is not just about hitting a ball," Madeiros said.

"Golf teaches integrity, honesty and respect, to name a few, and these qualities are necessary as we pass through our daily lifestyles. And if these qualities are instilled at a young age, these kids will have the necessary mindsets to succeed in life – regardless of what career path that they choose.

"I can personally attest that golf can provide you with the greatest opportunity that no other career can provide and it is only a matter of time before a Bermudian breaks through and plays on the PGA Tour."