The global Level 3 Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar (TARS) at St. Andrews earlier this year, in March
The Indian Golf Union (IGU) has announced an important development for Indian golf with the country set to host the R&A’s prestigious Level 3 Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar (TARS), in April next year.
The three-day TARS is traditionally conducted by The R&A and is held annually, usually in February at St Andrews. All R&A affiliates are invited to send a maximum of two delegates, with additional TARS courses held around the world to meet demand. The purpose is to give guidance and practical advice on running tournaments and refereeing, including sessions on course set-up, course marking, pace of play, suspension of play and starting and recording.
The staging of this prestigious seminar in India, sanctioned by the R&A, represents a significant achievement in the IGU’s efforts to elevate the standards of golf administration and refereeing in India that will not only provide an affordable opportunity for local and regional participants, but also strengthen India’s capability in professional golf administration.
Brijinder Singh, President of the IGU, expressed his excitement, stating, “TARS has never happened in India before. Normally, attending this event at St. Andrews costs an Indian Rs 2-3 lakh or more. Now it will cost just a fraction of that figure. This is a massive achievement, thanks to our persistent efforts, particularly by Mr. Shyam Sundar, the TARS chairman.”
The IGU plans to extend invitations to participants from neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia, and Thailand. This collaborative effort will help promote regional cooperation in golf administration, further solidifying India’s status as a center of excellence for the sport.
While the venue for the seminar is yet to be finalised, the event has sparked conversations about leveraging India’s growing golf infrastructure for more international events.
The IGU is also gearing up for its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 15 in Delhi to elect new office bearers and governing council members for the 2024–26 term.