Estepona 22nd March 2011

 

The agenda of a golf champion who plays in the main professional tournaments of the European and American circuits is extremely busy. Even more so, if in the next few days, one is faced with the complicated challenge of sharing a double leading role: that of being a player and the organiser of the Andalucian Open Golf Tournament, which this year is being held at the Malaga Parador del Golf.

 

Even so, Miguel Angel Jiménez wanted to make a break and dedicate some time to the youngsters and also in aid of a charity. This was on the 19th of March, Father’s Day, and, as another father and at the same time a maestro, “he faced” some thirty golfers between 3 and 9 years of age, who received a class for beginners from one of the best teachers possible.

 

This children’s class was part of the agenda of activities for the IV Torrequebrada International School Charity Golf Tournament which was held at Valle Romano and in aid of Cudeca, which is a charity that offers care and specialised assistance to people suffering from advanced cancer and support to their families.

 

On the Valle Romano training course, the little ones enjoyed their special moment with Jiménez: “Look - he told them – you’re very lucky, because you’re starting to play when you’re very young and you can go very far. I started to play golf rather late, when I was 15”.

 

The first thing that Miguel Ángel insists on is the grip, the correct way to hold the golf club, and in the body’s position when making the swing. He takes time with each of the more than thirty children in the class and he doesn’t leave them until they achieve the right position and an almost “perfect” hit.

 

At the same time, the golf maestro shows them some long hits: “How far do you want it to go?”. “Up to the moon, up to the aeroplanes …”, they reply raising their hands, speaking altogether. And … almost, some of the balls go beyond the protection nets of the practice runs and are lost in the fields.

 

Miguel Ángel’s generous participation did not end with the children’s class. He presented the organisation with a flag from the last Ryder cup, as a member of the triumphant European team, which was signed by all the team players and which was auctioned for the charity once the tournament prizes had been presented.