Children who once ran screaming from bombs blowing up their neighbourhood have found solace in a much more gentle pastime - golf.
Students at Ban Chanlaschool inUbon Ratchathani’sNam Yuen district school practise their swing during a golf class on a nine-hole course thatwasonce abomb shelter behind the school. JETJARASNA RANONG
Students at a border school in Nam Yuen district are learning to play golf as part of their recreational activities. But the horrors of the past - and the present - remain.
They play the peaceful game where a bomb shelter once existed and where new bomb shelters have been built since the latest border dispute of earlier this month.
An area covering nine rai at Ban Chanla school has been turned into a nine-hole course since 1997.
The school is 15 kilometres from the border with Cambodia.
The bomb shelter was built in 1986/87 when the struggle for power among Cambodia's three main political factions was at its height.
As the bomb shelter no longer exists, the students had to run for cover at another shelter in front of the school when border fighting erupted between Thai and Cambodian troops from Feb4-6.
A new bomb shelter has now been built in the school's compound for emergency situations.
The school director, Chartchai Kaewsri, is an avid golfer and is determined to develop young golf talent among his students.
Golf should not be considered a hobby of the privileged few or the wealthy who can afford it, he said.
He believes golf should be promoted as a game for all so new talented golf players can be found.
Students from Prathom 3 to Matthayom 3 (Grade 3 to 9) learn to play golf two hours a week as part of their recreational activities.
"Some can afford a pair of sneakers, some have only a pair of sandals and others walk barefoot during golf class," Sompong Wongsabutr, the school deputy director, said.
"Many of our students show promise as golfers, but unfortunately we have not enough funding to support them in competitions," he said.
Mr Sompong said the school can buy only cheap, used clubs and old golf balls, or they are donated.
Golf balls which are hit and fall into the pond have to be salvaged from the water and continue to be used by students, he said.
"I want Tigers Wood or Vijay Singh to come and watch them play and support them. I believe students here love golf as much as world-class golf players," Mr Sompong said.
He said students also learn to work on lawn maintenance, cleaning, mowing and watering at the golf course as well as training to be a caddy.
The golf course is open on Saturdays and Sundays to members of the public. Admission is 60 baht and the proceeds go to funding the students' golf training. The students also work as caddies to earn extra income. Natthawut Srisura, a Matthayom 4 student, said he was keen on golf and dreamed of travelling the world to play golf in major events like Thai-American Tiger Woods.
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