One fine day a bout of courage fuelled by the assumption that –hitting the golf ball is so simple while on an outing with her father turned into the start of a beautiful and fruitful journey. Nitika Kumari Jadeja, an inspiring sportsperson and founder of GolfRaj, was 13 when she attempted her first shot which turned out to be more challenging than she anticipated. Within four years, she had won the Junior Amateur Trophy and stood 5th in the All India Ladies Amateur tournament. In 2001 she was awarded the Youngest Player & Winner, in Ladies category in the Jaipur Air India Golf Tournament and in 2005 she was awarded the Best Lady Golfer of Rajasthan at Hindustan Times Independence Cup by CM Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje. These are a few of the many accolades she received over the years as an athlete. Today she is the only female golf coach in Rajasthan and founder of Golfraj, she has a vision to make golf more accessible, debunk some of the myths that surround it and nurture young talent.
An athlete has another parent in the form of a coach, who was your first coach ?
My father introduced me to the game and I’ve never been professionally coached. All my learnings , how to play the game, technical assistance and physical fitness training all credit goes to my father – Mr. Prahlad Sinh Jadeja.
What changes have you seen in golf since your time as an athlete ?
The role that social media now plays in any player/athlete’s life is huge. I didn’t have this opportunity where compliments or praises for my performance would come from an audience interested in golf or not. This truly works as an external motivator.
Social media also has a flip side effect which in turn teaches us how to not take things/comments seriously.
What, according to you, India needs to do for the progress of golf/golfers?
The focus should always be on the next generation . Children have and always will be our future . This is where GolfRaj comes into play. This was the basic idea for this academy , when I started it was because I wanted to cater to children with the best equipment and training facility. Knowledge plays a big role and to be a passionate coach is very rewarding.
What has been a major turning point in your life ?
Two actually – First when i turned Pro and did not make cuts , went downhill in performance both in college and with my game but this taught me how to come back on top.
Second- Post my divorce when I had to stand on my own feet but had no money, just having in possession the skill of playing golf. turning my passion into work didn’t seem like an easy journey and was a tough decision to dive into.
You aim to change the way golf is perceived – what exactly do you want people to know?
My objective is to make golf as an easily accessible sport to the people of Jaipur. I also wish to debunk many myths and misconceptions that people attach to it. For example, contrary to popular belief golf isn’t a very costly or time consuming sport. We provide all golfing equipment and training aid at no cost in order to incentivize golfing beginners to pick up the sport without the standard financial considerations. The only initial investment that one has to make is the coaching fees. Further, GolfRaj has developed a flood lit academy for all those golfers who face time constraints due to work and other commitments.
Whats the right age to start golf ?
There is no ‘right age’ to start golf – I have students as young as 8 years old to 60 year olds both are equally invested in the sport and play with the same zeal. Compete against yourself and try to be the best with this approach age doesn’t matter.
What motivated you to study sports psychology?
9th grade my father got me a book about the life of an athlete, it spoke about the importance of a psychologist /mental trainer. It made me wonder how can someone help my game by talking to me.
I remember my admission interview at Lady Shri Ram College for Women said you are good at the sport but don’t have the marks, sorry we cant take you. I responded with I am very passionate about the subject and promise you I will take it up later as well. They ended up taking me and I ended up taking up the subject in the future.
How helpful is it as an athlete to study or have a sports psychologist ?
Definitely, very helpful –no matter what sport, all sportspersons have the same journey. We have to be away from the family, deal with family obligations, skip best friends birthday, have performance anxiety, deal with losses – technical education helps us to better acknowledge and equipped to deal with it. A well knit connection of trainer, physiotherapist, coach is essential. A support system is necessary and they should be in sync.
What is your message for women in sports ?
My parents have been super supportive – certain hesitancy about marks and grades is always there in parents. Sport takes a backseat in such cases. My wearing shorts was in itself an issue, coming from Jaipur which is still orthodox. My parents were told off , they never let it reach me, they understood I’m training in 40 degrees. My message is less for the girls and more for the parents. She is stepping out of her comfort zone – to become a woman of her substance is tough, with your support it will be an easier jouney . Understand the struggle she has to go through keeping in mind the external environment.
How do you see the future of golf ?
I see children as the future of the sport. Golf is a sport that teaches you a lot about your life – you cross waters, bunkers, each shot has consequences, what shot you will play next. I teach children to play with that mindset.
What is your message for everyone ?
For an athlete be it any sport one must focus on goal settings and those should be constantly reflected upon. For beginners wanting to play Golf, I truly believe starting without any preconceived notion. Some feel it’s too time consuming , others feel it’s too technical or expensive. Am fortunate to have been in the golf industry for more than 20 years now to debunk all these myths.
Bhavna Chaudhary
Author & Wellness Enthusiast
