from Dennis Shaw, Press Officer of the PGA of Europe.
Swinging with the Muslim Ladies
As Golf Partners Islam in Iran
Golfing missionary Simon Dicksee was recently given special permission
to cross the cultural and religious boundaries of Iran in order to
coach the country's leading lady players. while carefully abiding by
their Muslim dress code.
Simon was visiting the Middle Eastern hotspot as part of a mission on
behalf of the PGA of Europe and backed by the R&A, to continually
spread the gospel of golf into new or under-developed regions.
This particular Golf Missionary appears also to have forged friendly
relationships in an area where politics sometimes have been a dismal
failure !
During his 13-day, new-ground-breaking crusade, he was astonished to
find that 28-year laws concerning Muslim women mixing freely with
males other than their husbands, was set aside in the desire to
further their golf education.
Such, it seems, is the attraction of golf, and the urgent ambition of
the Iran sporting community to join the western world, and benefit
from all that the game can offer in terms of international competition
and friendship, that even the demands of Islam can be appropriately
adapted."
"Before I undertook the visit to Iran at the request of the PGA of
Europe I checked with the Home Office on the kind of things I should
avoid in order to respect Islam,"Simon Dicksee stressed.
"So when it became clear that there were lady players to be taught I
pointed out that I could not achieve this without taking them onto the
practice ground, with the men, and also to coach them individually.
"There was some discussion on whether it could be allowed and
eventually I was told to go ahead. The ladies themselves, who spoke
good English, seemed totally surprised and bemused by it especially
when it was necessary for me to touch them in order to illustrate the
movements of a golf swing.
"One of them commented that it must be down to 'Men's Power'." Simon
preferred to regard it as Golf Power.
"When it was all over it was made clear to me just how huge a
concession had been made," he added. " I was the first male in 28
years to teach women along with men and to be allowed to go on the
course with them," said Simon, widely regarded as a Rowan Atkinson,
'Mr Bean' look-alike and a former stand-up comic.
Very quickly he discovered that the Islamic reqirement for females to
be covered from head to toe, leaving only the face free, is not the
ideal golfing garb. "It was so restricting for them, " he recalled.
"It allowed little freedom of movement yet they coped extremely well."
A Londoner who spent much of his early career as a golf professional
in Denmark, Simon Dicksee currently spends part of his year at China's
Shanghai International Golf Club, where he also introduces newcomers
to the sport.
During his historic visit to Iran , and as the earthquake there
created havoc, death and destruction only a hundred miles away, he
found two Iranians whom he felt possessed amateur international
potential, one a female, Firouzeh Mohamadzamani .
"She would play off a handicap of about four at present but has the
potential to play Tour golf," he stressed.
Golf has been played in Iran for 50 years but the 1978 revolution
ended its development. Subsequently a number of courses were
destroyed in the war with Iraq. The best course, Englhab, Tehran, was
reduced to 13 holes when the army took it over for building purposes.
Now the desire to join the world golfing community is intense. "The
social situation in Iran is buoyant," Dicksee emphasised. "I met
wonderful, friendly people who are very keen to develop their
relationship with the west. I found the political climate to be very
positive in terms of working relationships. The Iranians see golf as
the perfect vehicle since it is neither political nor religious.
"The amount of enthusiasm and interest my visit roused was remarkable.
There were always huge crowds to watch the lessons taking place, we
were on national TV three times and I was interviewed by TV and
newspaper reporters.
"The Iranians expressed themselves to be very grateful to the PGA of
Europe and the R&A for my visit and for their support."
Simon Dicksee has recommended to the PGA of Europe and the R&A, a
programme of measures to ensure that the embracing of Iran into the
world of golf continues and flourishes.
|
