Golf is open to all
R&A Foundation
The R&A Foundation supports Magic Bus India Foundation to empower girls through golf and life skills
07 Jan 26
6 mins
The R&A Foundation has partnered with Magic Bus India Foundation to create new pathways for young girls in Delhi by providing access to golf, a sport they once believed was out of reach.
Magic Bus India Foundation, which began over 26 years ago to empower adolescents with life skills education through sport, has launched golf as its newest offering thanks to the support of The R&A Foundation. Launched in 2024, the programme combines structured life skills education with introductory golf coaching for girls aged 12–15 at Salwan Girls’ Senior Secondary School. An initial 491 students joined the programme with 50, who demonstrated the highest interest and aptitude for golf continuing with coaching, whilst all 491 will continue to receive life skills education for three years. Magic Bus provides an opportunity to develop participants from childhood to livelihood by building communication, self-management and emotional resilience. Whilst also opening the door to a sport many families in India have traditionally viewed as exclusive and inaccessible.Watch our video to learn more about the Magic Bus India Foundation and the golf participants' stories.
The initiative reflects The R&A’s commitment to growing the sport in new communities, breaking down barriers to participation and ensuring young people have the confidence and capability to thrive through the opportunities golf provides.
Golf for Good
Caroline Wallard, Director of Philanthropy at The R&A, said, “The R&A Foundation invests in programmes that use golf for good and have the power to transform lives. Magic Bus is delivering an approach that not only opens the door to the sport for girls, but strengthens their confidence, life skills and future prospects. “Thanks to the generosity of our philanthropic donors, we are proud to support a programme that is helping transform lives and communities through golf.” This year, it is anticipated 1200 students across an additional two schools, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya and Salwan Boys' School will be introduced to golf via the Magic Bus India Foundation.
A number of girls were given the opportunity to participate in a sport they would have never had the chance to experience.
Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO, Magic Bus India Foundation, said, “At Magic Bus, we believe life skills gained through sport are a powerful catalyst for development. By introducing golf, we are democratising access to a sport once seen as exclusive, while building critical life skills, agency and confidence in young girls.
“Our partnership with The R&A Foundation reflects a shared commitment to nurturing resilient girls who can emerge as meaningful contributors to India’s growth story. When girls are equipped with skills, opportunity and aspiration, they become drivers of a stronger, more inclusive Viksit Bharat.”
The Golf Revolution has aligned with Magic Bus India Foundation to provide golf specific coaching to participants including theory, practical range work, simulator-based learning, long- and short-game drills and monthly distance metrics.
Sachit Soni, Co-Founder of The Golf Revolution, said, “The Golf Revolution’s creative and innovative approach to group training makes it a highly engaging experience. Watching the girls take to golf with such enjoyment and commitment has been remarkable; in only eight months they have developed swings that many golfers take years to build. Their focus and determination show just how impactful it is to bring golf into schools and open the door to new possibilities.”
Development through sport
The programme’s success is already evident in the personal journeys of participants such as Jainab, Ritika and Somi, whose experiences demonstrate how access to sport and consistent mentorship can support a young person’s development.
With a new-found love for golf, Jainab - one of the programme participants - dreams of becoming a professional golfer.
Twelve-year-old Jainab joined the programme as a shy and hesitant student. Through weekly life skills sessions and golf training, she learned to communicate confidently, manage her time and take initiative in class. Her steady improvement resulted in a strong performance at her first tournament, where she finished as second runner-up.
Of her new-found love for golf, Jainab commented, “When I first played golf, I didn’t even know what it was. But when the second session happened, we enjoyed it so much. We learned so many good things. One day I want people to see me and say, ‘that’s Jainab, the professional golfer!’”
Her father, Mohammad Javed, reflected on the change he has seen in his successful daughter, “No one in our family has reached such heights. Jainab was shy before, but now she talks openly, shares everything and moves ahead with confidence. We will support her in whatever she wants to do.”
Ritika, 13, once struggled to speak up in class and often avoided group activities. With support from her teachers and coaches, she’s began contributing more actively and discovered a new confidence through the golf programme’s emphasis on patience, focus and teamwork.
A girl who is now more expressive, motivated and willing to lead both on the course and in the classroom, Ritika said, “Earlier, I used to be scared to speak. I thought if I made a mistake people would judge me. But Magic Bus taught us to be leaders. When we lead a team, we must explain rules and talk confidently. That’s how my confidence came.”
Her mother, Uma Devi, is particularly proud that Ritika now has the freedom and opportunity to participate in a sport she herself never had the chance to experience.
She commented, “The kind of opportunity Ritika has got, I never had. I grew up in a strict household where girls were not allowed outside. Now I encourage her with all my heart. I feel proud she has chances I did not.”
Before joining the programme, 15-year-old Somi found it difficult to organise her time and manage stress. Her parents were initially hesitant to allow her to take part, perceiving golf as a sport reserved for the wealthy and not meant for families like theirs.
Manju watches on as her daughter Somi plays golf, a sport she says has transformed her daughter.
Manju Kumari, Somi’s mother said, “I didn’t like it at all in the beginning. I thought golf is for rich people, and we cannot play this game. But when she told me she was playing and enjoying it, I supported her.
“And there have been so many positive changes. She now understands what is important in studies. She manages her time. She communicates well. And she does her work on her own.”
Through life skills sessions and regular practice, Somi learned discipline, emotional control and responsibility. She now balances studies, training and home duties with confidence, showing maturity far beyond her years.
Reflecting on the benefits Somi said, “Discipline is what playing golf has done for me. My confidence increased. My fitness improved. My diet improved. Everything became better than before.”
Through this partnership, The R&A Foundation aims to support the long-term growth of golf while helping young people develop the skills they need to progress from childhood to livelihood.
The Magic Bus programme will continue to evolve, with plans to expand access to more schools, deepen life skills training and strengthen connections with India’s wider golf community. This year, it is anticipated 1200 students across an additional two schools will be introduced to golf.
This collaboration is part of The R&A’s wider mission to build a more inclusive and accessible future for golf worldwide. By drawing on extensive global networks and partnerships, The R&A Foundation ensures that every donation delivers meaningful impact in the communities and programmes that need it most.