--- title: "Oumy Dieye and Samba Niang discuss golf at Dakar 2026 YOG, Senegal; Free beginner lessons for children at Dakar academy." sdDatePublished: "2026-08-01T13:11:00Z" source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/news/discovering-the-world-s-most-widely-played-individual-sport-golf" topics: - name: "sport" identifier: "medtop:15000000" locations: - "Dakar" - "Senegal" --- Oumy Dieye and Samba Niang discuss golf at Dakar 2026 YOG, Senegal; Free beginner lessons for children at Dakar academy. Discovering the world’s most widely played individual sport: golf Discovering the world’s most widely played individual sport: golf Golf is featured on the engagement sports program for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Often reduced to elitist stereotypes or, sadly, misunderstood, golf is nevertheless the world’s most widely played individual sport. A joint interview with Oumy Dièye and Samba Niang, Senegal’s top female and male players in the sport. During the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, scheduled from October 31 to November 3, ten engagement sports have been selected to allow the general public to discover and try them out. Among them is golf. We met Senegalese professional golfers Oumy Dieye and Samba Niang. Could you introduce yourselves? How did you get started in golf? Oumy Dieye: My name is Oumou Kalsoum Dieye and I’m 43 years old. I play at the Saly Golf Club and started playing the sport in 1996. I discovered golf whilst on holiday in Saly when I was still very young. Samba Niang: My father has always played golf and he was the one who got me into it when I was nearly three years old. The whole family played: my dad, my brothers and sisters – I was born into a family of golfers. I’ve been playing for 35 years now – almost my whole life! How is the sport played? How would you describe it in simple terms to someone who doesn’t know it? Samba Niang: I’d say it’s basically a throwing sport. The only difference is that you use clubs to hit a ball and get it into holes. Each hole has its own specific features and no two holes are alike – they’re all different – and the aim is to lose as few strokes as possible. In competition, the rule is simple: whoever takes the fewest strokes wins. It’s a sport that teaches you a lot about behaviour and attitude, and helps you building character. What do you think about introducing young people to golf as part of the Youth Olympic Games? Samba Niang: I think it’s a sport that’s completely unknown, not like wrestling! (laughs) And yet it’s the most popular individual sport in the world. I think there’s a good reason for that. So it’s a wonderful initiative to introduce it to young people and encourage them to give it a go. Where and from what age can people play golf in Senegal? Samba Niang: We have three golf clubs in Senegal: one in Dakar, another in Saly and the last in Cap Skirring. There’s also a small academy in Dakar where children can come and learn for free with instructors who give lessons every day. It’s a public golf course that’s easy to access; everyone is welcome. Generally speaking, you can start playing golf from the age of two. To me, it really is a common misconception that golf is a ‘sport for the rich’. Membership of a golf club costs less than some gyms. It’s an idea people have got into their heads because it isn’t really a luxury sport, even though there are some luxury courses. It’s not an unapproachable sport; if it’s the most widely played individual sport in the world, it should be that many people can afford it. What do you like most about golf, and in what way do you think this sport differs from others? Oumy Dieye: What I like most about this sport is calm and concentration. To me, the difference with other sports is that there isn’t too much aggression in it. Samba Niang: I think it’s the most challenging sport I’ve ever played. I love challenges and rising to them. What’s more, it’s a very varied sport: no two days, courses or holes are ever the same… It pushes us to think, to concentrate and to stay fully present at all times. It’s this mental and physical stimulation that I enjoy most, as well as the satisfaction of conquering the course and overcoming my own limitations. How has golf helped you on a personal level: self-confidence, concentration, social skills? Oumy Dieye: Golf has helped me believe more in myself and in my goals. It’s allowed me to focus on myself and my future. It’s also enabled me to travel all over Africa and acquire good knowledge. Do you have any female role models who inspire you in golf or elsewhere? Who, and why? Oumy Dieye: I don’t have a female role model, but rather a male one: Tiger Woods. He was one of the first Black people to play golf, and I’ve learnt a great deal from his approach, actions and behaviour. What equipment is needed to play this sport (gear, clothing, kit)? Samba Niang: At the start – I’d say for the first three months – you don’t need any equipment. You just need to turn up; all the equipment is there, and it’s all free. After that, when you start playing on the course, you need to get kitted out: clubs, a bag, clothing – it’s quite flexible. All you need is a pair of trousers, a polo shirt and a cap to protect yourself from the sun. What advice would you give to the young athletes competing in these Youth Olympic Games? Samba Niang: I’d tell them that nothing is impossible. You have to dare to be ambitious. There are no limits to what you can achieve in sport whilst you’re young: what matters is having discipline, working tirelessly and believing in yourself. Activities centered around engagement sports will take place at the Place du Souvenir Africain, located on the Dakar West Corniche. This iconic site in the Senegalese capital will host all the sports and cultural events during the Dakar 2026 YOG. Registrations for the official Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games ticketing are open: https: