Golf, considered by many people a luxurious sport, has been added as an elective course in many colleges and universities in recent years.

?Students practicing golf.

Now the trend has spread to one elementary school. Chengdu Era School announced last Friday that golf would be a mandatory course for students in the next semester. Students will receive 40 minutes of golf instructions a week. Two additional classes will be offered for students who are interested in learning more.

"Our aim is to improve students' comprehensive quality," said a school official. "Hopefully, our school will turn out gentlemen and noble ladies."

Some parents have expressed concern over the decision, questioning whether it was necessary for kindergarteners to learn the sport. But school officials say that it is too late to begin training in middle school.

Chengdu Era School invested about 1 million yuan (US$150,000) to build the training field.

Parents have also shown concern over potential additional fees for the golf courses, but school officials say that the school will undertake most fees.