Goldfields Golf Club is the recipient of the September MYGolf Centre of the Month award. Located at the Kalgoorlie Golf Course in Western Australia, the Goldfields Golf Club Junior Golf Program is entering its third year. Aligned with the MYGolf program since March 2011, they have registered close to 100 children in the program and currently have a group of 50 juniors who participate every Sunday morning during terms two and three. Born out of a desire to increase the club s profile within the community and secure its future by introducing future generations, the Goldfields program also has the aim of making the club more competitive by increasing the skill set of members through exposure to the sport at a young age. Led by a group of nine club members who make up the Goldfields Junior Sub-Committee, the program is run by a dedicated team of thirteen accredited Community Coaches. Junior Golf Coordinator, Mark Baroni, is one of those coaches and is a fan of the MYGolf structure. The MYGolf program provides coaches with a great framework for teaching and the equipment is great to introduce new players to the sport, Baroni said. Providing variety for the kids is vital and Goldfields do this by ensuring the juniors get out on course a couple of times per term, something made easier by the fact that Kalgoorlie Golf Course already has sub-junior tees in place. Keeping the kids consistently motivated can be challenging at times, but Goldfields have found a solution for that too finishing each session with a sausage sizzle! The success of the MYGolf program has led to 9 hole and 5 hole MYGolf divisions being run concurrently to the annual Smarter than Smoking Goldfields Junior Desert Open enabling golfers of all ages and skills to participate in an amazing event. Through the running of their junior program, Goldfields believes they can offer a lot more to the local community. By introducing a new way to engage young people in a sporting activity, they are providing an avenue for them to increase fitness and form friendships whilst being active outdoors in the fresh air. We also provide the chance to give young people new skills and have the opportunity to be exposed to positive role models and mentors, Baroni said. Matt Espie, Game Development Co-ordinator at Golf WA, was thrilled to hear that Goldfields have been recognised for their hard work over the last few years. Goldfields Golf Club has taken it upon themselves to be the centre of excellence in Kalgoorlie and surrounds, Espie said. They have embraced the MYGolf Program and utilising the fantastic facilities of the new Kalgoorlie Golf Course, have set up a program that should be the blueprint for clubs trying to establish a junior program at their course. Espie also paid tribute to Baroni and his team as without the time and effort they put into the program, juniors in the area would not have the opportunity to experience the game. Mark and his group of Community Coaches fully deserve this recognition as an outstanding MYGolf Centre, Espie said.
Author: Sarah Kennedy / Golf Australia