For those that have never been to the back of Bourke, some 780km north-west of Sydney you will be pleasantly surprised to discover a fascinating and exciting inland town that hosts a great Pro-Am Golf tournament the weekend following the long weekend in June. Now in its 37th year the Pro-Am attracts a number of visiting golf professionals and the stakes are high as the locals all get together to put on a great three days. The days leading into the Pro Am are just as exciting for the students and juniors at Bourke as golf fever takes over the township.
Performance Golf under Mark Rainey once again travelled out to deliver a very successful ‘Growing the Game’ program to 100 students on the Thursday. JNJG Territory Manager, Sharon Nott, in conjunction with Active After-school Regional Manager, Tony Ashton, held a Wombat Golf Challenge on the Wednesday.
Although rain meant the golf course was closed Plan B was soon put into operation and the local Bourke Primary Hall became a hub of activity as 35 students from St Ignatius, Koinonia Christian School and Bourke Primary took on the Tabloid Golf Sports Challenge, Putting Challenge and, with a break in the weather, MyGolf Challenge on the oval.
Teacher Louise and local junior and Community Coach James Gaffney, have been holding regular AAS golf programs as well as junior clinics at the club and the kids were eager to show off their talents. All students received a crystal golf ball and prizes were drawn for a golf bag, putter, caps and putting cup. Everyone was a winner.
On Thursday, JNJG held a MyGolf day at St Ignatius School for Kindy-Year 3 students and those who were unable to attend the Performance Golf clinic. Over 100 students were very excited to have been given the chance to work on their golf swings under the watchful eye of JNJG and get the chance to win some prizes. On Friday St Patrick’s at Brewarrina was payed a visit and a full day of oval and indoor putting was enjoyed by all.
“As a JNJG Territory Manager I always like combining my school visits with a game of golf and the Saturday was a great way to end my four day visit. I ended up getting a game in the fourball on the Saturday playing with Hayden Clarke and James Gaffney (who are both in the Far West Academy Golf Squad) and Jonathon Amos a Teachers Aid at the local Christian School. There are not many sports where age is no barrier to be able to play together and as we chatted about who did the longest drive, the best putt or that near chip in on the 6th it was clear that the spirit of the game is well and truly alive in these young players on the Darling river,” Sharon said.
A special thanks goes to all the teachers and schools for their support. It was very encouraging to see and hear that MyGolf is being carried out by teachers at all the schools as they have their own MyGolf kits. Congratulations to the Darling River Golf Club committee for all the hard work they did getting the course and amended club house in top condition and congratulations to the students who showed plenty of enthusiasm and energy during the week of golf.
Here is a letter written by one of the happy students about the golf day at St Patricks (Brewarrina):
Golf report
On Friday St Patricks had golf with Sharon. Sharon has come to our school ever since I was in Yr.3. She is really good at golf and has always been really good at teaching kids how to play golf. I remember her telling me that if you get excited than do the CAKE MIX. The cake mix is where you spin the club around in rotation instead of throwing the club around. If you did you would probably hit somebody in the face.
The golf balls had funny names. There was a pink, yellow, a tennis ball and a cylinder ball that was hollow. The pink balls name was inky pinkie, yellow ball-yellow mellow, the tennis ball-tennis the menace and the white cylinder-birdy wordy.
I won a golf ball because I got two golf balls in the circle. I also got a lolly and I hit the ball closest to the middle of the big circle. Sharon taught us how to do a long shot and short shot. Golf is a really good social sport to do. I know that when I am old or when I am an adult I will remember these techniques when I am playing golf.
Thank you Sharon.
Written by: Grace Crowley.