Attracting junior golfers is for most golf clubs in Australia a challenging proposition. But at Rosebud Country Club on Victoria s Mornington Peninsula, there is clear evidence that getting the right program in place does pay dividends. The club s weekly one hour Divots classes have attracted a sizeable waiting list with around 60 kids, both boys and girls, taking part to develop their skills in golf and learn about many aspects of the game. Rosebud Country Club&aposs program is based on the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) which links physical development, fundamental movement skills with golf skill development. They learn to catch, strike, throw and kick – all of which help with their development. The children are issued with colour coded hats and wrist bands which denote the level of their physical and golfing development. Rosebud Country Club’s success has been largely due to the support of its members and the club s teaching professional, TPI certified Matt Bolton who has championed its implementation. The nett outcome of the program is a growing junior membership and a solid foundation of golfers for the future. We ve created an environment where children and their parents want to get involved, the program s coordinator and long-time member Jo Kelly explained. Kelly said there was an emphasis on combining fun and skills development. The Divots program offers a lot more than golf instruction. Kids come away from the program having learned the necessary skills that are applicable to golf and most other sports. Rosebud Country Club is under no illusion that all participants will take up a golf membership after the program. But the club takes a lot from knowing it was the starting point for many boys and girls into golf. I think we re making a difference, Kelly said. Golf is often perceived to be expensive and out of reach for some people. The Divots program has gone a long way to giving all kids a chance to enjoy this great game.
Author: Rosebud Country Club