Each year in the fourth term JNJG Central West and Western Territory Manager, Sharon Nott, contacts the Western Schools Sports Association (WSSA) and the Bathurst Diocese School Sports Coordinators. They then email all schools in their area regarding any interest in the MyGolf Program. Schools are asked if they would like a Teacher Training Day and/or a MyGolf School visit by a JNJG Territory Manager. Schools confirm if they are interested and JNJG follow up with the best approach to get the MyGolf program started at their school.
Tracey Johnston from Naradhan School made such an enquiry. She wanted her school to undertake the Golf program but was unsure due to the fact there are only 14 students at the school. After a few emails and phone calls a date was set for May 20th. Naradhan purchased a MyGolf Kit giving a commitment to continue the MyGolf Program and teacher training was then incorporated in the day.
Rankins Springs and Euabalong West schools came for the day so there was a total of 55 students from kindy to year 6. Students were broken up into three groups and the school organised ‘minute to win it activities’ in between the golf sessions. These golf sessions included hitting on the oval and putting on the basketball court. The Birdie Balls were a hit with the students trying to get that whistling effect as the ball ‘zoomed’ through the air.
Mums and teachers put on a BBQ for lunch and found time to have a hit themselves with an ‘adults versus the students’ golf clash. Double homework if the adults won wasn’t to be as the students put their newfound skills to the test and hit the balls onto the green. It was a great day and the students’ enthusiasm became rather infectious to everyone involved.
A thank you letter to JNJG from teacher Tracey Johnston summed up the day:
“Recently we had a visit from Sharon Nott who came to our school as part of your [JNJG's] Teacher Training Program. I am pleased to say that this program received fantastic reviews. We are a small school of only 14 children and it is quite rare for us to have any sports visitors especially for golf, so we asked two small schools near us to join in and everyone was extremely please. I would like to thank you for allowing our school to participate in this program and allowing Sharon to enlighten us with her wealth of knowledge and skills relating to golf. We are going golf crazy at our school now”!