I RECEIVED exciting news this week for junior golf across the country.
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It was announced that Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia had signed an historic joint venture agreement that would boost the landscape of junior golf development in Australia.
Under the agreement, the PGA and Golf Australia will govern a single junior development program, MyGolf, as the single nationally recognised program.
MyGolf will act as the main driver of junior participation in Australia.
Representatives from Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia will administer the agreement.
Former AFL general manager of operations and interim Cycling Australia chief executive Adrian Anderson will take on the role of independent chairman.
Previously, both the PGA and Golf Australia promoted and delivered separate junior development programs.
The joint venture was created in an effort to both unite the Australian golfing industry under one brand and reduce duplication in introducing Australian juniors to golf.
Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said the agreement was a historic step forward for the sport.
“This agreement is designed to make things easier for children who want to make their start in golf,” he said.
“This joint venture sends a clear message to the industry that the peak bodies are working together to grow the sport and introduce as many children to golf as possible.”
PGA of Australia chief executive Brian Thorburn says “our game is in great shape at the moment and what our industry now needs is collaboration and cohesion”.
Mr Anderson said the announcement was a positive step forward for the future of junior golf in Australia.
The new-look MyGolf program will launch in the coming months.
Coincidently for us in the Highlands, we’ve had a massive week of junior golf and it’s set to continue courtesy of our committed local golf professionals.
Highlands Golf Club’s Scott Martyn is using the MyGolf Program to stage a series of free MyGolfPro junior clinics which start in early May.
“There’s a lot of people who think golf is an expensive sport when in fact, it’s cheaper than most others,” he said.
“I don’t know a better sport to teach kids a better code of ethics than golf... it doesn’t matter if a youngster wants to be the next Adam Scott or just wants to be outdoors having fun, we’re just offering him or her a path into the game.”
Moss Vale Golf Club professional Rob Kennedy has done a magnificent job with juniors for some time now with after-school clinics on Tuesdays for boys, Fridays for girls and on Saturdays for those juniors who have a golf handicap.
Davyd Reeves, a professional from the Mount Broughton Golf Club, is another big supporter of junior golf.
Reeves has staged several Jack Newton Junior Golf Tournaments and earlier this week hosted over 130 kids in the Fayde Junior Matchplay Championships.
As well as the professionals, there was a bunch of volunteer helpers from these clubs who gave up their own valuable time to maintain the progress being made in junior golf in our area.
For information on Scott Martyn’s free MyGolfPro Junior clinic series, go to mygolfpro.net then enter postcode 2575 or phone the pro shop on 4871 3274.
To check out Rob Kennedy’s junior program at Moss Vale Golf Club, go to www.mossvalegolfclub.com.au or ring the shop on 4868 1503.
- By Larry Canning