Golfing Fun at St Clares College
For some time now, St. Clares College Teacher, Michelle Clarke and PE/Health Coordinator, David Garrity have been delivering an innovative and inspirational golf program for their sports students.
Both Michelle and David have trained as Community Golf Leaders with Jack Newton Junior Golf. Michelle’s program includes a variety of activities that encourages skill and technical mastery of putting, chipping, full swing and bunker play. The program incorporates visits to Canberra International Pitch'n'Putt, and visits to the school from Sue Harrison, JNJG Territory Manager, and Virginia Deigan, Speedgolf Australia.
Virginia is the founder of Speedgolf Australia and has been raising the profile in Australia for a couple of years now. Speedgolf is a fun, fast, and fitness-oriented alternative to traditional golf. It is a great cardio workout and perfect for schools who are looking for an alternative activity to meet the physical needs of their students.
St. Clare’s school oval is so perfectly smooth we could putt on it, and hitting mats where used to protect the beautifully manicured turf when the girls chipped and hit around the oval. The program has involved playing Aussie Rules Golf, chip and catch, and practice of bunker shots using the long jump pit. The girls have been exposed to using a variety of clubs from sand iron through to driver.
Speedgolf was a great way of ‘picking up the pace’ for those energetic students playing a temporary six-hole course around the oval. Students played in teams of two, in a foursomes format, and were started at 2 minute intervals. Each team was timed and the final scores calculated by adding the number of shots to the time taken to play.
Thanks to St. Clares College their students have learned enough about golf and its intricacies to be confident in picking up a club and having a hit. Well done girls, awesome effort.
