Junior school on course
A LEADING Geelong golf coach has launched a junior academy he hopes will transform the way the sport is delivered across the region.
Local pro Tybin Lawson has started the Geelong Junior Golf Academy, which will be rolled out from mid-July.
The academy is targeted at those new to the game, teaching them the fundamentals through clinics and competitions.
Lara, East Geelong, Clifton Springs and Queenscliff golf clubs have signed up to Lawson’s project, which will allow it to tap into different communities from the country to the coast.
“The concept is to get multiple venues on board as host facilities and run after-school programs and school holiday clinics and also have regular junior competitions, where kids who are enrolled in the academy, at any of those venues, can attend and play in these competitions,” Lawson said.
“They’ll be playing off shortened courses, so there’ll be multiple tee levels where kids will start on the very shortest tees and progress.
“That way they’re getting taught how to play but also getting out on course and learning how to score birdies, pars and bogeys rather than taking a dozen shots just to get to the green.”
A junior tour will also be held where participants can play various events across the year.
Lawson said he wanted to create a pathway for golf in the region.
“There’s definitely an element of parents not knowing where to go or what the pathway is to get their kids into golf,” he said.
“With football the pathway is Auskick, soccer it’s Little Kickers and tennis is Hot Shots, but with golf it’s a little bit all over the place.
“We can have kids from all parts of Geelong attend these clinics and because of that, because it’s a standalone academy, the funding and resources available to us are far greater than what we’d be able to put together if it was just a pro at a club.
“We’ve been able to access a lot more — and gain a lot more — fun and exciting equipment for the kids to use in terms of training aids and all that sort of stuff.”
Lawson will tap into schools and is targeting children from the age of five up. Lessons will also be offered at Lawson’s XGolf franchise, which will give information on swing data and allow for feedback.
He hopes to have 100 participants enrolled in as many as 12 courses once the program establishes its foundations.
MORE INFORMATION: geelongjuniorgolfacademy.com.au