THEY may be slimmer, more flexible, and fearless, but junior golfers are similar to their adult contemporaries in at least one way.
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It turns out that when most juniors think of practice, they think of teeing it up and hitting driver after driver.
Sound familiar?
Morisset Golf Club trainee professional Zach Churcher has seen it all before.
“One of the most common things with juniors is that they don’t work enough on their short game,” Churcher said.
“They just want to tee it up and see how far they can hit it.”
The short game, we’re told, is where good rounds are made or spoiled.
Churcher runs the club’s junior development program, and hosts Wednesday afternoon clinics for the club’s young beginners and established players.
It’s a small group, but they’re achieving results.
Two of the clinic participants won their respective grades at the recent Morisset Hope Mullard Open.
Liam Fitzpatrick, 15, took out the B grade scratch event with 81 (net 68), while Jack Toyne, 12, claimed the C grade net event with 66.
Liam, of Bonnells Bay, plays off a handicap of 12.
In addition to the Wednesday clinics, he’ll often practice at the club on Mondays and Fridays after school.
Churcher said he’s had Liam working on improving his consistency.
“Liam’s definitely hitting fewer wild ones,” Churcher said.
A highlight of his round was a birdie on the par-3 13th hole. He finds the 18th one of the most challenging holes on the course.
“If you can get through that hole without hitting it on the train track, then you’ve had a good round,” Liam said.
Jack, of Blue Haven, plays off a handicap of 26.
He said changes to the way he hits his driver had shaved strokes off his score.
“My driving’s a lot more consistent, and that means I don’t have to waste stroked hitting the ball out from the trees,” he said.
Churcher said the emphasis at the clinics was on fun ways to teach the basics, including set-up, posture and pre-shot routine.
“I try to incorporate point-scoring games at the clinics. We might have a chipping contest, and I’ll challenge the kids to try and beat me,” he said.
In another drill, Churcher uses circular plastic hoops which he stands upright and uses to help develop the children’s shot-shaping skills.
- To inquire about the junior development program at the club, and the Wednesday clinics, phone the pro shop on 4973 2455.