In a regional South Australian neighborhood the variety of junior golfers making their mark on golf equipment and competitions, each domestically and additional afield, is rising.
Paul Efthimiou,14, began enjoying within the Riverland three years in the past however is already a junior golf veteran.
He was named the boys’s champion on the current Barmera Spring Traditional after going up towards some rivals greater than twice or thrice his age.
Paul was first launched to the world of golf via his dad, Jim, and spent many informal Sundays on the native greens for “a little bit of enjoyable” earlier than taking it up significantly.
Paul Efthimiou sees himself enjoying golf into the longer term and doubtlessly turning into an expert. (ABC Riverland: Elyse Armanini)
“I simply actually loved it from the beginning,” Paul says.
“I can positively see myself sooner or later in Adelaide … attempting to make it larger in life.”
Paul is amongst a rising variety of younger individuals taking over the game, a phenomenon a golf coach within the Riverland didn’t see coming.
Juniors taking a swing
Golf Australia knowledge from 2022 to 2023 discovered the variety of golfers aged 18 or youthful collaborating in competitors rounds elevated by 39 per cent.
PGA skilled Jamie Clutterham has labored and performed within the golf business, in each regional and metropolitan areas, for greater than 30 years.
Jamie Clutterham says the recognition of golf is as robust as he has seen in his 30-plus years with the game. (ABC Riverland: Elyse Armanini)
He says junior golf in regional South Australia goes “from power to power”.
“Folks have gotten excited with the sport and enthusiastic and so they’re on the market spreading the phrase, getting youngsters and extra individuals concerned,” he says.
The Riverland’s Jericho household has handed on the fervour for golf for generations, in accordance with 16-year-old Sam Jericho.
Sam Jericho takes a shot from the bunker through the 2024 Barmera Spring Traditional. (Equipped: Grant Schwartzkopff)
Sam says he enjoys golf due to its “self-dependent” enjoying type and appreciates the selection of high quality programs round South Australia.
“We’re very fortunate to be within the Riverland with the golf programs we now have, however one of the best course I’ve performed might be Glenelg in Adelaide,” he says.
“I positively have future targets that I wish to obtain in golf, however whether or not that is skilled down the road — we’ll have to attend and see.”
Maicey Hughes, Sam Jericho, Ellie Hughes, and Paul Efthimiou are junior golfers engaged on their abilities within the Riverland. (ABC Riverland: Elyse Armanini)
It’s not simply younger Riverland males excelling in competitions and bettering their abilities — sisters Maicey and Ellie Hughes, of Berri, have each tasted current success on the greens.
Ellie, 12, received gold within the nation championships at a South Australian underneath 12s faculty golf occasion in September whereas Maicey, 13, was topped champion on the Port Augusta Junior Open over 18 holes — simply forward of Ellie’s runner-up place.
Golf growth continues
The variety of individuals taking over golf boomed throughout COVID restrictions, however the participation degree has remained excessive.
An Ausplay COVID evaluation in October 2023 confirmed a further 311,000 males had began and saved a sustained degree of golf play since 2018-19.
“Folks invested in golf via that point and, I feel, performed themselves right into a behavior of having fun with golf, which is nice for the sport,” Mr Clutterham says.
“Together with that got here LIV Golf … and for that to enhance the COVID growth is a large cause that it has continued to develop.”
The Riverland is turning into more and more identified for its golf programs. (Equipped: Grant Schwartzkopff)
The optimistic impression of occasions like LIV Golf is a sentiment shared by the budding professionals within the Riverland.
“Simply having golf like that, with professionals at that degree and juniors watching it, makes a giant distinction,” Paul says.
“[It] will get much more individuals out on the course simply attempting to do what they will do.”
Golf participation ranges boomed throughout COVID-19 restrictions and proceed to rise throughout the nation. (ABC Riverland: Elyse Armanini)
Future technology of professional golfers
Mr Clutterham says public notion of the game being a retiree’s recreation is altering.
“In years passed by, golf’s simply been seen as an 18-hole sport out on the golf course — at the moment there are all types of golf,” he says.
“There’s a number of golf exercise that’s non-traditional happening and that is reaching a broader vary of society.”
He says this contains mini golf, indoor golf with simulators, and shorter rounds.
Greater than 20 Riverland junior golfers attended a current workshop held by Jamie Clutterham in Loxton. (Equipped: Jamie Clutterham)
The present golf panorama, and the “uncooked expertise” showcased by junior golfers within the Riverland, leaves Mr Clutterham enthusiastic about South Australia’s future technology of golfers.
“Children are actually not having to be coerced into the sport; they’re really coming into the sport off their very own vitality,” he says.
“It is as much as us within the business to place collectively packages which might be inviting to get out and play and get them excited to come back again.”
