Immediate reaction to the announcement of the World School Golf Challenge details resulted in an influx of enthusiastic messages supporting the concept and indications of commitment to come to Adelaide. Here is a small selection of responses received
- Steve Poplar the Golf Coach at Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada reports that he would like to bring 2 or 3 teams to Adelaide.
- Peter Shore, the teacher in charge of golf at Auckland Grammar School (who participated in the 2007 tournament) confirmed that AGC is planning on bringing three teams to the 2009 WSGC.
- Dave Marriott, the co-ordinator of golf at Ballarat & Clarendon College in Victoria, Australia reports he is very keen for the school team to participate.
- Sharon Rutherford, the Director of Sport at Bethlehem College (Tauranga, New Zealand) told us that several parents have already said ‘yes’ to the trip.
- Rachael Goodall, Sports Manager at Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland (New Zealand) confirmed that their team is very keen to be part of the tournament.
- Katarina Eineren , Director of Sport at Bluechip Sports Education in Gothenburg, Sweden told WSGC the school’s golf team has its focus on coming to South Australia in 2009.
- Karen Nicholls, Director of Golf at Milfield School in Somerset, England says her school has a very successful golf academy with 36 fulltime golfers whose handicaps range from scratch to 12. Karen indicated that the school would like to bring up to 5 teams (boys, girls and mix teams) to Adelaide.
Good news came from Clare College when WSGC received a message from Andy Coulter a teacher at the school not only confirming that the school golf team would be entering but also to advise that the committee of the Clare Golf Club had agreed to provide free rounds for all international and interstate teams visiting South Australia for the tournament and half price green fees for South Australian school teams visiting Adelaide.
In addition to a number of excellent golf courses the Clare Valley is home to one of Australia’s most famous wine regions (adults only should read on …). It’s a place where ‘wine’ means people and pleasure, heritage and hospitality. It’s a region with a warm rustic flavor – and a world-beating wine-list. Teams who want to take up this fabulous offer will be advised about the details as entries are received.
Tell us your news and we will include it in future newsletters – click here >>>
Tournament Organisers recently completed production of a 5 minute DVD which includes all details about the tournament, the 4 host clubs, how to enter, the rules and South Australia attractions – it is available now to all teams considering the journey to Adelaide. 
The DVD has also recently been loaded onto the tournament website. View it here>>.
Forward this link to a team-mate, colleague or golf coach who may be interested in being part of the World Schools Golf Challenge.
Organisers have also produced a tournament brochure with all the details which can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF. Go to the home page here then click on “Tournament Brochure”. We also have a range of brochures about South Australia and Adelaide to assist you in your planning.
To request a copy of the DVD and the publicity material send an email to the tournament office here >>>
Although the WSGC office has received dozens of enthusiastic enquiries from schools around the world it was nevertheless comforting to receive our first registrations.
In this and future newsletters, schools who have confirmed their intention to play in Adelaide will be featured. First up it’s welcome back to Como Secondary College situated in Perth, Western Australia.
Tournament organisers were delighted to recently receive confirmation from Ros Fisher that Como College would have up to seven teams represented at the Adelaide tournament next year.
Ros Fisher, the teacher responsible for golf at Como College has extensive domestic and international coaching and playing experience. In addition to her role at Como Secondary College she competes, coaches and manages golf teams at state level. We asked Ros to tell us more about the College and its exciting golf academy ……..
With a student enrolment of over 800, the College enjoys quiet, secure and pleasant environs. Como is well-located being within the community of South Perth and is 6 kilometres from the CBD of the City of Perth. Additionally it is adjacent to Western Australia's largest university, the Curtin University of Technology.
Our students undertake courses of study in Years 8 to 12 with most of our students coming from the local community. Other students join us from around WA to study one of our four special programs (Science & Technology, Hockey, Golf and Music).
The College has achieved many successes in recent years: Australian Champion Golf School 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008; WA Champion Hockey schools (boys and girls) 2004, 2005; Prize winning concert bands (Melbourne, 2005); and Robotics WA Champion School 2004, 2005.
One of these special programs offered at the school is the COMO Golf Academy which provides both a comprehensive academic as well as a golf program of the highest quality. Conveniently situated adjacent to Collier Park Golf Course , the COMO Golf Academy is dedicated to producing highly skilled golfers with the strongest possible academic background.
For the students of the academy golf is the central option of study and is successfully incorporated into the student’s mainstream school program throughout their secondary education. This combination allows them to subsequently pursue either a rewarding golf career or careers in recreational or physical education studies at University level. At the same time the program is flexible enough to accommodate more generic career aspirations. All students who successfully complete the golf program will receive a national Certificate III in Sport – Golf as well as a First Aid Certificate and accreditation in Golf Coaching in Level O and Level 1.
Students of the academy have the full use of the vast resources in the picturesque environment of the Collier Park Golf Course where a special par 3 hole has been designated for the use of the Como Academy. Our students also have free access to the Collier Park driving range, practice bunkers and practice putting greens.
The academy members as students of Como Secondary College also have regular access to a state of the art gymnasium and fitness centre on the school grounds. The college makes a secure storage facility available to all golf students for the safe keeping of their equipment
In its brief history the academy has won a number of state, national and international titles and in 2001 Como Secondary College was the home of the World Junior Golf Champion, Rick Kulacz. The academy continues to be the home of many state junior and senior representatives.
Past students of the Golf Academy are now members of the US and European tours who have either qualified or are about to qualify for PGA status. Other graduates have successfully embarked on careers in various golf related industries such as golf retail and green-keeping.
The second entry was the result of the recently revised conditions of entry which allows teams from smaller regional areas to combine (refer next news story). The team includes players from 2 colleges – Tauhara College and Taupo-nui-a-Tia College and has been entered as the Tauhara-Taupo Nui Colleges team.
Tauhara College is located in Taupo, on the shores of Lake Taupo – a lake the size of Singapore in the middle of the New Zealand’s North Island. The school is approximately one hour away from Mt Ruapehu with its many ski fields, and Tongariro National Park. Tauhara College is a co-educational school with a roll of 520 students. The college has a proud tradition of success in academic, cultural and sporting achievements.
Taupo-nui-a-Tia College is a Co-Educational Secondary School situated beside Lake Taupo. The College prides itself on the range of sports it offers students to complement their academic studies. Traditional sports such as athletics, swimming, rugby, netball, hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball and cricket share a place with skiing, multisport, golf, shooting, tri/duathlon, equestrian, sailing, mountain-biking, badminton, waka racing, rock climbing and many others.
Brendan Weston is one of the parents who approached WSGC earlier this year to explain that although they have young enthusiastic golfers the fact is that smaller schools had much less chances of getting 4 players and enquired if there was any chance of creating a combined schools section. He was delighted with the result “we are very pleased that the organisers agreed to revise the rules and because of this two schools who under normal circumstances would not be able to participate will be in Adelaide next year. Our team consists of 3 boys and 1 girl whose ages range from 14-17. Their handicaps presently range from 5-15. The players are VERY excited about this opportunity,” he said.
The WSGC organisers recently revised the tournament Conditions of Entry to provide an opportunity for schools in smaller/country areas who were experiencing difficulty getting 4 players to make up a team from their school.
One of the main objectives of the tournament has always been is to encourage participation and development of golf within high schools and the educational system. In support of this objective above, the organizers have decided to create a ‘Combined District Schools’ division specifically to encourage small schools to include golf as part of their sporting curriculum by allowing a team to consist of pupils from multiple schools within the same district. Local golf associations could also be able to use this division as a springboard to get golf programs started within schools in the district.
By including this division the organizers hope to encourage schools with small enrolments or no golf program to be part of the World Schools Golf Challenge by having one or two of their students represent their school and district in an international golf event. It could also be the only way some schools would be able to participate.
Entries in the ‘Combined District Schools’ division would be in the joint name of both schools and teams would be involved fully in the competition as a team and as individuals – and be eligible for prizes.
The first positive result of these revisions arrived in the form of a Combined District Schools entry in the name of Tauhara –Taupo Nui Colleges. Both schools acknowledge that by themselves they did not have enough players to make up a team but by combining they are now able to participate in Adelaide.
Read the revised Conditions of Entry here >>>
The tournament is a four-round stroke play event with team and individual gross and nett competitions. The 4 student teams can be boys, girls or mixed who must be aged from 13 to 19.
Organisers expect to attract at least 80 teams from high schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Asia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as from throughout Australia.
There are no qualifications required beyond being a member of a school team, having a recognised golf handicap, a love of the game of golf and a desire to meet other college golfers from around the world and to experience all that Australia (and South Australia in particular) has to offer.
The beauty of the tournament is that entry is not limited to one school per country – any school can participate and there is no limit to the number of teams that a single school can enter.
Full details about the tournament can be seen here>>
Four of the most popular clubs in Adelaide have agreed to host the 2009 WSGC practise and tournament rounds. In this newsletter we visit another host club Adelaide Shores Golf Park which is part of the Adelaide Shores Resort at West Beach situated 10km west of the city centre. It was voted one of the best public courses in South Australia because of its championship links style layout. The mature trees and many water hazards present a real challenge to even the most competent golfers. With large undulating greens (the average green size is 750 square metres) surrounded by numerous bunkers, Adelaide Shores Golf Park will certainly provide some great golfing moments. It is Par 72 and 6029m in length. Get more details about the course and complex from the website - www.adelaideshores.com.au/golfcourse.htm.
In addition to providing one of the host courses for the tournament the Adelaide Shores Holiday Village will be the nerve centre of the tournament and organisers hope that as many teams as possible will stay at this unique property. Not only does it offer well-priced self-catering accommodation and leisure facilities but both tournament social functions will be hosted at the Adelaide Shores Function Centre.
The Village is located right on the beach at West Beach in a 125-hectare Coastal Recreation Reserve – about 15 minutes from the centre of Adelaide. It offers excellent self-contained accommodation including 2 & 3 bedroom deluxe bungalows and 2-bedroom villas and a bunkhouse – ideal for school golf teams. Both styles of accommodation have spacious living areas and fully equipped kitchens.
There are courses in the famous wine regions (Barossa, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale), in the lunar landscape of Coober Pedy; along the spectacular coastline; many championship courses within 12 kilometres of Adelaide’s city centre; and two public courses in the city’s glorious parklands.
There are clubs that rank in Australia’s top 100, and courses to suit every level of play. At several courses you’re likely to share the greens with native wildlife – kangaroos, koalas and a myriad of colourful birds.
That’s just one of the many great things about a golfing holiday in South Australia – you’ll find there’s always a special holiday experience to go with your golf. And the people you meet will always tell you about their own favourite places and share South Australia’s golfing secrets.
To view a directory of South Australia’s golf courses visit http://www.localgreens.com/oceania/australia/south_australia/
Golf in the South Australia is controlled by the South Australia Golf Association. Visit their website –www.golfsa.com.au.
For more information about playing the game in Australia and South Australia visit http://www.downunderonline.com/Australian_Golf_Courses.htm)
For more details about golf clubs and tours in South Australia visit www.southaustralia.com and ‘search’ the word Golf – you’ll be surprised and delighted with the results
Secure your team’s place in the tournament by registering on-line today. Cleland Wildlife Park one of South Australia’s leading visitor attractions is offering a half-day tour as an ‘early bird’ entry incentive - to be drawn from all the teams who enter before June 30, 2008.
The entry fee is AU$150 per team and you can enter online here or print the PDFentry form on the website here and post it to the tournament office.
Take a look at the great sights of South Australia and Adelaide – all waiting for you to experience personally ->>>