Coledale Public School marked a new chapter by hosting its inaugural lunchtime golf session last Friday, with around 30 students participating. The event was a significant milestone for the school, offering students a fresh opportunity to engage in a sport that many had never tried before.
Assistant Principal and Classroom Teacher, Tracy Gould, reflected on the school’s history with the sport.
“We had golf in the past through sporting schools a long time ago, but these children hadn’t had any exposure to golf,” she said. “A lot of them are probably quite keen on it because it’s a less intense sport, so giving them exposure to something different is valuable.”
The response from the students was overwhelmingly positive.
“They loved it. They’ve enjoyed it. They really, really liked it,” Ms. Gould shared.
She noted that the students were particularly interested in measuring the strength of their swings and developing their putting skills.
“The more they practised, the better they became at estimating how hard the hit needed to be. These skills—like managing frustration and recalibrating when things don’t go your way—are crucial for their overall development,” she added.
Year six student Alice expressed her enthusiasm for the new activity.
“It was awesome. I don’t get much time to play golf, and there aren’t many golf clubs around our area. It was really fun to have a swing and see how it all worked,” she said, adding that she would love to see more golf at school.
“It’s really fun when you get the hang of it.”
Her classmate Ada also enjoyed the experience.
“We usually have soccer or basketball at school, but golf was a blast. It was fun just to hit the ball really hard at the net. I definitely improved as I went along,” she said.
Petrah and Mabel, both in year six, shared similar sentiments. “It was really fun,” Petrah said, expressing a desire for more golf sessions at school. Mabel agreed, noting, “It’s nice to do something a little different. I’d definitely like more variety, and golf would be a great addition.”
Zeke, a year five student, found the putting particularly enjoyable.
“Great day. I love it so far. I like the putting a lot, which I’ve never done before. So pretty cool experience,” he commented.
The success of this first session indicates a strong interest in continuing the program. As Ms. Gould noted, “If we had the resources, we would certainly offer more of this sort of activity. The response has been very encouraging.” With such enthusiasm from both staff and students, Coledale Public School may soon see golf become a regular feature of its sporting offerings.
