How social media is seeding the next generation of Australian golfers
'It's a really good sport to get into. Especially when you're a teenage girl. You make so many friends, you get to play with so many different people and personalities. It's just skills that you can have forever, and it's a lot of fun.'
Newcombe said she spends 'a few hours' a week playing the sport — though on closer inspection she undersells her commitment. The highschooler trains twice a week, and spends 'most of the weekend' playing in tournaments or club golf at her local Camden Golf Course.
'I love how it is challenging in so many different ways. It challenges you physically, mentally, definitely emotionally too. Every single time you go out on the golf course it's different. There's so many different ways you can play each shot and think about each shot. It's really cool.
'It can definitely get very frustrating out there, especially if you're not having a good day, but it's just about trying to keep calm, keep your emotions in check, and just move on.'
Another player from south-west Sydney, 14-year-old Braxton Andrews, who hopes to go professional, came to the sport aged 10 after attending a junior clinic at Camden Golf Club.
'It was really encouraging. There was a good environment there. I enjoyed that and learned the skills from there to go out and play on the course … the clinic was all younger kids around my age, the more I started playing the more I realised that [golf] is not an older people's sport at all, it's more younger people.'
Andrews said he watches 'a lot' of golf content on YouTube and Instagram outside his training routine, which sees him practising for two to three hours a day and competing on the weekends.
'I just love playing. Once you hit that good shot you just want that feeling again. It's just addictive.'
The demographics of youth golfing have begun to skew younger, said Hughes, with the average age of new players between nine and 15, prompting the JNJG Foundation to establish an under-12s tour.
'I set aside about 25 spots because I thought we might get about 25 or 30 kids playing in that very first tournament. We ended up with 75 kids, and 10 on the waitlist that we just couldn't fit,' said Hughes.
'There's not another sport in the world where a 10-year-old kid can go and spend five hours playing sport with a 20-year-old, a 40-year-old and an 80-year-old, and with the handicap system in place, be competitive against all those different age groups. Golf really is the game for life.'
In Melbourne, 15-year-old Hugo Wortley has been playing since he was two, and attends a local sports high school in Maribyrnong. He trains about five times a week in pursuit of his goal of playing professionally in the United States, and says his understanding of the game is all about psychology.
'It's all between your ears really, how you can control it. It's nearly 100 per cent mental, just controlling your emotions, your decisions, and calculating wind, and your actual shot itself,' said Wortley.
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'I love being out there in nature, there's certain points in time when you are practising after school or practising on the weekend with the sun coming down. It's just moments like that you capture and remember … it gives me something to chase, to chase perfection. The perfect swing, the perfect shot, the perfect round. I love navigating that and improving my game.'
Wortley said one of the big draws of the game was a sense of community that extended far beyond the stereotypical old male golfer.
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The Age
8 hours ago
- The Age
How social media is seeding the next generation of Australian golfers
'It's a really good sport to get into. Especially when you're a teenage girl. You make so many friends, you get to play with so many different people and personalities. It's just skills that you can have forever, and it's a lot of fun.' Newcombe said she spends 'a few hours' a week playing the sport — though on closer inspection she undersells her commitment. The highschooler trains twice a week, and spends 'most of the weekend' playing in tournaments or club golf at her local Camden Golf Course. 'I love how it is challenging in so many different ways. It challenges you physically, mentally, definitely emotionally too. Every single time you go out on the golf course it's different. There's so many different ways you can play each shot and think about each shot. It's really cool. 'It can definitely get very frustrating out there, especially if you're not having a good day, but it's just about trying to keep calm, keep your emotions in check, and just move on.' Another player from south-west Sydney, 14-year-old Braxton Andrews, who hopes to go professional, came to the sport aged 10 after attending a junior clinic at Camden Golf Club. 'It was really encouraging. There was a good environment there. I enjoyed that and learned the skills from there to go out and play on the course … the clinic was all younger kids around my age, the more I started playing the more I realised that [golf] is not an older people's sport at all, it's more younger people.' Andrews said he watches 'a lot' of golf content on YouTube and Instagram outside his training routine, which sees him practising for two to three hours a day and competing on the weekends. 'I just love playing. Once you hit that good shot you just want that feeling again. It's just addictive.' The demographics of youth golfing have begun to skew younger, said Hughes, with the average age of new players between nine and 15, prompting the JNJG Foundation to establish an under-12s tour. 'I set aside about 25 spots because I thought we might get about 25 or 30 kids playing in that very first tournament. We ended up with 75 kids, and 10 on the waitlist that we just couldn't fit,' said Hughes. 'There's not another sport in the world where a 10-year-old kid can go and spend five hours playing sport with a 20-year-old, a 40-year-old and an 80-year-old, and with the handicap system in place, be competitive against all those different age groups. Golf really is the game for life.' In Melbourne, 15-year-old Hugo Wortley has been playing since he was two, and attends a local sports high school in Maribyrnong. He trains about five times a week in pursuit of his goal of playing professionally in the United States, and says his understanding of the game is all about psychology. 'It's all between your ears really, how you can control it. It's nearly 100 per cent mental, just controlling your emotions, your decisions, and calculating wind, and your actual shot itself,' said Wortley. Loading 'I love being out there in nature, there's certain points in time when you are practising after school or practising on the weekend with the sun coming down. It's just moments like that you capture and remember … it gives me something to chase, to chase perfection. The perfect swing, the perfect shot, the perfect round. I love navigating that and improving my game.' Wortley said one of the big draws of the game was a sense of community that extended far beyond the stereotypical old male golfer.
Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
How social media is seeding the next generation of Australian golfers
'It's a really good sport to get into. Especially when you're a teenage girl. You make so many friends, you get to play with so many different people and personalities. It's just skills that you can have forever, and it's a lot of fun.' Newcombe said she spends 'a few hours' a week playing the sport — though on closer inspection she undersells her commitment. The highschooler trains twice a week, and spends 'most of the weekend' playing in tournaments or club golf at her local Camden Golf Course. 'I love how it is challenging in so many different ways. It challenges you physically, mentally, definitely emotionally too. Every single time you go out on the golf course it's different. There's so many different ways you can play each shot and think about each shot. It's really cool. 'It can definitely get very frustrating out there, especially if you're not having a good day, but it's just about trying to keep calm, keep your emotions in check, and just move on.' Another player from south-west Sydney, 14-year-old Braxton Andrews, who hopes to go professional, came to the sport aged 10 after attending a junior clinic at Camden Golf Club. 'It was really encouraging. There was a good environment there. I enjoyed that and learned the skills from there to go out and play on the course … the clinic was all younger kids around my age, the more I started playing the more I realised that [golf] is not an older people's sport at all, it's more younger people.' Andrews said he watches 'a lot' of golf content on YouTube and Instagram outside his training routine, which sees him practising for two to three hours a day and competing on the weekends. 'I just love playing. Once you hit that good shot you just want that feeling again. It's just addictive.' The demographics of youth golfing have begun to skew younger, said Hughes, with the average age of new players between nine and 15, prompting the JNJG Foundation to establish an under-12s tour. 'I set aside about 25 spots because I thought we might get about 25 or 30 kids playing in that very first tournament. We ended up with 75 kids, and 10 on the waitlist that we just couldn't fit,' said Hughes. 'There's not another sport in the world where a 10-year-old kid can go and spend five hours playing sport with a 20-year-old, a 40-year-old and an 80-year-old, and with the handicap system in place, be competitive against all those different age groups. Golf really is the game for life.' In Melbourne, 15-year-old Hugo Wortley has been playing since he was two, and attends a local sports high school in Maribyrnong. He trains about five times a week in pursuit of his goal of playing professionally in the United States, and says his understanding of the game is all about psychology. 'It's all between your ears really, how you can control it. It's nearly 100 per cent mental, just controlling your emotions, your decisions, and calculating wind, and your actual shot itself,' said Wortley. Loading 'I love being out there in nature, there's certain points in time when you are practising after school or practising on the weekend with the sun coming down. It's just moments like that you capture and remember … it gives me something to chase, to chase perfection. The perfect swing, the perfect shot, the perfect round. I love navigating that and improving my game.' Wortley said one of the big draws of the game was a sense of community that extended far beyond the stereotypical old male golfer.
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
Bailey Smith hosts secret meeting with AFL CEO and Geelong bosses
AFL boss Andrew Dillon drove to the home of Bailey Smith for a secret fireside meeting on Thursday night amid the Geelong superstar's recent headline-grabbing indiscretions. 7NEWS understands Dillon and Smith were joined by Cats coach Chris Scott, chief executive Steve Hocking and head of football Andrew Mackie at the Surf Coast property. Dillon organised the meeting after Smith's social media post last month alluding to illicit drug use saw the Cats and AFL hold robust conversations over the 24-year-old's behaviour. The AFL opted not to penalise the explosive midfielder for the now-deleted Instagram comment, instead warning Smith that he would be sanctioned should a similar incident arise. Smith was fined for two separate 'obscene gestures' to fans during Gather Round and Easter Monday matches this year. Those with knowledge of Thursday's intimate catch-up insist Dillon didn't lecture Smith, instead reiterating his importance as a role model as one of the faces of the competition. Dillon and the Cats officials outlined that should Smith's career trajectory continue with fewer off-field controversies, his marketability would only rise. As well as a playing contract worth more than $850,000 per season, the Brownlow Medal contender has lucrative partnerships with Cotton On, Monster Energy, McDonalds, Stuff That Matters and his own alcohol label Barry's. Such was the importance of the meeting, Dillon opted to drive 90 minutes for the Surf Coast early on Thursday evening before heading to Marvel Stadium to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The PM enjoyed the hospitality at the Western Bulldogs-Hawthorn clash alongside Hawks president Andy Gowers — a premiership teammate of Dillon's at VAFA club Old Xaverians. With pressure rising on his football department in recent months, Dillon has made a concerted effort to be more personable with his connections to key figures. However, the league CEO meeting at the home of a star player, with his coach, CEO and football boss, is seen as extremely rare. Dillon met with Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, Richmond coach Adem Yze and Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell at the Graham Hotel in South Melbourne in early May. He followed by meeting coaches Simon Goodwin (Melbourne), Alastair Clarkson (North Melbourne), Chris Scott (Geelong) and Brad Scott (Essendon) at Fitzroy's Builders Arms Hotel a fortnight later. Geelong have been the subject of an ongoing AFL audit this season into third party payments that is expected to result in a fine for administrative lodgement errors — not explicit hidden deals — in the next fortnight. Chris Scott was forced to include part of his salary from his external arrangement with club sponsor Morris Finance into the Cats' soft cap earlier this season. Smith was a late out for Geelong's win over Gold Coast on Saturday with a hamstring concern he picked up in the win against West Coast six days earlier. He is expected to be in the frame to play against Essendon at the MCG next week.
