A joint venture between The Vintage Golf Club Junior Foundation and Hunter Valley Aqua Golf and Putt Putt, the program had tremendous success last year and coaches Kieran McMahon and Richard Mercer are expecting to build 2016 into an even better year.

Six juniors from the intermediate squad represented the Hunter Valley and finished runners-up to Far South Coast in the State Encourage Shield Pennant final at Newcastle Golf Club just last month.

McMahon is excited with the number of junior golfers that is being created in the system.

“We had 48 juniors in the beginner programme last year which is tremendous. This will set the base for more juniors moving up the ladder and gaining an 18-hole handicap by the end of 2016,” he said.

Several of the intermediate juniors reduced their handicaps from the maximum handicap (boys 36 and girls 45) to single figures in just 12 months. It is these juniors who are expected to eventually fill the elite level of the program (the elite level juniors are financially supported at a state and national level by the foundation).

The program’s beginner and intermediate programs focus on building good fundamentals in the golf swing.

Juniors will start the term in the fun environment of aqua golf and putt-putt before honing their skills at The Vintage.

Beginner juniors will graduate with a nine-hole handicap while the intermediate juniors establish an official Golf Australia 18-hole handicap.

These coaching clinics and golf events run parallel with the school term. This term’s six-week program starts on Sunday at Hunter Valley Gardens Aqua Golf; beginners at 8.30am and intermediate at 9.30am.

Call Kieran McMahon on 0408 633 377 or email kieran@golftothemax.com.au to register.