Geyserland Junior Golf Club set to tee-off in Rotorua

Rotorua Golf Club head professional Ant Barkley, pictured with the club's golf simulator, is co-ordinating a joint venture to get juniors playing the sport. Photo/File

A joint venture between Rotorua's junior golf clubs is being launched this weekend.

Rather than competing for a decreasing pool of young people, Rotorua Golf Club, Lakeview Golf and Country Club, Springfield Golf Club and Government Gardens Golf Club have worked together to create the Geyserland Junior Golf Club (GJGC).

GJGC is a virtual golf club in which children can be active members online and on social media, and play at each of the clubs. For $100 junior players will receive a membership at each of the four courses and the opportunity to participate in after-school programmes with coaches.

On Sunday GJGC is holding a registration and information afternoon from 1-3pm at the Rotorua Golf Club for anyone interested in joining.

Rotorua Golf Club head professional Ant Barkley, who is co-ordinating the joint venture, said Sunday's event was aimed at officially launching the combined club and letting people know "what it's all about".

"We will have a few games going on. We'll have a person dressed up in a snag suit which they can fire balls at, we'll have a putting competition, just small, fun games to get them here and hopefully interested in golf.

"It's all informational, it's just to come down and check out what it's all about. If they want to sign up great, if not at least they'll know what's going on.

"We will have free introductory classes on Sundays, where any kid that wants to give golf a go can come along. We tried to tier it step-by-step, so you can come to the intro days, then if you enjoy it you can become a member and do the after-school classes," Barkley said.

The after-school classes will be held at Rotorua Golf Club on Tuesdays, Springfield Golf Club on Thursdays and Lakeview Golf and Country Club on Fridays from 3.40-4.40pm.

"The introductory sessions will be very basic. The after-school programmes will be quite age-specific, we won't get too technical with the younger ones, but the older ones we can because they can understand it easier. It's a tiered approach and it's all about teaching fundamentals as well as how to behave on a golf course.

"It's great being able to spread it between the clubs. It's been going slowly but smoothly and we're now actively seeking sponsorship and grants to get this really going and supply a good programme."