Inside Golf, Australia. June 2014 | Page 67

golf queensland PresCare announced as QSOOM naming rights sponsor MyGolf camp a great success in Blackall During May, Golf Queensland celebrated a centenary of administrating amateur golf in Queensland.  Golf Queensland recently announced aged care provider PresCare as the naming rights sponsor of the Queensland Senior Order of Merit (QSOOM).  The partnership assists in the sustainability of securing the QSOOM for the next two years ensuring for a comprehensive competition calendar of events for the over 55-year golfer. Golf Queensland Chair Peter Castrisos said he was pleased to welcome a new sponsor to the golf industry and in particular to the QSOOM. “It is refreshing to see new businesses realising the benefits in partnering with golf,” Mr Castrisos said. “Golf is a sport that caters for all age groups, and in this case, the PresCare QSOOM calendar provides opportunities for senior golfers to travel and participate in events at fantastic Queensland golf courses.” PresCare’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Michael Bosel said the QSOOM sponsorship enabled the not-for-profit organisation to reach thousands of older Queenslanders across the state through 41 local seniors’ tournaments throughout the year. “Often members of sporting clubs perceive a high level of support and friendship, key factors in reducing social isolation. So it follows playing a round of golf with your mates can improve your health and wellbeing and that may ultimately save someone’s life,” Mr Bosel said. • Golf Qld celebrates Centenary On 8 May 2014, it was precisely 100 years since the first meeting of the Queensland Golf Association, the original predecessor organisation to Golf Queensland. T he first MYGolf Junior camp kicked off for 2014 in the Central West at Blackall Golf Club in April.  The concept of Golf Queensland travelling to a regional district and supporting a threeday junior camp began last year in the Central West at Tambo Golf Club and has gained momentum throughout Golf Queensland’s development. This year there are MYGolf camps in the June/July holidays at Yeppoon (Capricorn Golf Resort), Charters Towers Golf Club, Emerald Golf Club and in the September holidays at Miles Golf Club.  The camps are targeting juniors aged 5-14 years at the beginner to 3, 6, or 9-hole ability with a passion to learn and play golf. Equipment is also supplied if required. The Blackall camp saw 37 juniors from the Central West Queensland district including juniors from Tambo, Ilfracome, Barcaldine, Muttaburra and of course Blackall attend the camp. Golf Queensland’s Development Officer and PGA and ALPG golf professional Lee Harrington along with husband Peter, also a PGA golf professional, delivered a structured three-day program consisting of warm-up games and activities, skills sessions on full swing, chipping and putting, rules session and on-course play.  There was once again great local sponsorship by Tambo Teddies, Choyce’s Livestock transport, Coolibah Motel and Shane Robinson Construction as well as support from BlackallTambo regional council. The support of Junior Coordinators Bill Rogers and Shane Robinson was instrumental in the camp being such as success for the second year.  Local Junior Coordinator Shane Robinson said the camp was a huge success. “The organisation, fun and expertise that these camps provide for our juniors here is tremendous benefit for our juniors and for our district clubs, also the parents and junior coordinators and volunteers also learn a few things on the latest MYGolf coaching practices and also for our own golf games,” Mr Robinson said. Golf Queensland’s Lee Harrington supported Robinson’s comments. “It’s great to spend three days with local coaches and parents to educate them on the latest games and skill delivery techniques that will keep them assisting the juniors when we are gone.  This practical involvement is highly valuable for their motivation to keep them involved with the juniors. More local members need to come and see how easy and fun junior coaching can be now, with the fun games and equipment that we use,” Mrs Harrington said. Thank you also to Blackall Golf Club for the use of their facilities and to all the parents and volunteers who assisted throughout the camp.  Once again Hills International Golf College is supporting junior golf in regional areas by sponsoring two juniors to attend their September golf camp from every MYGolf camp in 2014. This provides a great opportunity for juniors from regional areas to keep working on their golf, mixing with juniors from the city and an opportunity to play on grass greens. We thank Hills International College for this support in working together on the development of the game. To celebrate this milestone, Golf Queensland and the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) showcased a range of online media-based programs throughout the month, which included a digital golfing in Queensland exhibition in Flickr, an interactive digital experience of current and past golf clubs through Historypin, and an online presence to golf clubs in Wikipedia.  A key outcome for the project is for every member golf club to collect, digitise and describe its memorabilia for golfing generations to come. Golf Queensland Chair Peter Castrisos said golf was a sport steeped in tradition and maintaining the history was vital. “The centenary celebration provides us with an opportunity to promote golf in this state while preserving our past,” Mr Castrisos said. “Partner