Africa expedition golf lessons have lasting effect

October 2009

The Kemnay Academy pupils who took golf clubs to a school in Africa this summer as part of a World Challenge expedition believe the golf coaching they gave to children in Namibia will have a lasting effect.

The 15 students travelled through Zambia, Botswana and Namibia where they spent a week in a local village. The R&A supported the group’s aim of starting a junior golf programme in the village by buying them a bag of SNAG equipment, used in Scotland to teach firstclubgolf, for them to teach children with.

“It was an overwhelming experience for us and we got a real sense of achievement from teaching them a game that was completely new to them,” said Kintore 15 year old Jordyn Booth, a member of Kemnay Golf Club and clubgolf’s Stage 3 student.

“We started by teaching the older children, between 15 and 17 years old, how to use the equipment. Then we showed them how to teach the younger ones.

“We watched them as they taught the younger children and they all took to it really quickly. When we first mentioned golf it was like we were speaking a completely different language but they all enjoyed it. We gave the firstclubgolf equipment to the village it and I’m sure they will continue teaching it.”

Golf in the school will also cross the gender divides.

“They only play two sports; football for boys, netball for the girls and the two don’t mix,” said Jordyn. “The children when were really pleased when we told them that golf is a sport for everyone and they could all play it together.”