Done golfing for now

WITH winter well and truly set in, the Special Olympics Ballarat Golf’s season has ended, although balls will be back on the tees as the warmer weather approaches.

Through summer and autumn, the Special Olympians have a golf session fortnightly, where participants learn skills to improve hand-eye coordination, golf course management and etiquette.

RACV Goldfields Resort has been the home for Special Olympics Ballarat Golf since November 2011 and Creswick Golf Club member Brian Anstey, the original convenor for the golf component of Special Olympics in Ballarat, said that it had been a fantastic partnership.

“RACV Goldfields Resort has been integral to the success of Special Olympics in Ballarat, providing facilities such as golf carts, practice fairway and the course at no cost to the participants,” Anstey said. “Special Olympics is extremely grateful to RACV and in particular the pro shop staff, for ongoing support.”

Special Olympics is an organisation designed to help people of all ages with an intellectual disability engage with the broader community through a range of sporting activities.

“When the idea of teaching golf was first thought about we really had no idea how many Special Olympians would be interested and how long we would be able to sustain their interest,” Anstey said. “Eight years on the interest is still there and the numbers have doubled, so much so that two more coaches – Maurice Mahar from Creswick Golf Club and Peter Cowie from Beaufort Golf Club have joined the team in teaching golf.”

The team includes the volunteer coaches, Special Olympics coordinator Mary Slater and parents as well as Sports Central staff who have organised grants and equipment.

Anstey said that without the support of parents who join in the activities and sessions and the fantastic Special Olympics volunteers, organising this important event for Special Olympians would not be sustainable.

“At the end of each session you can see that the golfers have enjoyed the fresh air, the banter and the friendships that have been forged through golf. Golfers and volunteers all come away feeling that something good has been achieved,” he said.