A former Aoraki junior golfer’s passion for the sport has been reignited after returning back to his hometown of Timaru.
Mark Scott first picked up the clubs when he was 11, and over the years achieved milestones like winning the South Island Match Play Championship in 2003, being invited to two NZ Golf National Coaching Schools, and recording a best score of 64.
After working in the property sector in Melbourne, Scott returned to Timaru last year and has re-dedicated himself to the sport in an effort to share his knowledge and afford young Aoraki golfers the same opportunities he had growing up in the region.
Since returning, Mr Scott has become a certified Golfzon Leadbetter instructor and as well as offering private coaching has recently started volunteering at the Timaru Golf Club to coach the introductory Sixes programme as well as a free weekly coaching programme for junior golfers.
He is also assisting with the junior programme at the Temuka Golf Club and will be launching another free weekly programme for juniors at the Highfield Golf Club early next year.
He said he felt very lucky that he could give back to the game that had given him so much.
‘‘For me it started on a frosty Sunday morning at Highfield Golf Course. I can’t remember how many kids were there, but it was George Davies, a lovely old fella, and he was there doing volunteer coaching.
‘‘He held a bit of a competition, hole a putt and win a beanie. I didn’t win but I thought it was so cool and from then I was hooked. I played pretty much every day, through till I was 18 and a-half years old.
‘‘To be in a position now, to give kids the opportunity to experience that same feeling is super rewarding.’’
He was very much enjoying being back in Timaru and the work he was doing with coaching and volunteering, Mr Scott said.
‘‘I never thought that I’d find myself living back here but life happens and I’m here. It’s one of those things you don’t realise how good it is until you’ve gone and experienced other things.
‘‘I’m definitely looking to build something here, what I am doing now is the dream job I never dreamt of. I can’t emphasise enough how fun and rewarding it has been.
‘‘The fun and the reward comes from seeing the look on people’s faces, the smiles, and that can be a 4-year-old, or a 94-year-old. One of the things about golf that’s so special is it’s a game that you can play for a lifetime, you can always improve.’’
It had been beneficial becoming a certified Golfzon Leadbetter instructor, he said.
‘‘I’ve got my level one at present and I’m currently completing level one kids coaching to help me have more resources to then go and give back to the game even more.
‘‘It just gives you some validity. People would be like, ‘Mark was a really good junior golfer, he knows what he’s talking about’ but if you’re going to make it your business you need to be constantly evolving, learning and topping up on information and sharing ideas.
‘‘If you’re talking about modern golf coaching, it’s David Leadbetter and Butch Harmon. Leadbetter coached Lydia Ko for three or four years through teenage years, so his name is synonymous with golf.’’
He also works at GolfStop in Washdyke and was very appreciative of the flexibility and assistance of owner Warren Leslie when it came to balancing his work there with his coaching.
Timaru Golf Club services manager Natasha Brown said it was great to have had Mr Scott offer to coach the Sixes and junior programmes.
‘‘Sixes was developed a few years ago but we didn’t really have a good programme here for juniors. So it was a really important thing for us to get going and it was important to me for it to be free for all kids whether they’re a member here or not.
‘‘We’re super lucky that Mark’s here and that he’s offered his assistance for free so kids can learn properly but also have fun. We’ve had a great response so far.’’
She said the free junior sessions were held on Tuesday’s from 4pm-4.40pm for primary school aged players and 4.45pm-5.30pm for high school aged players.
Anyone wanting more information on Mr Scott’s coaching can visit his website at markscottgolf.com or Facebook page and to register interest or to learn more about the free junior sessions at the Timaru Golf Club — the club can be contacted on 027 518-8140.
