Published July 01, 2019 19:07
The Encourage Shield, held annually and culminating in playoffs for the State Shield at Newcastle Golf Club in January, is an event aimed at young golfers to introduce them to Match Play and team competition.
This year we had teams entered by 5 of our Clubs and the Association sponsored a composite side to enable those kids whose clubs do not have enough players to form a team to have a game and gain valuable experience.
In excess of 40 youngsters took part, including 10 young girls, and CCDGA extends congratulations to the clubs that took part, their Professionals who do so much work to promote the kids, to the kids themselves and to their parents who willingly take players from course to course over the space of about 8 weeks for their weekly games.
The final round was played at Shelly Beach on Sunday 30 June and once the dust settled Shelly Beach took the title from Toukley by one half contest. Both teams finished the year with the same amount of individual wins such was the closeness of the competition. The Shelly Beach team can now look forward to playing in the playoffs early in 2020.
Events such as these do not just happen. For the past few years Michael Lamaro, Shelly Beach Vice Captain and JDO, has willingly undertaken the administration of the Encourage Shield and takes much of the responsibility for its continuing success.
Ably assisted by Jason Millers, Michael does not limit his involvement to the Encourage Shield and a few months back took a Coach load of kids (and some parents) to Bathurst for the JNJG Peter O'Malley Junior Masters which by all reports was a roaring success. With people like Michael and Jason doing so much to encourage kids to play our sport it would seem that future generations of golfers here on the Coast are assured and we can look forward to more youngsters making it on the representative stage. Our thanks are extended to Michael and Jason for all of their efforts in looking after our rising stars.