The Navy Golf Association teamed up with Year 9 and 10 students from Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus recently, helping to hone their skills while teaching them about Defence careers.
With generous support of the Navy Sports Council, 20 students engaged with NSW Navy Golf personnel during a training session at GolfSpace in Alexandria, Sydney.
During the two-hour session, students divided into smaller groups and played a friendly competition alongside Navy members.
At GolfSpace, patrons can refine their golfing skills while playing simulations of famous courses from all over the world.
Navy Golf Association Patron Captain Ben Hissink joined the students for a swing and spoke to them about applying the same technical and mental skill sets used in golf to their studies, as they enter a vital stage in their schooling.
“I encourage you all to focus on creating a breadth of skill sets, like with golf, to give a wide range of options later on in life,” he said.
Captain Hissink spoke of his own personal experiences during his career and those of other Navy personnel present.
The students were enthusiastic, asking questions about Navy and Defence while proudly wearing their new Navy ball caps.
Many of the students had never played golf before, and using the indoor simulator presented a unique and immersive chance to learn.
Navy Golf Association Captain Warrant Officer Alan Hart said he was keen for the next opportunity to get out in the community to pass on not only some of his golfing skills but also years of wisdom amassed from a rewarding Navy career.
“This community engagement has been a success and allowed Navy to connect with the students through the sport of golf,” Warrant Officer Hart said.
“It has planted the seed of what opportunities are available within Navy and Defence overall as they look towards their future employment options.”
