Teaching golf from East Wales to Far East

Welsh tour professional Jo Pritchard has helped teach the first TriGolf starter lesson in China, thanks to a group of Gwent schoolchildren and a live video link.

 

While Pritchard was putting some pupils of Llanyrafon Primary School in Cwmbran through their paces learning to play golf, a group of teachers in Hong Kong were watching via a video link to get a greater understanding of how to run the first such scheme at a school in China.

 

"I have never done that before but it was great that a country like China is doing this and taking it on," explained 27-year-old Pontypool assistant pro Pritchard.

 

"You can send an e-mail saying this is how you do it, but doing it live just does bring it alive and it is a great set up for the children to do and they really enjoy it.

 

"At this age it is just very basic, hit it and have some fun. If you want to take it up then you will get into the technical side eventually, but at this age it is all about the fun."

 

The remarkable TriGolf session from East Wales to the Far East came through the links between Llanyrafon head teacher Wayne Jones and education advisor Chung Bong in Hong Kong.

 

The children at Llanyrafon were more than happy to take part in the session to help the York Kindergarten become the first school in China to teach golf as part of the curriculum.

 

"Golf is a fantastic activity which is inclusive, all our children can participate. The link with China was a huge part of today - the cultural diversity element of school is very important," said Jones.

 

"It really helps to create good global citizens by communicating directly and asking questions, it does help give them an understanding of world issues because they are helping to teach the same sport to children in China through the technological age."

 

Bong and the teachers in China were delighted to watch the session at first hand and being able to ask questions about how it had been run.

 

"We had a good idea after looking at some videos but what we did not know is how everything fits together. That was the biggest challenge for us," said Bong through the video link.

 

"We did not know how you position it, how the atmosphere should be. You had the spirit of golf down to a tee, it should be fun with mutual respect and that came across very, very strongly which was great.

 

"There are two big brands of golf to encourage early learning, TriGolf and Snag Golf which is really a USA thing. We went with Tri-Golf and a big reason was that you are doing it there in Wales."

 

After doing her bit for Far East golf, Pritchard can now concentrate on events closer to home in Europe.

 

After a season on the Ladies European Tour she is determined to taste more top level golf next season.

 

"I have to go back to qualifying school unfortunately, but I am lucky that I can also play in PGA events so I have six weeks to work hard on the game and hopefully get back on tour next year," said the 27-year-old.

 

"I have just one event left this season so basically it is about spending some time at home to practice, work on my game and plan the next few weeks in every detail to give myself the best chance in qualifying school."

 

After teaching golf to China from a Cwmbran classroom, even the European Tour events may seem a bit mundane in comparison.