3 minute read
The Rise of Golf at Trinity
Golf is a sport enjoyed by many of our alumni, as demonstrated by our annual golf day. But it is in the last couple of years it’s reached new heights in terms of competitive participation at the school itself. We caught up with Jamie O’Connor, Head of Golf, to hear all about it.
What does the new golfing academy offer Trinity Students?
As a programme we now offer six separate sessions throughout the week. Three of these are catered towards the ever-expanding Academy, including a short-game session and an on-course session – both at Shirley Park Golf Club. We also provide three weekly sessions to our less experienced golfers, including the Friday night ‘madness’ at Sandilands where Mr Brindley and Mr Bell create Trinity’s very own version of TopGolf (well sort of). The plethora of sessions available to our students are certainly paying dividends, as the school now boasts of 80 student golfers grasping the chance to obtain such a valuable life skill.
How have you managed to create such a successful academy in such a short space of time?
The continuing evolution of golf at Trinity has been facilitated by the prospering relationship between the school and the neighbouring Shirley Park Golf Club, with 30 of the student golfers now being playing members. Besides offering a fantastic membership deal to our students, the club, and particularly Assistant Professional Jack Denman, act as a sensational sidecar to the golfing obsession which is quickly engulfing a considerable proportion of our students.
What next for the Golf Academy?
The speed with which golf is developing at Trinity is truly astounding. The programme has not only provided a life-long skill for its golfers but is also cultivating an environment of complete enjoyment and one which is seeing friendships created across year groups, and sport played by athletes who are continuously smiling. This year has already seen ten golfers make the progression from development sessions to academy sessions.
We have also had the opportunity to enter our Trinity golfers into county and national tournaments again. Sixth former Torin Leonard has been entered into the national scratch competition whilst we have 9 representatives in the Surrey Handicap Trophy, all under the age of 14, all with handicaps lower than 20!
Aside from all the exciting competitive golf, we have a student vs staff match in the calendar, alongside the Trinity Golf Day which sees a plethora of our Golf Academy parents participating. Without question it is going to be a busy summer for the boys, nevertheless this amount of exposure can only enhance the development of our golfers, in turn propelling Trinity Golf to further success.
Jamie O'Connor
