Children eager to learn at Sillogue

Another example of a successful junior initiative operates from the public course at Sillogue in north Dublin. Dublin City Council have joined forces with the Christy O'Connor Golf Club, based at Sillogue, to initiate the Brisk programme, which is aimed at the local youth, primarily from Ballymun, just across the M50 from the course.

The scheme is overseen by Eileen Gleeson, a sports development officer with the council, along with professionals Peter and Christopher O'Connor at the club's golf academy.

"This year, we've taken on 50 kids," says Peter O'Connor, "and the course runs from April to September. The kids are selected in conjunction with the city council, who have their youth leaders, and groups, who are based in Ballymun, and who in their capacity would select the kids, kids who maybe had dropped out of school, or kids who are just having a tough time. This year we're taking kids who are, say, 13 to 18.

"Initially, the city council guys told us they thought they might get 15, 20 kids - but there was 50, there was a rush. Which is great - there's a waiting list there.

"Through the city council, they have a fund, and through the Brisk group they gone and purchased 12 sets of clubs. And we here, over the years, we have a lot of clubs to dedicate to them as well.

"Overall, over the last three years over 400 kids have come through. Which is marvellous, we're delighted with that.

"Yesterday I had nine kids here on my own. Like any group of kids from any area, you put nine kids together, and you try to keep them occupied for an hour, you're gonna get a few kids who, maybe, don't like it, don't fancy it, want to mess a little bit, and your going to get, always, three or four kids who want to listen. And you mightn't think they're listening, but they are.

"For example yesterday, I went through the lesson, demonstrated the set-up and the basics, and a little bit of a swing, and then I got them up, finally, just to hit a ball or two, just to get a feel of it, get them interested. And one little kid stood up - and had an absolutely perfect grip. And took a back swing perfect. I said, have you played before, he said no, I haven't. And I said, you must have played before. And there were four kids who didn't want to go home. Twenty minutes after the lesson I had four kids still there wanting to hit some more balls."

Which is all very laudable, not least because the O'Connors are doing the work voluntarily. But perhaps the most significant aspect of the scheme is that at the end of the summer 12 of the 50 participants will be given full junior memberships of the Christy O'Connor Golf Club - GUI handicap, full competitive privileges, the lot.

"The club committee are delighted," O'Connor says. "It's great to have kids involved in a golf club, that's the future. Especially local kids, because there has to be a couple of them out there who are going to get stuck in and become very good at the game. At the very beginning, when we set up the golf club in 1996, it was very much to promote golf among, maybe, golfers who couldn't afford to play the game, and definitely to promote junior golf, to get the kids involved.

"Already, from the pervious years, we have two kids, at the moment, up and running, playing in the men's competitions, and that's a great thing. One is from Ballymun, and the other is from Finglas. And they are very, very keen, and two very good golfers.

"But they're playing here in summer holidays, they're playing here in the Tuesday competitions with the men's club."

Contact: Christy O'Connor GC: 01 862 0464.