(Pictured above: Queen Elizabeth Public School senior kindergarten student Hunter McGonegal (left) takes a swing as grade 4 student and caddie Tommy Allan looks on. The grades 4/5 students introduced the kindergarten students to the game of golf recently on the school’s new playground golf course.)

(Perth) – Need a little help with your golf swing? The students at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School are full of tips.

Recently,  the grades 4/5 students introduced a group of kindergarten kids to the game of golf on the school’s new nine-hole golf course. The course – which includes freshly-mown tee boxes, fairways and putting greens – has been widely used by all students for the last four weeks thanks to teacher Mario Caya, Principal Carmela Ciocio and the National Golf in Schools (NGIS) program. 

“The idea of a golf course at school had been in my head since the fall,” said Caya. “Carmela registered our school in the NGIS program last summer. We thought it would be a good way to introduce kids to golf.”

Caya said that soon after applying for the program, NGIS sent Queen Elizabeth a set of 12 putters, 12 irons, 10 flags and 24 spongy balls and 24 foam balls for the kids to use. They also provided cone-shaped holes that could be placed on the ground for golf balls to roll into, but Caya replaced those with flying discs so that the ball could get into the “hole” in an easier way.

“The nice thing about the discs is that you can move the hole each day,” he said, adding that the upkeep of the course is quite simple. “All I do is take my lawn mower and mow the tee boxes, fairways and greens once a week.”

Caya said one great aspect of the NGIS program is that any school can benefit from it since the course is mobile. Once the students are done playing, all of the equipment is easy to pick up and put away.

Caya also said that the course gives students a great opportunity to try something new in a beginner’s setting. He teaches students all about golf rules, the mechanics of a proper golf swing, as well as the dangers of standing too close to someone who is about to swing a club. 

Each hole – whether it’s 40 yards or 55 yards – is a par four. Caya said groups of students share a blue and a red club and they take turns using the clubs with the one furthest from the hole playing first.

“I’ve had a few kids get a birdie,” he said. “The grade 4/5 students got a score card one day to keep track of their overall score, but also to keep track of their putting. That way they can work towards two goals at once.  Since then the card has been optional, but even without the card the kids will let you know if they got a par or a birdie.

“Some of these kids have never played golf before,” Caya added. “I leave all of the equipment out during afternoon recess and some of the older kids play three or four holes. It’s been great for the kids to learn to follow the rules, to be more polite and pay attention to golfing etiquette.”

And if having a golf course in the school playground isn’t cool enough, Queen Elizabeth students have the chance to use a virtually new, innovative piece of equipment – an item invented and designed by Caya himself.

The BirTee is a tee that looks much like a badminton birdie but without the cork attached. Caya said golfers who use the BirTee have an easier time getting the right tee height as there is no sticking a tee into the ground. The tee sits on top of the ground, and since it’s available in a number of sizes, it’s customizable to each golfer and for any club. It’s also a great help for people who have back problems or have trouble bending over to push a tee in the ground, as well as for beginners who are learning to tee-up a ball.

Queen Elizabeth students couldn’t say enough positive comments about the new golf course and the opportunity to use the BirTees.

“We think it’s really fun,” said grade 4 student Taylor Gemmill.

“I haven’t seen any other school have a golf course,” agreed Tesha Krottner, grade 5. “We’re really lucky to have it here.”

The girls said that in only three short weeks they’ve come a long way as players.

“The first day we played we got the ball in the hole in nine shots,” said Krottner. “Today, I got a birdie.”

Gemmill said that she was excited to walk into Canadian Tire with her mom and show her Caya’s BirTees on the rack. In addition, Krottner said her grandmother used to have difficulty golfing but now, just by using the BirTees, she is able to golf comfortably again.

“It has been a lot of fun to observe the kids over the last few weeks; to see them have fun and improve so much, to see the older kids help out the younger ones and to see them play at recesses,” said Caya.  “I have seen a lot of funny bloopers, but also a lot of great shots from the grades 1-5 students and even from the JK-SK students.”

Ciocio said that the opportunity to learn about the game of golf in a rise-free environment is an incredible experience for students.

“For many of the children, this is their first exposure to the game and it has really piqued their interest,” she said. “I have also noticed an increased sense of school pride from the children as they talk about their school's golf course. They are quick to point out that they are the only students in the board who have this opportunity. 

“They are also very appreciative of Mr. Caya's efforts in maintaining the course,” she added. “A few of the older students have demonstrated a real knack for the game, and I've already warned them that I might be turning to them for some lessons before the year is done.”

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For more information please call:

Mario Caya

Teacher/BirTee Inventor

Queen Elizabeth Elementary School

613-267-2702