Golf professional Ben Patten and trainee Cooper Gentle are in charge of the 20-strong group of women, who are either golf novices or are returning to the sport after a lengthy lay-off.
The women have started their golfing lessons on the driving range, like many of us, trying to direct the often uncooperative ball toward the targets.
In the opening two weeks of the program they are learning some of the basics, then enjoying the equally popular social side of the sport in the clubhouse.
Next week the group will be tackling the greens and during week four the aim is to have them on course tackling a couple of holes.
Week five is learning about golf etiquette and the rules, an important component of the sport often flaunted by its participants.
Then the last week will potentially have them tackling the course on a more serious basis.
A couple of the participants started learning golf earlier in their lives, but haven’t followed up on the sport due to family or work commitments.
There were a few fresh air swings to start, which was one of the topics of discussion in the relaxed “sipping” format of the program on completion of the hour-long lesson.
One participant whose backyard leads directly onto the course decided since she now had a solid collection of golf balls she may as well learn how to play.
Participants in the Chip and Sip program are from Echuca, Kyabram, Bamawm and most other hamlets in the Campaspe Shire.
One of the women has even gone out and bought herself a new set of clubs.
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