Having enjoyed a successful career on the PGA Tour of Australia, as well as the Gateway Tour in America, Patten is now a golf coach, and is guiding junior golfers at both Echuca Back 9 and Kyabram Valley View with a fun and exciting program.
“I just want to get as many kids into the game as I possibly can,” he said.
“I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and it’s just good to see the kids come each week and you see the progression of them and that’s probably most exciting part, seeing them get better.
“And seeing the older ones come back and they want to get into that comp stuff, not just the clinics, but start to play more competitive golf.
“That’s probably what drives me just to progress them from five-year-olds here tonight up to 13-year-olds, so it’s good fun.”
The clinics have been a hit with kids, who continue to turn up in huge numbers during the school term for a weekly session with Ben.
“I’ve got 28 here at the back nine, and I’ve got 22 at Valley View each week, so that’s for seven weeks,” he said.
“That’s (50) kids over two nights a week, so it’s good numbers I feel, you know to get 50 kids in a term, it’s good.
“And they keep coming back, the ones that I had last term have come back and brought friends with them.”
The program is designed to keep the juniors engaged while also mastering basic motor pattern skills, while slowly introducing them to the game of golf.
“We do some movement stuff first, like skipping, jumping, hopping, throwing, just that bare basic motor pattern skills, then we get in and hit some golf balls,” Patten said.
“Especially for the younger ones, just learning how to catch and throw and kick, a lot are on tablets and computer games now, so it’s nice to see them outside throwing balls around.
“Then we’ll go into those bare basics of what golf is, and then we get out on the course and just try and mix it up each week, try and keep them moving, and no week is the same, which helps bring them back.”
Purchasing the required equipment can be a big barrier to overcome for those getting into golf, however the program provides a starting pack for kids involved, which includes all the necessary bits and pieces for a beginner.
“Paul Jackson from Gravity Shack was kind enough to jump on board for 12 months of sponsorship for Ben Patten golf clinics,” Patten said.
“That gave them (the kids) a gift pack, which has got vouchers from Gravity Shack, Frinkle, we’ve got a golf club in there, there’s some balls, there’s a hat, everything they need just to be able to practice at home.
“They’ll bring that golf club each week, and it’s the same golf club instead of them just getting a different club each week, they’ve got their own, which is a great thing.
“It wouldn’t have happened without Paul and Gravity Shack, we wouldn’t have even come close to having that without him, so very grateful for him.
“And even Sarah (Peake) to allow us to do this here (at Echuca Back 9). She has been so accommodating of everyone here, and every kid gets a free membership for 12 months here, so that allows them to come and play and use these facilities for the next 12 months for free.”
Ben Patten junior golf clinics run for seven weeks during the school terms, from 4pm on Wednesdays at Echuca Back 9 and 1pm on Sundays at Kyabram Valley View.
To find out more, or to secure a spot in the clinic, visit benpattengolf.com.au or head to golf.org.au/mygolf.
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