Beyond the headlines, there is also a deeper story – of a club, and a sport, trying to make sure the next generation of talented teens are already on the greens.

“Obviously Bart Carroll’s the standout at the moment having won the club championship,” Country Club professional, Kurt Stegbauer says.

“He’s exceptionally talented but there’s a lot of kids like these ones in our development squad. They’re around the teen handicaps, low 20s, and some of them are 12, 13, so they’re just going to continue to develop.”

Stegbauer coaches the development squad during the week and on Saturday afternoons takes a ‘cubs and cadets’ program for five- to 12-year-olds.

“We’ve got some kids in the cubs program who are awesome – they stand up there and give it a good whack and you can see they’ve already got that skills set,” he says.

Stegbauer says when it comes to children, golf needs to be a three-letter game not a four-letter word.

“We need to teach the golf game to kids in a way that they understand golf – which is keeping it fun,” he says.

“The best thing you can do for kids who want to get into golf is give them a club and some balls and say, ‘There you go – have some fun,’ not fill them up with all the dos and all the don’ts.”

If that sounds obvious, ask cricket administrators or anyone involved in sports which have adjusted junior rules to make it less serious.

“There’s still a bit of that culture to try to make them conform to the older guys,” Stegbauer says. “But one thing I always say to the parents is that kids can’t understand the game the way that they do.”

The golfers in the development squad are honing their skills and learning the art of golf – to minimise the frustration and maximise satisfaction.

“You can get really frustrated but then you just have to keep on going,” Harpley says. “Keep playing and keep trying to work on what you think’s good.”

He’s off a handicap of 15. So too is 12-year-old Josie Currie who enjoys  it’s an individual sport but there’s almost always someone to talk to and learn from in your playing group. 

The development squad training program mixes up short game, long game, and on-the-course sessions but even for those getting serious, it’s more than just practicing their swing.

“It’s really about sharpening all aspects of their game, even their mental approach, diet,” Stegbauer says. “It’s not just hitting golf balls but how they play the game… etiquette and manners, it’s not just about golf.”

In time, it’s also about hard work and attitude. Something they can see first-hand from the teen who won the club title last month.

“Bart’s a great role model… he’s obviously very talented but he’s got a good work ethic,” Stegbauer says.

“He’ll be here most afternoons and I’ve even spotted him out here some mornings, practicing at 6.30am, and that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Stegbauer came to Wagga at the beginning of the year. He said he enjoys coaching all ages, but is keen to introduce more youngsters to a game he loves. 

“It’s the future of our game and we’ve got to look after it and we’ve got to develop it,” he says.

“The good thing here is the club’s already got a strong little nursery. I just want to try and grow it, make it bigger, make it better and help the kids out.”

A 22-year-old, Cameron Davis, claimed the Australian Open last week. This week’s Australian PGA championship is headlined by Sergio Garcia, a one-time child prodigy who was the youngest player to make the cut at a European Tour event when he was just 16.

Stegbauer says youth can have its advantages in competition.

“They don't have the experience that a tour player has but often that can be overcome with good strategies, a good short game. And they’re just fearless, these young kids.”