Golfers with Discipline and Diligence
Student golfers of St. Patrick’s School are part of the prestigious Youth Golf Programme endorsed by the volunteer management committee of Youth Golf Network Ltd.
Our golfers benefit tremendously under the tutelage of a dedicated team of skilled golf professionals from SingaGolf Academy at Sembawang Golf Course.
Swinging back into action after the pandemic, Golf CCA showed great resilience on the fairway to clinch the 4th spots for both B Division and C Division in the National School Games Golf Team Championship 2022.
Mentally resilient in the pursuit of excellence, success is par for the course with our golfers!
Johnson Poh wins HSBC Youth Golf Challenge
Published on 3rd Dec 2009 | Red Sports by Les Tan
Eagle-eyed Leverett pursues his dream
Published on 11th Sep 2014 | AsiaOne by Terence Ong
For a long time, golf was merely another way for Leverett Chua to bond with his father. From the age of three, the 15-year-old Secondary 3 student at St Gabriel’s Secondary School watched TV coverage of professional golf with his father, offshore engineer Chua Geok Siong.
Two years ago, what was once a mere pastime fuelled his dream of representing Singapore in golf when he took up the sport seriously after entering St Gabriel’s.
Yesterday marked a significant step in the progression of that dream as Chua, a 6.6-handicapper, was crowned the overall individual champion (boys) of the Community Youth Golf Programme (CYGP) Inter-School League, which began in June.
In the three-leg league, he carded a 13-over 81, five-over 59 and one-over 74 at the Changi Country Club, National Service Resort and Country Club Safra course and Orchid Country Club respectively.
After the final leg yesterday, he also earned the Tay Cheng Khoon Eagle award. Instituted in 2007, it honours the late Straits Times sports editor who succumbed to cancer that year.
Previous winners of the award – given not just to those who excel on the greens but also display the right attitude, discipline and perseverance – include dual 2009 SEA Games medallist Johnson Poh, his younger sister Joey Poh and Kok Jo Ee.
It was not given out last year, said CYGP chairman Dr Janice Khoo, as no one fitted the criteria.
This year, Chua – who was one of three golfers in the programme mentored by local professional golfer Mardan Mamat – stood out for his performances both on and off the golf course.
Said Dr Khoo: “Chua projected the values that (exemplified) a good sportsperson and role model that other people in the programme can look up to.
“Even after winning the award, he remains humble and well-liked among his friends, which is what we like to see in our members.”
Added David Soh, captain of Raffles Country Club, where Chua was given free access to the facilities to hone his skills during the programme: “He has a level of maturity unlike his peers when it comes to recovering from mistakes, which is important if he wants to be a successful professional.”
For Chua, who represented his primary school in basketball for three years, the award is validation that he is heading in the right direction.
“I’m honoured to receive it,” he said. “It will spur me on to work harder so I can make the national developmental squad in my first step to achieving my dream.”
Golf: Three youths to benefit from training under Mardan
Published on 13th Jun 2013 | The New Paper by Godfrey Robert
Mardan Mamat, Singapore’s No. 1 pro, showing Leverett Chua, Joey Poh and Muhd Syabil the finer points of putting.
SINGAPORE – Three promising youngsters will benefit from the Youth Golf Programme-Mardan Adoption Scheme, an initiative of the Youth Golf Network Limited.
The three are Joey Poh, who completed her diploma in sports management and exercise science at the Sports School, Leverett Chua, a Secondary 2 student of St Gabriel’s Secondary School, and Muhd Syabil Abdul Kadir, a Secondary 4 student at Montford Secondary.
The trio will will be adopted by Raffles Country Club, where Singapore’s No. 1 Mardan Mamat is a club professional.
At a press conference at National Service Resort and Country Club (Changi), Youth Golf Network’s chairman Dr Janice Khoo said: “Mardan is a shining light for the youths. He is Singapore’s home-grown professional who has risen from the ranks of a caddie to be an international champion.
“I thank Mardan for his presence here, and he is happy to do something for the less fortunate.
“To date we have trained some 4,400 students from schools that offer golf as a Co-Curricular Activity.”
Of the three selected, Joey, 19, who started playing golf at the age of nine, comes with impressive credentials.
Daughter of teaching pro Poh Ah Hai, she was in the Singapore team for the Queen Sirikit Cup in 2010 and 2011, and played in the HSBC Women’s Champions at Tanah Merah’s Garden course in 2009 and 2010.
Mardan is impressed with her compact swing style and would like to take her game to a new level.
Leverett, 14, started golf at the age of three and attained a handicap index of 21 last year.
A member of Pulai Springs where he competes every weekend, he hopes to join the Victoria Junior College golf team and then aspire to be in the national team.
Syabil, 15, who plays off a handicap index of 22, idolises Mardan and wants to emulate him.
According to pro Ian Sim, Syabil is “a very earnest and attentive student who displays readiness and preparedness during lessons. He is very responsible and courteous.”
Mardan said: “I’m impressed with the three youngsters, and I believe they have good potential. As a kid, I had help from many people. I want to give back to the golf community as my way of saying ‘thank you’ for all the support I have had.”
Mardan will help the three players, mostly on Saturdays, and on weekdays when he is free.
Facebook Entry – Hai Sing Catholic School
Published on 30th Nov 2022 | Facebook Page by Hai Sing Catholic School
The Golf CCA in Hai Sing has a close partnership with the Youth Golf Network (YGN), which seeks to develop golfing talents amongst the youth in Singapore.
Our golfers are exposed to professional training under experienced coaches and also through various competitions, where many of our golfers have won various awards at their respective levels.
Our school also participates at the National School Games (NSG) annually, where our most experienced players pit against the best players across the nation.
Local Junior Golf gets $240K shot in arm
Published on 11th Oct 2017 | Strait Times by Lester Wong
SINGAPORE – With greater focus being placed on developing junior golf in Singapore, the role of the Youth Golf Programme (YGP) has become increasingly important in the local scene.
It will compliment the efforts of the Singapore Golf Association (SGA), which this year formed a new junior squad for golfers aged nine to 14, noted former national golfer and YGP alumni Joey Poh.
The 24-year-old added: “The YGP helps that effort by expanding the player base and allowing for more talent to be spotted.”
She and fellow YGP alumnus Leverett Chua took part in Wednesday’s (Oct 11) fundraiser held at Sentosa Golf Cub by the Youth Golf Network, which manages the YGP.
More than $240,000 was raised and the funds will help cover the costs of professional training for the students and the organisation of the Community Youth Golf League, an annual three-leg competition involving the scheme’s member schools.
The SGA is organising its inaugural Junior Golf Day next month, featuring a nine-hole tournament for current and prospective junior squad members.
“I’m quite happy to see more initiatives for junior golf here. During my time there were not so many and I mostly competed in amateur tournaments overseas,” said Chua, 18, who is currently studying at Singapore Polytechnic but has plans to turn pro eventually.
“So to be able to start (competing) in Singapore will definitely help golfers improve from a younger age.”
The YGP, which is into its 21st year, is the brainchild of the late Tay Cheng Khoon, former sports editor of The Straits Times.
It was started in 1997 to introduce youngsters without the means to own golf club memberships to the sport and has benefited close to 5,000 students since its inception.
Among its alumni included recent SEA Games men’s team champion Joshua Shou, multiple Games medallist Koh Sock Hwee and touring pro Johnson Poh.
Said YGP chairman Janice Khoo: “You can see the difference in those who have graduated and matured. They have made golf a part of their lives.”
