Australian Capital Territory, Monaro
The Territory
The ACT Monaro District includes 10 clubs in the ACT and 15 clubs in the surrounding Monaro region. All clubs have junior membership and welcome junior players. There are many very good golfers from this region playing nationally and internationally as amateurs and professionals.
The district is located in the southern tablelands, ACT and high country NSW. We are known for our hot dry summers, delightful autumn's and spring's and very cold winters. It is not uncommon to contend with sun, rain, hail and snow in the one round of golf, which is character building for golfers in our territory. Autumn is a lovely time to play golf in this region with brisk early mornings, warm sunny days and beautiful lcolours on the trees. The air is usually still, clear and fresh.
In our district we have the South East Region Academy of Sport (SERAS) and the ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS).
The Manager- Luke Grinham
I started playing Golf at the Coffs Harbour Golf Club in 1998 after injuring my knee playing rugby union. As a youngster I loved playing with my friends socially, before deciding to play competitively. I was a regular on the JNJG circuit traveling all over the state striving to be the best I could be while enjoying the mateship and comradery.
I began learning about the golf industry when I started working in the Pro Shop and Cart Barn on the weekends as a teenager at the Coffs Harbour Golf Club. I was a member of the Coffs Harbour Golf Club before I moved out to the Bonville Golf Resort where I won the Club Championships in 2001. I continued to work at the Bonville Golf Resort in the Cart Shed on weekends.
After completing my HSC I worked very hard on my game and was approached by some American colleges to further my career internationally. I decided to move to North Carolina in 2002 to play for Campbell University. I graduated with a degree in Business, Majoring in Professional Golf Management with a Minor in marketing. I was the captain of this team in my final year and enjoyed the entire experience very much.
I decided to stay in America for a few years continuing to play while working at a facility in Raleigh, North Carolina. I had a great deal of success in my career over the next couple of years becoming a Head Professional and Director of Golf before moving back to Coffs Harbour in 2007.
In 2008 I began my PGA traineeship at the Coffs Harbour Golf Club under Matthew Allen. Once I had completed this I had a brief stint on the NSW PGA Pro Am circuit winning the Yowani Pro/AM in 2012.
I moved down the coast to the Mollymook Golf Club as the Assistant Golf Professional and took the Head Professional role for an interim period while continue to travel and play in some events as my passion for playing was still very much there.
I took up the role at JNJG when Troon Golf took over the running of the Mollymook Golf Course operation. It was perfect timing for me as I was able to take the reins and continue to support junior golf in the territory where I lived.
I continue to thoroughly enjoy the role as it gives me the opportunity to work with the next generation of golfers, I feel I am able to make a difference in junior golf in NSW and Australia. I still remember my time as a junior and believes JNJG has gone from strength to strength. I look forward to working for them for many years to come.