And in a way, that’s kind of what this is. Though not exactly.

Let me explain.

At the weekend I received a text message from a mate, a proud dad of golf loving 12-year-old Harrison.

Loosely, the youngster had been given a writing assignment ahead of starting high school next year. The topic was his to choose and he chose golf.

The text is reproduced below and his dad was rightly chuffed by it.

Harrison, as kids so often seem able, captures the very essence of golf with a brilliant simplicity generally beyond the likes of ‘professional’ adult scribblers like me.

In his 394 words Harrison manages to evoke almost all of the emotions every golfer will identify with.

Yet there is almost no mention of professional golf and certainly nothing about the turmoil surrounding the top of the men’s game.

It is ‘golf for golf’s sake’, the best kind of all.

The reason I offer it as my ‘Year in Review’ is because in 2023, more than ever, I found myself seeking out these types of stories to offset the disquiet caused by a group of multi-millionaires reducing the game to arguments about money.

And also to remind myself that, tiring as it can be, continuing to oppose those who campaign to have golf removed from our public spaces is worth the effort because the return on that investment is the lifelong joy the game can bring a kid like Harrison.

So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and all that and may we all remember what golf means to us as we set out on the adventure that is 2024.

(And special thanks to Harrison for saving me having to write my own column this week!)

Name: Harrison
Year level: Year 6
Task: Task E Persuasive (Years 7-8)
Overall criteria score: -/28
Date: 09/06/2023 11:05
Student response

Whoosh! The breeze glides past you face as you tee up the ball. It’s the 18th hole, if you make birdie you will win the Masters. This is the suspense you will face when playing my favourite sport, golf. Golf has been played for hundreds of years, and here are some of the reasons people still play it today.

First of all, golf has a very steep learning curve which mean you will always have another goal to reach. Golf is a quite linier sport with a very high skill ceiling so there is always room to improve. This is demonstrated by the top golfers because even they are still getting better every day. This shows even the best still have goals they want to reach.

Although golf can be played alone it is much more exiting with friends or family. You might think golf is an individual sport but if you have ever played golf with your family or with some mates you understand that couldn't be further from the truth.

Golf has introduced systems that allow, and encourage golf to be played with others. Such as the handicap system which allows people of different skill levels to have an even matchup. So now if I ask you, is golf an individual sport? What’s your response?

Furthermore golf might not seem like a very good sport for exercise but just because you don’t sprint, leap, or kick that doesn’t mean that golf won't keep you fit. Golf keeps you fit, just not like other sports in golf you get exercise from walking and smacking the ball.

Walking might not sound athletic but doctors say that walking especially on an incline is ideal for fat burning because this has a slower release of energy which increases fat burned. Also, you probably think that a golf swing is all in the arms but you actually use your hips and legs to. So in golf you might not run jump or punch but that doesn't mean it isn't athletic.

After you think about the perfect shot you swing the club back focusing on the ball then crack down with all your force to send the ball flying down the fairway. Now your one step closer to wining the Masters but I think it’s your turn to swing the club for yourself after you have read this.