Golf fever in Carnarvon: how a small town is shaping its next generation through golf

In the small, tight-knit town of Carnarvon, a new kind of fever has hit – and it’s not what you might expect. Rather than Rieldancers or soccer, it is golf that is taking over the fields and greens here. Weekends at the local course now hum with the sound of young golfers perfecting their swings, their parents watching proudly, and seasoned golf professional Clive Korope offering coaching and life skills.

What’s happening in Carnarvon is not just about sport; it is about fostering a new generation equipped with life skills, confidence, and focus. In this town, golf has quickly become a way for kids to grow – and for the community to invest in their future.

Just a year ago, golf was hardly a blip on the radar for most families here. That all changed when SARAO teamed up with the Clive Korope Golf Academy to launch a youth golf initiative programme. The idea started small – a few Saturday clinics, a handful of kids learning to hold clubs and gauge distances. However, something surprising happened. By the end of the winter, “golf fever” had swept through the town, sparking a new excitement for the game.

Now, each season brings more kids to the greens, and golf has become a popular after-school activity. What began as a casual weekend activity has grown into something the whole town supports, with sponsors for tournaments, coaches stepping up to mentor. Carnarvon has gone all-in on golf, and the kids are loving it.

Beyond the swings and scorecards, golf is offering young people lessons they won’t find in a classroom. It’s more than just a game – ask any coach, and they’ll tell you it’s about patience, precision, and mental resilience. Kids are learning how to handle the highs and lows: the thrill of a great shot, the frustration of a missed putt, and the determination to come back stronger the next time.

Four of Carnarvon Golf Club’s budding young players:
1. Johnlyn Reuters, age, 12 handicap 13
2. Revano de Wee, age 12, handicap 16
3. Juvohn Visser, age 13, handicap 26
4. Juan Alexander, age 15, handicap 26

The success of youth golf in Carnarvon isn’t just due to the kids’ enthusiasm – it’s the whole community rallying behind them. Local businesses, like MVD Kalahari Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers, have sponsored the kids’ tournaments. We have the support from MEC Bentley Vass as well as renowned golf coach and South African golf player Val Holland who has assisted the kids through sponsoring golf shoes and previously owned equipment. So too has the Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour Thomas Abt as well as former CEO Ivano Ficalbi showed their support over the past year. The SKAO has supported the kids with catering and refreshments when most needed, playing golf under the blistering sun. Families are proud of their youngsters, and Carnarvon Golf Club has allowed all committed and budding young golfers access to the golf course at no additional costs. There’s a shared pride here: by investing in the next generation of golfers, SARAO in collaboration with the Clive Korope Golf Academy is building a future for everyone.

Just ask Coach Clive, who’s been mentoring young players for the last year. “It’s been incredible to see how golf has brought us all together,” he says. “There’s something special about watching these kids grow on and off the green.”
As collaboratively SARAO, SKAO, corporates and government continues to nurture its young golfers, the town itself is reaping the benefits. Golf has brought this community together and given young people skills they can carry into every part of their lives. Here, golf fever isn’t just a passing trend – it’s a foundation for a generation that’s growing up strong, disciplined, and resilient.

So, next time you’re near Carnarvon, don’t be surprised if you see a new crop of young golfers perfecting their swing. They’re learning more than just a sport; they’re learning how to approach life with confidence, patience, and a whole lot of heart.

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