Just Do It! Sporting Excellence

Whether your child wants to be the next Minjee Lee or Novak Djokovic, DB’s after-school sports programmes have you covered

REPORTING BY

Raphael Blet

PHOTOS COURTESY OF

HKR & by Raphael Blet

Habits formed in childhood often last a lifetime, which is one of the reasons we encourage our kids to get into spor t at an early age. A passion for sport (any sport) can set children up for a bright future as it helps with both physical and social development, while encouraging the individual to learn essential life skills. Whatever sports your kids are into, you can find a top-notch coaching programme for them right here in DB. There are plenty of classes available both after school and at weekends. This issue we’re focusing on two very different sports – golf and tennis – and the tuition provided at Discovery Bay Golf Club (DBGC) and Discovery Bay Residents Club (DBRC).

WHERE GOLF LEGENDS ARE MADE

For the past 12 years, Discovery Bay Golf Club (www.dbgc.hk) has been making golf available to DB kids through its Junior Nurturing Programme. “Our club has long been dedicated to nurturing young and talented golfers,” opens General Manager Eddie Chan. “In 2010, we adjusted the minimum age for on course playing from 10 years to six, to promote golf to the next generation.” DBGC’s Junior Nurturing Programme gives young players an opportunity to make it to the next level through weekly practices and golf clinics. Lessons for children aged six years and above are led by PGA professional Michael Stewart Long, who is currently celebrating 15 years at the club. After-school classes run Monday through Friday on the DBGC’s covered range, bunker and practice putting greens. Similarly, DBGC’s annual summer golf camp is open to kids aged six to 16, with beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons provided. Kids start out by learning golf etiquette, safety and swing techniques, and get to play short games. While young players benefit from DBGC’s tailored coaching programme and world-class facilities (there are three, nine-hole golf courses, Diamond, Jade and Ruby), they also benefit from the club’s strong ties to the local golfing community. “DBGC collaborates with various golf professional bodies to offer opportunities for the juniors to participate in tournaments, thereby growing their skills by practical experience,” Eddie says. “Through these initiatives, DBGC has nurtured a talented junior team, and the team members have obtained outstanding results in local tournaments organised by the Hong Kong Golf Association.” Exemplifying the success of DBGC’s Junior Nurturing Programme are award-winning, homegrown golfers Taichi Kho and Shinichi Mizuno, both of whom got their first taste of golf at the club. DBGC has witnessed the professional development of Taichi and Shinichi from junior golfers to elite national team players. Indeed, Taichi is now the highest ranked amateur golfer in Hong Kong. As the runner-up in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship 2021, Taichi earned a berth in the qualifying series of The Open in July this year; he was the first Hong Kong golfer to do so. “What I have accomplished is truly a whole team effort; I am grateful because I got the privileges and facilities and the support from everyone at DBGC,” says Taichi, whose first memory of golf is playing nine holes on Ruby. “Being able to play in these professional tournaments has given me a great sense of belonging. It is such an honour to be representing Hong Kong and I look forward to more tournaments in the future.” “When I first started playing golf in DB, we were the only two juniors: Taichi and me,” Shinichi adds. “Nowadays, you see so many young talents at the club. I feel like DBGC helps young talents develop their game – the coaches are great; the facilities are great. It motivates me to see these kids look up to us. As one of the seniors, it’s now my duty to help them succeed.”

HOME OF TENNIS ACES

Discovery Bay Residents Club (www.dbrc.hk) is well-known for its Junior Tennis Programme, which provides kids aged age three to 11+ with top level coaching and access to 11 courts (eight hard courts and three artificial glass courts). Morning and afternoon sessions are on offer Monday to Friday, with additional Saturday morning classes. The small group lessons last from 30 minutes to one hour, and kids are taught by the same coach each week. When teaching young children, DBRC coaches use a ‘Learn to Play, Play to Learn’ philosophy. The priority is that children have fun playing tennis, as they are more likely to succeed and commit to the sport if they enjoy it. Following the International Tennis Federation mini tennis guidelines, DBRC coaches use modified tennis equipment, such as decompressed balls, smaller rackets and smaller courts for youngsters in order to make tennis more ‘playable’ for them. As they develop and grow, kids move through the junior coaching pathway from red ball to orange, green and finally yellow-ball tennis. This ensures that players develop a good foundation, both technically and emotionally, to allow them to thrive and enjoy the sport for life. The Junior Tennis Programme is an important conduit for kids who aspire to play for DBRC in the Hong Kong Tennis Association (HKTA) Junior Leagues. Entry is based on ability so there is no lower age limit – the youngest player currently playing for DBRC in the HKTA Autumn Junior League is just 10 years old. DBRC habitually fields three teams in both the HKTA Spring and Autumn Junior Leagues: Division A (18 and Under), Division B (14 and Under) and Division C (12 and Under). In recent years, DBRC has won both the Autumn 2020 Junior League (Division C) and Spring 2021 Junior League (Division C). Given the standard of coaching available, it’s no surprise that many DBRC Junior Team players go on to play for the club in the big adult leagues organised by HKTA and Hong Kong Ladies Tennis League (HKLTL). Such players include Anderson Chan, and siblings Florian and Alexandra Hedreul, and Hubert and Adrian Leung. That DBRC’s Junior Tennis Programme has spawned star club players is exemplified by the Loeffler family: Bruno Loeffler played on the DBRC Men’s A+ team and has been the DBRC Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles Champion. Carl Loeffler played on the DBRC Men’s A team and has been the DBRC Men’s Singles Champion and Men’s Doubles Runner Up. Emma Loeffler played on the DBRC Ladies Premier and A teams and has been the DBRC Ladies’ Singles Champion and Ladies’ Doubles Runner Up. Further success stories include DBRC Junior Team players who have been selected to join the Hong Kong national programme and/ or play for the national team. Sisters Erica and Naomi Hagi are both in the Hong Kong tennis team and Hong Kong National Programme. Parth Sane and Carl Loeffler are also currently in the Hong Kong National Programme. Meanwhile, former Junior Team players Sean Walter and Natalia Peyon have gone on to train at prestigious tennis schools overseas. Sean attends the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Natalia the Altitude Academies in Florida, where she trains with Coach Gabe Jaramillo, who has honed the talents of world class players like Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Pete Sampras, Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova.