Jammo’s Club1Golf idea

“The answer is simple in my eyes,” the Melbourne-based highly credentialled PGA golf coach told the Yarrawonga Chronicle. “Golf is in trouble and I plan to try and help it make a resurgence.

“I believe a full set of clubs is a hurdle both financially and mentally and by going back to introducing golfers to clubs gradually at a lower cost we will encourage far more to take up the game. 

“This is the main driving force behind my new business www.1club.golf and early results have been even better than I could imagine.”

It’s as it says - golf with only one club used from start to finish doing away with the need to buy a set of clubs, bag and trolley, making it cheaper and easier to learn. 

It teaches people about the game before the technique, just like you would learn basketball or tennis. This helps avoid early drop out due to technical overload and perceived difficulty. 

Jamieson, popularly known as ‘Jammo’ was in Mulwala recently staying with father-in-law, local identity Paul Talbot. 

Jammo took his one club to Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort where he attracted interest by locals and visitors.

Jammo has coached the likes of Tour professionals Allenby, Lyle Y.E Yang, Fowler and others when previously living in the UK.

“As a kid I started with a 5iron which I learnt to hit with then gradually added more clubs as I needed or could afford, typically they came out of bargain barrels at public golf courses,” he said.

“When I joined Box Hill Golf Club, I had a mismatched half set consisting of a 2 wood (made of plastic) 4 wood 3,5,7,9 and SW as I improved, I added more. 

“The clubs I filled in with were Prosimmon V2s at $27.50 per iron and about $40 for a wood and I gradually built a matched set even replacing my original clubs. During my early days working as a Trainee and then coach we sold the Rapier Strategy for $35 per iron and about $45 for an alloy wood. 

“The strategy ran as a model for over 10 years, so building a matched set was never a problem and we would include a 7 iron into the first lesson so the new golfer had something to practise and play with. This was how it was done everywhere all be it with different brands and I personally can’t remember seeing a new golfer with a full set of clubs.  

“Years later when I came back to coaching beginners there were no individual clubs to be found unless you spent $150 per iron, and then the model disappeared within 12 months making filling out a set impossible. What is now available are package sets consisting of 14 clubs at a cost ranging from about $500 to $1000 dollars making it far more expensive to get into golf. Not only does having a full set make the game costly but it’s also unnecessarily confusing! What club do I play from here? 

“Sorry but until you can hit the ball near the middle of the clubface regularly it doesn’t matter what club you hit!”    

Jamieson said that top end private clubs are struggling. “Only four Melbourne clubs that I know of have waiting lists,” he reasoned. “Councils are closing golf courses to be used for things that are seen to be more beneficial to the public.”

He wants to see golf survive. “It’s a game played by people of all ages, keeps older people active in a physical, mental and social capacity, it’s a game that can be played on equal terms by people of multiple generations and abilities. It’s a game for life.” 

Whilst scoring can be an aspect of 1ClubGolf the aim is to enjoy the activity of golf at a brisk pace thus being great exercise and time effective in people’s busy lives.

YMGCR head professional Evan Droop believes the idea has merit. “Anything we can do to grow the game is good,” he said.

“It’s good – it grows the game which I think is fantastic. The concept is easy, very affordable and great fun.

“It’s good for families. Everyone can do this.”