Canford School can boast the best on-site school golf course in the country and, together with the adjoining facilities at Canford Magna, the finest schools' golfing facilities in Europe. This is a bold claim but justified by the fact that, in addition to our own excellent nine hole course, we have ready access to two eighteen hole courses, a par three academy course, an extensive driving range, indoor and outdoor putting areas and five PGA coaches!
The squad is directed by Chris Jervis, assisted by two other staff, Neil Watkins and Steve Ronaldson. With a dozen or more single-figure golfers in the school, it is possible to field a team of players with sub-six handicaps. Virtually all matches are played off scratch and the school has, for the past ten years, consistently won virtually all their games against some of the most prestigious independent schools in the country. In particular, we have been the South of England Foursomes Champions for four of the last five years, the National Foursomes Champions in 2004 and the West of England Singles Champions in 2005.
Our golf team has established a number of overseas links. We are twinned with Racing Club de Paris, the French National Champions based at La Bouile, Versaille and play them home and away each year. We compete in the International Schools' Tournament at Sun City, South Africa and we have established links with a number of American Universities who offer golf scholarships. Added to this, Canford teams have played in recent years in Ireland, Spain, Portugal, America, Dubai and France. Two recent highlights have been securing a drawn match against the USA schools' team and defeating the Emerites junior team in Dubai.
School golfers have gained invaluable experience in recent years by running some leader boards at The Open Championship. These experiences were both enjoyable and inspirational for the pupil golfers.
When numbers permit, we field �B' and �C' teams and junior teams as well. There are ample opportunities for beginners and intermediate standard golfers at Canford and instruction with PGA coaches can be readily organised. The school golf is keenly supported by a thriving Old Canfordian Golfing Society into which our leavers progress.
For anyone who is serious about golf, Canford has become an obvious school to consider and for many, a school of first choice. |