Young golfers chip away at professional dream at City of Sydney Junior Open Championships

MARK Twain described golf as a good walk spoiled but try explaining that to the budding young stars at Bondi Golf Club.

Junior Golf

MARK Twain described golf as a good walk spoiled but try explaining that to the budding young stars at Bondi Golf Club.

Scores of golfers aged five to 17 took to the course earlier this month for the annual City of Sydney Junior Open Championships, hitting drives and sinking putts that put some older players to shame.

Bondi Golf Club manager Liane Moloney said the competition had boomed at the North Bondi club since the girls and boys event combined four years ago.

"Players come from across Sydney and as far away as Coffs Harbour, Moree and Port Kembla to play here," she said.

"A number of players who have taken part in this junior tournament have joined the professional ranks including Aron Place, who competed in 1997 and was a member of the PGA tour in 2009.

"The girls have succeeded too Sarah Kemp, who won the 2000 Bondi competition and broke the Bondi record, turned professional in 2005."

If you're at the Bondi club, watch out for 10-year-old wunderkind Karl Vilips. Two years ago, the youngster won the Bondi net event and has since taken out consecutive US Kids World Championships.