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In a regional South Australian community the number of junior golfers making their mark on clubs and competitions, both locally and further afield, is increasing.
Paul Efthimiou, 14, started playing in the Riverland three years ago but is already a junior golf veteran.
He was named the men's champion at the recent Barmera Spring Classic after going up against some competitors more than twice or three times his age.
Paul was first introduced to the world of golf through his dad, Jim, and spent many casual Sundays on the local greens for "a bit of fun" before taking it up seriously.
Paul Efthimiou sees himself playing golf into the future and potentially becoming a professional. (ABC Riverland: Elyse Armanini)
"I just really enjoyed it from the start," Paul says.
"I can definitely see myself in the future in Adelaide … trying to make it bigger in life."
Paul is among a growing number of young people taking up the sport, a phenomenon a golf coach in the Riverland did not see coming.
Juniors taking a swing
Golf Australia data from 2022 to 2023 found the number of golfers aged 18 or younger participating in competition rounds increased by 39 per cent.
PGA professional Jamie Clutterham has worked and played in the golf industry, in both regional and metropolitan areas, for more than 30 years.
Jamie Clutterham says the popularity of golf is as strong as he has seen in his 30-plus years with the sport. (ABC Riverland: Elyse Armanini)
He says junior golf in regional South Australia is going "from strength to strength".
"People have got excited with the game and enthusiastic and they're out there spreading the word, getting kids and more people involved," he says.
The Riverland's Jericho family has passed on the passion for golf for generations, according to 16-year-old Sam Jericho.
Sam Jericho takes a shot from the bunker during the 2024 Barmera Spring Classic. (Supplied: Grant Schwartzkopff)
Sam says he enjoys golf because of its "self-dependent" playing style and appreciates the choice of quality courses around South Australia.
"We're very lucky to be in the Riverland with the golf courses we have, but the best course I've played is probably Glenelg in Adelaide," he says.
"I definitely have future goals that I want to achieve in golf, but whether that's professional down the line — we'll have to wait and see."
Maicey Hughes, Sam Jericho, Ellie Hughes, and Paul Efthimiou are junior golfers working on their skills in the Riverland. (ABC Riverland: Elyse Armanini)
It is not just young Riverland men excelling in competitions and improving their skills — sisters Maicey and Ellie Hughes, of Berri, have both tasted recent success on the greens.
Ellie, 12, won gold in the country championships at a South Australian under 12s school golf event in September while Maicey, 13, was crowned champion at the Port Augusta Junior Open over 18 holes — just ahead of Ellie's runner-up position.
Golf boom continues
The number of people taking up golf boomed during COVID restrictions, but the participation level has remained high.
An Ausplay COVID review in October 2023 showed an additional 311,000 men had started and kept a sustained level of golf play since 2018-19.
"People invested in golf through that time and, I think, played themselves into a habit of enjoying golf, which is great for the game," Mr Clutterham says.
"Along with that came LIV Golf … and for that to complement the COVID boom is a huge reason that it has continued to grow."
The Riverland is becoming increasingly known for its golf courses. (Supplied: Grant Schwartzkopff)
The positive impact of events like LIV Golf is a sentiment shared by the budding professionals in the Riverland.
"Just having golf like that, with pros at that level and juniors watching it, makes a big difference," Paul says.
"[It] gets a lot more people out on the course just trying to do what they can do."
Golf participation levels boomed during COVID-19 restrictions and continue to rise across the country. (ABC Riverland: Elyse Armanini)
Future generation of pro golfers
Mr Clutterham says public perception of the sport being a retiree's game is changing.
"In years gone by, golf's just been seen as an 18-hole sport out on the golf course — today there are all forms of golf," he says.
"There's a lot of golf activity that is non-traditional going on and that's reaching a broader range of society."
He says this includes mini golf, indoor golf with simulators, and shorter rounds.
More than 20 Riverland junior golfers attended a recent workshop held by Jamie Clutterham in Loxton. (Supplied: Jamie Clutterham)
The current golf landscape, and the "raw talent" showcased by junior golfers in the Riverland, leaves Mr Clutterham excited about South Australia's future generation of golfers.
"Kids are now not having to be coerced into the game; they are actually coming into the game off their own energy," he says.
"It's up to us in the industry to put together programs that are inviting to get out and play and get them excited to come back."