Panta rei :
Constant and Eternal Flux “All Things are Flowing” “Golf and School Project” Globalisation of an Elite Sport.
Renata Freccero, Pr. History of P.E. at S.U.I.S.M. University of Turin Italy
•
Amongst the first throwing archetypes of swings, the mind ‘s eye goes back to the gesture depicted by Myron’s Discobolus, simple when observed as a whole, of no
easy interpretation if observed through “the eyes of intelligence”
The perfection of the throw in itself represents
the “mimesis” proposed to the masses of the first
European civilizations, through models
i.e. the “Discobolus” envisages the evolution of
the Greek train of thought.
It can be seen as a huge bow, about to be
tightened
ready to shoot out into distances
beyond boundaries yet to be reached.
The arc traces from the hand holding the discus,
downwards, to the heel of the flexed foot
The pent-up forces within the athletic gesture an inner spiral of a potential energy.
A vertical line from the head to the heel
of the prone foot toe pressing on ground ready! Strength is controlled through
a balance of identical ….. and opposing forces
The body flexes and moves “Balance” is restored!
• If we hold our right arm out to the
side of our body, our “weights” are
no longer symmetrical with our
vertical point, they create
We naturally move our right leg outwards so as
to balance out the weight of the arm we have
moved to the left.
In this case equilibrium is not so much a lack of
strength or force, but rather the sum of forces
that already exist, converging with one another,
forming a balancing force, enabling the body to
remain in
Being able to conceive and envisage this model
of extraordinary physical equilibrium
corresponds to the passage that coincides
with the transition to the flourishing of the
Greek train of thought
Movement represents one of the most important
means of adaptability through which man has
progressed
The cult of ingenuity, creativity, imagination
Elements at the basis of the reassessment of
technique as an element that coincides with
European culture, at the beginning of the modern era, amidst religions laity and economic crisis, created baroque
Worldly values, the fantasy of the metaphor, imagination and the bizarre the spell exerted by vision and nature
The sport gesture at the basis of the British Industrial Revolution, is tied to high rules that have exceeded even the Aristotelian Organ
(or Aristolelium logic)
Francis Bacon wrote “Novum Organum” expressing new thoughts
that were intellectually accessible only to an “elite” sector of society through a new phenomena
the search for a
According to this logic, the new athletic gesture
responds to applicative criteria that differ from
those of the past.
Modern bodies are isochronous, perfect
mechanisms not “perfection”
The new “perfection” could be achieved only if
dictated by
virtue and beauty!
The rules that governed golf were stipulated in 1754 by members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club-
St. Andrews defining the basic rules of the modern sport
regulating balls clubs and holes
The 17th century marks the period of respect for time and performance of
New Science
of the Method Human Mechanics apply to gestures
invent sport
Uniforms identified club members
as in other sports of the day
St. Andrews uniform was a red jacket
with yellow buttons
and a ‘frock’ of buff, with a red cap
It was St. Andrews which received the
crown’s stamp of approval
Motion Aristotelian Physics had been once and for all
substituted by mechanics, just as Galenical bodies had been exceeded by new anatomy and surgery.
The clock was a machinery for a happy few, useful to mark time and work.
The mechanism that represented the vague was the pendulum clock, based on the steadiness of oscillation or swing
Movement is created by a metal or wooden bar hinged to a fulcrum with a mass positioned on its free end
The sweep of the oscillation (or swing) depends on the distance between
These principles are similar to those applied when
learning to play golf and the search for swing
The golf instructor teaches the method
techniques and rules
Asynchronic bodies represent the new research for
harmony expressed in the form of a precise projection
of the ball
Gentlemen players learn the method technique
and use of different clubs
Applying them with precision and regularity
S
ucceeding in propelling the ball forward
Mastering its trajectory
Over different types of terrain
Aiming at the perfection of gesture
New Bearings and Behaviour
The daybreak of Golf by Girolamo Mercuriale, the first sports physician,
dates back to 1569.
He stated that this discipline was part of a gym-like
exercise and was called “Palla Maglio” (Pall Mall), first invented in the Reign of Naples.
Avicenna had previously described it,
stating that, in ancient Greek, it was known as “Alsulegian”.
In Italy the daybreak came about in 1905 with
the International Amateur Championship in
Florence, won by Scott.
Championships came later, in 1925 with the
Omnium International Championship and
The Italian Golf Federation was
founded on the February 27
th, 1959
during a General Assembly,
as reported by Giulio Onesti in his book
“ Il CONI e le Federazioni Sportive”
Bodies in the 3rd millennium live in a
computer era
where experience is virtual
Crisis inside the work world thrives as does
the pursuit of creativeness with a
maximum of energy output in the
short/long term, with the
Society Coexists with
with the exasperation of the
self, as an individualist
Environmental Pollution Love of Nature
Golf
compared to other sports
is still one that has a high level of physical
activity and
if practised throughout a healthy lifetime
physical performance and endurance
can be assured
even at an advanced age
The man of the past as is today’s man
is a mixture of gestures and profound mechanisms
with inner life ever more dependent on complex and sensitive processes
The Ideomotory Sense
of the Golf Player
has a High Complexity of Technique
The basic element involved in a regular and efficient
athletic golf gesture lies in a conscious steady build-up
of the swing something that is still linked to its origins in
spite of the evolution of the equipment used.
Literature has pools of articles, books and booklets with
lessons, suggestions, tricks and reminiscences on the
Although medical research on athletes and
players of all ages helps improve and increase
performance, physiology and biomechanics of
the athletic gesture still remain
“asymmetric”.
“asymmetric”.
Indeed, today, as in the past, golf is an
asymmetric sport that necessitates careful
specific athletic preventive training for use and
“abuse” of this sport, graded according to its
practise and the player’s age.
Marcel Jousse,
in Revue Antropologique n. 4/6, Gentner, Paris, 1940,
wrote that man is a creature made up of two parts.
We can observe the law of bilateralism in the human structure, conceived both as a Mechanism and as a Living Being.
We can find the principle of balance everywhere in beings in their natural state,
in a playing child, in a worker.
Man divides the world according to a bilateral pattern creating the Right and the Left,
Anterior and Posterior, Top and Bottom. Man is in the middle sharing things out.
The gesture
born from a burst of nervous energy
prevails over biological standards
“ vita in gestu”
Technical improvement is a hard goal that can be easily missed. The attention threshold limit for a golfer
throughout all the 18 holes remains high for each single hole. This factor must not be underestimated
says that:
If the teaching sequence of the technique is incorrectly carried out then it may give rise to interference,
e.g. when learning two similar abilities, they may be confused one with the other
resulting in damage to both.
Whilst the opposite effect is one of “transfer”, where the learning shift of one ability to another
takes place in a positive manner
reducing learning times for the second task.
It is essential that instructors not only possess technical abilities but must also be versed in educational psychology.
Renato Manno, Sports-medicine Specialist and Author of “ Fondamenti dell’allenamento sportivo”
Interferences caused by negative transfers
are easily detectable
when correcting a mistake
if the “old” ability re-emerges
under conditions of minimum stress
or physical discomfort
One situation in which the transfer is positive, is
when a bilateral or symmetrical training
is applied
to abilities involving one side of the body
Drenkow has demonstrated that if only one arm
is trained, then there will be a consequent
improvement in the other
Practising with both sides
will make for better
performances
At the age of 7, the accuracy of both arms is almost the same
As the body matures the dominating limb
(right or left arm) becomes the most accurate
Seifert claims that the “favoured side” is fruit of an environmental adaptation due to an early self- training.
Could then golf gestures alone build graceful bodies if practised
The new millennium in Italy is witnessing innovations in the practising of golf
more than in any other sport.
It is now becoming “accessible and affordable” to all.
Card carrying members of Italian Golf Federation have increased in 2007 and club membership is no longer compulsory:
you need only have a federation membership card. The evolution is so evident
that we can see golf being taught in schools.
The city of Turin has set up course for both teachers and students. Wonderful, all run away,
but something remains unchanged: the research of
The ministerial directives now tend to advocate the formation of today’s European citizen
by means of a fan-like multidisciplinary scheme covering civil behaviour, environmental awareness,
road safety, health, food, affectivity, cross-cultural principles and legality.
Preparation for a civil life means creating space for a pleasant coexistence among citizens
tied to awareness of their rights and obligations
bound by values like democracy, human rights, equality, participation, cohesiveness, support,
tolerance towards diversity, social justice, public and private qualities.
To this aim, golf has been chosen as a means to
able to give Italian students those requisites…laid
down for the formation of a “European Citizen”.
To what extent is training in the art of playing
golf able to lead to a better “civitas hominis”?
Production/Expenditure
Man is reduced to these roles:
Advertising…..Targeted models…
Confusion
The darkening of the
intelligence led to drugs,
self-violence and violence
towards others
The project “Golf and School” aims at the
promotion of a society with sound healthy
Principles.
Torino
a magic city where the unity of Italy originated
is teaming with contemporary sports, cinema,
television and - now - witnessing the new
education of the European Citizen
At Golf Torino
during FISU World Championship of Golf in 2006, Franco Chimenti, President of the Italian Golf
Federation (F.I.G.) declared an official announcement about the possibility to register directly with F.I.G., abolishing the obligation to be a member of a golf club.
This is an innovative procedure for Italy
and marks a turning point in Italian golf history
Membership fees range from 60 euro for adults to 22 euro for juniors.
On April 27th, 2007 RAI (National Italian Television Channel)
included this news in its broadcast on TG1 at 1.30 p.m. so as to further increase the number of new members.
In May 2006, at “I Girasoli” Golf Club in Carmagnola (Turin), Paolo Guermani, the President of Piedmont Regional
Committee F.I.G., and General Director of Public Education Ministry of Piedmont (M.P.I.R), started the
project
“Golf at School”.
This was done not to create competition
but rather to expand the choice of sports at school and remove prejudice due to the high price of golf fees.
In May 2006, there was also a 3-day full immersion course dedicated to the updating of Physical Education (P.E.)
Teachers in both primary and secondary schools.
The meeting was organized in steps with 50 teachers at a time.
Other meetings were set up in October 2006, April and May 2007
These were addressed to new and former teachers aiming at a higher qualification.
Teachers involved in the project “Golf at School”
have compiled a yearly plan for 2006/07 part of P.O.F. (planning for instructive proposal).
They scheduled a number of lessons to be spent at golf
Clubs. These clubs have come to an agreement about
the project and are situated near the schools involved.
They started with 10 lessons for each class
with a P.E. Teacher of the school
and a golf coach of F.I.G.
Students that show a talent for this sport will continue
with lessons and a minimum of 50
students will be given further lessons
during Summer.
The adjunctive value that led the Italian institutions to consider golf a particularly educational discipline was the
opportunity of introducing young students into a
wholesome, green and peaceful environment in which it is possible to practice a sport learning its rules step by step, rules that cancel starting drawbacks between adversaries.
Students learn
how to respect natural environments, self control, coordination and dexterity.
Such behaviour and skills that have a positive social cogitation and can be easily transferred and applied to
The Piedmont Region’s project was extended to the whole of Italy on January 1st, 2007.
The Federal Board F .I.G. during its meeting on November 29th, 2006, with Circular n. 31 of
December 1st, 2006, addressed to all Golf Clubs
and local F.I.G. Organizations, reported the Federation had approved the Financing of furthering the project
“Golf and School”
for the school year 2006/07,
involving primary and secondary level schools
Only in Piedmont Region, a total of about 2,800 students from 131 classes will be involved
.
AI CIRCOLI DI GOLF
ALL’ORGANIZAZIONE PERIFERICA Loro Sedi
e p.c.: al Consiglio federale
Oggetto: PROGETTO GOLF E SCUOLA 2006/2007
• Si comunica che il Consiglio federale nella riunione del 29 novembre 2006,
ha approvato la prosecuzione ed il finanziamento del Progetto Golf Scuola per l’anno scolastico 2006/2007,secondo le seguenti modalità:
a) firma del protocollo d’intesa tra il circolo, la scuola interessata e il comitato o delegato regionale per conto della federazione. Da inviare in FIG prima dell’inizio del programma. (allegato a );
b) Capofila del progetto è il circolo ospitante che provvederà al pagamento di tutte le spese inerenti lo svolgimento del progetto, ivi comprese le
lezioni impartite dai maestri;
c) Il progetto deve prevedere lo svolgimento di almeno 60 ore di lezione articolate secondo le necessità e la disponibilità sia del circolo sia della scuola;
d) Il contributo di € 3000,00 verrà erogato al circolo al termine del
programma e sarà subordinato alla presentazione di una relazione finale a cura del comitato/delegato regionale e corredato dall’elenco dei
partecipanti, sottoscritto dalle parti interessate.
e) In considerazione dell’introduzione del tesseramento libero dal 2007, si raccomanda di provvedere al tesseramento libero dei ragazzi neofiti
partecipanti al progetto ricordando che la F.I.G. riconoscerà un contributo ulteriore pari al 50% della quota di tesseramento;
f) Le adesioni devono essere inviate entro il 10 Gennaio 2007 presso la Scuola Nazionale di Golf (S.S. Cassia Km. 44.500 – 01015 Sutri/VT – e.mail [email protected] , fax 0761/600791).
Si informa che a seguito dell’ approvazione del programma proposto dal C. R. Piemonte con il contributo della regione, in base al quale l’attività di
promozione golfistica nelle scuole verrà coordinata direttamente dal Comitato Regionale; ai circoli e alle associazioni piemontesi non verrà riconosciuto il contributo previsto dalla presente circolare.
In allegato si trasmette il protocollo d’intesa. Cordiali saluti.
IL SEGRETARIO GENERALE dott. Stefano Manca
Allegato (a)
PROTOCOLLO DI INTESA SOGGETTI INTERESSATI:
- Federazione Italiana Golf - Circolo Golf
- Istituto Scolastico PREMESSO
che la Fig, e la Scuola…………
-intendono valorizzare il ruolo dell’educazione motoria,fisica e sportiva
-considerano lo sviluppo fisico-sportivo come uno degli aspetti della crescita dei giovani
-considerano indispensabile l’opportunità dell’avvicinamento degli alunni alla natura,quale ambiente più idoneo per un confronto con gli altri e per
l’apprendimento di nuove conoscenze motorie;
-ritengono estremamente importante la collaborazione fra soggetti diversi, pubblici e privati, ai fini dello sviluppo di un sistema di formazione
CONSIDERATO -le finalità e gli obiettivi della federazione Italiana Golf
-l’importante contributo di questa attività sportiva che facilita l’avvicinamento nell’età adolescenziale tra alunni e alunne;
-l’educazione al gesto atletico nel rispetto dell’ambiente naturale; -la richiesta dell’utenza
TUTTO CIO’ PREMESSO
La Federazione si impegna:
- a garantire la presenza di un proprio incaricato nei giorni……… dalle ore…..alle ore…. - Per un periodo di…. che svolga il compito di promuovere il gioco del golf coadiuvato dall’insegnante di educazione fisica………
- a garantire la presenza di un tecnico federale che svolga le lezioni di golf ( assistenza tecnico didattica, teorica e pratica) presso il Circolo……….. nei giorni ……… dalle ore……… alle ore……. per
un periodo di…………..
La Scuola………. si impegna:
- mettere a disposizione in orari scolastici le proprie strutture sportive perché possano essere utilizzate per promuovere il gioco del golf
- a garantire il coordinamento e l’organizzazione delle attività nella /e persone di………..
- ad assicurare a propria cura e spese, ogni alunno che prenderà parte alle attività previste dal presente progetto, per eventuali infortuni o danni a terzi
- garantire il trasferimento degli alunni dalla scuola al circolo……. ………per la durata del corso
- partecipare alla fase provinciale o regionale dei giochi sportivi studenteschi, se prevista. Il Circolo si impegna :
-a mettere a disposizione della Scuole proprie strutture sportive (campo pratica, putting green,
pitching green) nei giorni di……… dalle ore…… alle ore……. per un periodo di…….. -a fornire tutta l’assistenza necessaria per il buon svolgimento dei corsi
Golf is an exacting sport,
but one that does not forgive even a sigh at the wrong time may deviate the ball.
The context of the game lives
in the “flavours” and in the “senteur” of the environments, where it is practiced linked to climates and seasons
The habitat of the 3rd millennium golf players is still one of greens passing through breaches in mountains
hills, beaches, lakes, dunes and castle grounds along kilometres of greens lined by natures beauty like
reeds, birches, larches, hazels, cherry trees, fig and mulberry trees blackberry, rose bushes and bunkers
in search of a swing.
Movements that form part of “the game” the rules, even one’s very own thoughts.
The environment determines performance provokes the unconscious,
creating relax too little or too much,
The golf club is all important, as cleanliness is a must. The groves optimize the flight of the ball, there must be no mud or even a blade of grass on the club head.
Golfers are constantly in search of the best swing, helping each other, one “the mirror” for the other.
All with the common scope of entering and escaping from the “crisis” of the shot
sometimes right sometimes wrong….. A kind of paradox that can join or
divide the birth of the grip, the gesture … the result.
Something that is in common
for the young, middle-aged and senior players Joining them as a whole.
All of which holds fast until the day of the contest…
the event that can change everything.
Kilometres of shots and beads of sweat.
To play well with each club…and there are fourteen
it has been estimated that at least
5,000 shots are needed!!
Instructors calm the stress of the shot, address, set,
Advise and teach ready for the next contest on the
Perfect Long, Medium and Short Shots sounds
beautifully, like a music:
this is GOLF!
The ides is not to cover a long distance with the ball, but rather to take a correct stance in front of the ball and
carry out the right movement. With rolling shoulders, no withdrawal of the arms, head motionless behind the ball, feet positioned correctly, the pendulum-like swing, the drop the club, no effort, with a strike and a whip the ball will make that distance
There lies the secret you need to win!... The putt is
more often than not
done with the use of the left eye
The contemporary golfer puts skills to the test against others whenever possible
Looking for courses/competitions adapt to personal performance If the competition does not go so well and handicap increases
Then a week long stress of anticipation sets in And is hard to hold down until the following Sunday When everything is laid out for discussion once again
The match leaves its mark on golfers The really hard shots are those before the green and to putt
The new generation of golfers tends to aim at decreasing
handicaps and hiding defeats. Players hide competition stress saying that “it’s just a game”, but at the end the score, with its gross and net, is something that leads to a kind of common
neurosis cloaked by clothes, behaviour and
“sportsmanship smiles”
during award-giving cocktails.
The gesture is always the same…the swing. Golfers then
“experiment” going through a series of new grips on the club, new correct postures, putting aside what was thought to be the
Pain moves from fingers to hands, wrists, arms, back knees, legs, sometimes on the left, sometimes on the
right side.
All is overcome for the love of the swing, all is recomposed in the constant search for
“the best swing”
The art of playing golf is refined one that is born in the soul
requiring practice and constant dedication one that demands time and devotion.
Each golf club is different and must be used adequately according to the ground and the distance to be covered.
The very awareness of this modifies the golfer’s life, as it is addressed to the green everything boils down to
The model that represents the best swing in the collective imagination of golfers is that of
Tiger Wood
Nearly everything about him is public domain He rises at 7.00 a.m.
goes to a driving range and shoots 800 balls trains daily on an 18 hole course
and goes to a gym to do who know what exercises he runs around 10 km. everyday
he eats…. but who knows what..
it varies according to his energetic consumption. Nothing is know as to his spontaneous requirements! But one thing is sure: he is early to bed … early to rise! Tiger kindles fantasy and feeds the dream of the dream itself.
Golfers are updated on whatever has to do with golf new techniques, new implements and materials.
They study links and green morphology, they train compete and encourage,
They persist whatever their results
Yet, they are all “misunderstood” as golf is considered a kind of hybrid, an alternative, a sort of walking
exercise for the elderly. It is to other sports that the term “real sports” is dedicated to those with high
performances: soccer, rugby, swimming, cycling, tennis, rowing, etc., etc.
For the golfer
the hybrid is something between woods and irons used for special shots and to get out of difficulties.
If someone doesn’t play they can’t understand!
They are not taken into consideration by golf players For them the hybrid is only a “means” able to
optimize the game!!
When one considers all these aspects it can be said that golf is a fascinating and complex sport, very complex…with a constant
main theme… finding the swing!!!
This is the reality that the new generation of Italian golfers live an ever increasing number of players “living” for golf throughout the
arc of their life
All of which granted, education to golf as a “ culture”, with its environment, ethics and principles, could well become an
innovative theme, applicable everyday life and a way to help shape a positive future “civitas hominis”, aiming at the
preparation of different behaviour based on new models.
In the past, golf was the sport of aristocrats or entrepreneurs. Nowadays, the globalization of gesture, linked to rules could promote a refined social style through a scholastic educational process.
There still remains the question of some clubs that have not reached agreements with schools.
These are mainly set in beautiful surroundings, with 18, 27, 36 hole links.
To be a member of these clubs it is necessary to be doted with rare competitive abilities, or to have high financial resources and/or a have a particular behaviour linked to “refined” social requisites.
Depending on their handicap, the members of the most popular of these golf clubs, are allowed to play at most maybe ten
times a year.
In the case of a tournament, registrations are far from easy and depend on other traditions and factors tied to golf and its
