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My father, Raymond Ackerman, has always believed that by investing in talented youngsters, we not only experience the joy that comes with nuturing a young person; we also ensure rich returns for South Africa in the future. It is for this reason that the Raymond Ackerman Golf Academy was established. I am very proud to be involved with these young adults. It is an honour to watch them grow, to work so hard, to enjoy themselves and to take on all challenges with the utmost enthusiasm. |
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Welcome to the Raymond Ackerman Golf Academy (RAGA), where a group of young South African teenagers are developing into amazing young adults. Through the medium of golf, RAGA offers an outreach programme for school aged children. We offer after-school academic lessons, coaching to grow wider life skills and golf tuition to produce talented young golfers. This holistic approach is based on our three pillars: education, life skills and golf. The past four years has seen remarkable advancement within RAGA. Our holistic approach to nurturing and developing young people is clearly paying dividends. In our students we are witnessing a massive improvement in school results, and growth in self-esteem, self-confidence and leadership skills; infact growth in all of their social and personal skills and, of course, last but not least, the emergence of some great golfing talent. We believe we are a unique youth development programme. The vast majority of our recruits have never played golf before joining us. In fact most have never even held a golf club before attending one of our recruitment sessions! |
We agree with Nelson Mandela, hence our focus on
academic achievement. Through the Academy, our students
receive additional tuition to supplement
their schooling after their school day.
Our educational facilitator, Gabi Steyn,
ensures all the students' individual needs are analysed, and
through the RAGA team of teachers, we offer a
bespoke programme of academic coaching that is fun and
enjoyable.
The Academy building is equipped with computers and a study area so students can complete school homework, research and print projects, receive their extra tuition, read & relax. We are currently collating a mini library to ensure our students are not just studying hard but reading for fun too.
| • | Robina Macario: Currently in her final year at Stellenbosch University, studying for a BSc in Engineering. |
| • | Emelia Coetzer: Achieved her Diploma in Sports Management (Exercise Training Academy, Rondebosch). |
| • | Bulelani Cekiso: Passed his matriculation exams in 2010 with a 79% pass average, obtaining 4 distinctions. Now in his first year of a Chemical Engineering BSc at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. |
| • | Siyambona Ngqalo: Passed his matriculation exams in 2010 with a 63% pass average, Now in his first year of a Chemical Engineering BSc at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. |
At the Academy we try to help our students develop the life skills that they need now and in the future. We do this by class-based teaching & discussions, field trips & excursions, and longer-term projects & tasks.
We do not "hand hold" our students. We want to give them the confidence to deal with any challenges life may throw at them. We try to give them all the necessary tools to help them succeed in their chosen life paths, what ever that may be.
The students are integral in the planning and running of the Academy through their Student Council meetings. At these meetings new RAGA initiatives are discussed, timetables reviewed, problems resolved and good deal of laughter is shared amongst the group.
Weekly range tuition, on-course practice and club, regional and national competitions all make up part of RAGA's golfing pillar. Let's hope we can have international representation one day! The bulk of our students have been members of RAGA for just under 18 months, so they are a very new group after our last two long standing members graduated in 2010.
Our students all have handicaps; the lowest current handicap is seven, and all students are improving at a steady rate. We are very proud of this achievement given how new most of our students are to the sport.
