The mystique of golf is something that slips past some people entirely, barely registers with others, and yet is obsessively, passionately and microscopically dissected by those who wield a club like it’s Excalibur. Over the years, I’ve found myself in many a chat with colleagues and students about this curious sport. Discussions about scores and handicaps, nine irons and pitching wedges, not to mention the cryptic rituals of a four-ball Ambrose, have often been met with the same glazed expression: “Sounds fun… but what does it all mean?”
As someone who has come to terms with the fact that hand-eye coordination is not so much a skill I possess as a distant dream; the finer points of golf remain shrouded in mystery. The appeal? Lost in translation. The technique? A foreign language. The enthusiasm? Admirable, but baffling.
Still, some facts about this maddeningly enchanting sport manage to sneak through the fog. Consider José María Olazábal, a professional golfer hailing from the fiercely proud Basque region of Spain. If you’re in the know, you’ll know; Ryder Cup captain, 23 European Tour titles, six PGA wins, and a staggering 300 weeks in the world’s top 10 between 1989 and 1995. That’s not just impressive — it’s borderline mythical.
But here’s where, if you’re not a golf afficionado, stop and take notice. In 1999, Olazábal sank a putt that travelled 14.77 kilometres and landed in a paper cup. Yes, you read that correctly; fourteen point seven, seven kilometres. Personally, it would be a struggle to drive that far without GPS and a coffee. Hitting a golf ball that distance? That needs Happy Gilmore like focus and a rocket launcher, not a one wood — which, I’m told, is a club designed for long-distance shots, and definitely not a putter — designed for gently tapping the ball into the hole (apparently the aim of the game).
Sounds like a tall tale, a bit of sporting folklore? Actually… it happened. Olazábal pulled off this feat by bending the rules of reality ever so slightly. In 1999, aboard a Concorde jet en route from Europe to the United States, he teed off down the centre aisle of the aircraft. The Concorde, in its prime, could zip across the Atlantic in just three and a half hours — half the time of a regular flight.
At a cruising altitude of 60,000 feet (roughly 18 kilometres for those who prefer metric) and travelling at nearly twice the speed of sound (2043 km/h), Olazábal’s golf ball rolled down the aisle and dropped into a cup. Hole in one! The ball was in motion for 26.617 seconds, during which it was carried 14.77 kilometres across the Earth’s surface, by what can only be described as a supersonic, high-altitude, airborne putting green.
The cramped confines of an aircraft cabin — usually a nuisance — became the perfect setting for a golf shot that defied logic. All it took was a little creativity, a Concorde and a willingness to see opportunities rather than limitations.
Opportunity doesn’t always present itself with bells, whistles and flashing lights. Sometimes, opportunity enters disguised as a challenge, a task not asked for, a moment that feels just a bit beyond reach. The twist? Every challenge is a camouflaged opportunity— a chance to grow and to learn,
The young men who succeed aren’t always the ones with the most talent. They’re the ones who say “yes” when it would be easier to say “no.” They take the shot. When opportunity knocks, they open the door.
This week, we commenced interviews for young men in Year 11 who have applied to be considered for the position College Captain in 2026.
At Eddies there are 20 formal Year 12 student leadership positions.
- 4 College Captains
- 8 Student Committee Leaders (2 Academic Committee Leaders, 2 Activities Committee Leaders, 2 Community Committee Leaders, 2 Mission Committee Leaders)
- 8 Senior House Leaders (1 Senior Leader for each House (House Leaders are also supported by Year 10 Junior Leaders))
It should be noted that in preparation for leadership our young men attend three development days over the course of Year 11. On the June leadership day, students received an information pack which included nomination forms and material to consider the leadership position or positions for which they might wish to apply. All Eddies leadership applicants must obtain the endorsement of a teacher and their House Dean before submitting a nomination.
The process of nomination and discernment for relevant positions incorporates:
- addressing selection criteria
- attending interview/s with pertinent Leadership Staff
- addressing their House and/or the year level cohort
Prospective House Leaders are expected to prepare and present speeches for the consideration of their individual Houses.
This year the third of our preparation days will be held on Friday 15 August. It’s on this day that College Captain nominees present their speeches to their year level peers. It is also on this day, that the cohort will engage in a discernment process to identify Eddies Men, who they, as the Class of 2026 wish to put forward for representative leadership positions.
From interviews over the past few days, I’m impressed with the calibre of these young men who have chosen to apply for the mantle of representative student leaders. These young men have taken a shot; they have opened the door to opportunity.
Nevertheless, at Eddies I hope our common belief is that leadership goes beyond a badge or title, everyone leads, everyone serves and everyone contributes in their own way to the good of our close and extended community. I wish our prospective leadership nominees all the best as they navigate the discernment process. They have put themselves forward and have decided to accept the challenge of leadership. Beginning later this year I look forward to the Senior Class of 2026, led by their chosen leaders, applying creativity, enthusiasm and a willingness to see opportunity, commence their ultimate experiences here on The Hill.
Academic Awards
Last week at assembly an impressively large number of our Years 7, 8 and 9 students were presented Improvement, Merit and Honours awards for academic achievement. Today we acknowledged the young men from Years 10,11 and 12 in similar fashion.
Congratulations to all these Eddies Men for their accomplishments and for committing to improvement and excellence in their study. Well done.
Winter Sleep Out
Thursday night saw students from both St Edmund’s and St Mary’s brave the elements to endure a night of sleeping rough. In amongst presentations, games and discussions, over 100 young men and women from both schools, gathered overnight to raise awareness for the homeless and marginalised in our community.
Thank you to all the staff from Eddies and Marys who attended as well as all our young people who took part.
