BRONTE Walsh has switched swings.

The NSW and New England hockey rep is the first girl to be part of the NIAS golf program.

The 15-year-old picked up the clubs a few years ago, but only really been playing seriously during the past eight months or so.

“I’ve probably played for six years, but not been focusing on it.

“I was more focussed on hockey.”

Which she is pretty handy at too.

She played for NSW at the U13 Nationals two years ago, and made the 15s squad this year.

“I like the individual aspect,” Walsh said, elaborating that it’s a lot harder when you’re just relying on yourself.

She’s quickly taken to it too.

“I’ve lost a lot of shots off my handicap.

“I’ve lost 14 or 15 shots.”

Walsh still plays hockey and had quite a busy winter.

Golf on Saturdays and hockey on Sundays.

She only recently went away with the New England U15 and U18 indoor sides to the State Championships.

“The U15s were undefeated and won Division 2,” she said.

Locally she plays for Breakaways, and plays pretty much all over.

She will continue to play hockey but is putting more of her energies into golf.

“I want to see where it goes,” she said.

Ideally she’d like to go over to the US for college, but recognises she has a lot of work to do.

“I definitely need to improve over the next two years before that,” she said.

Being part of NIAS will be a great for her development.

“I haven’t had a lot of formal training,” she said.

“Andrew Walkley in Armidale has helped me.

“Definitely the transition from hockey swing to golf has been the biggest thing.”

NIAS head coach Brock Sampson spent a lot of time with her on that during their first camp on the weekend.

“It’s definitely going to be a bit of fun with all the boys,” she said.

Walsh has been scoring a few wins.

“I won the singles event at the Armidale Jug,” she said.

It was a big achievement.

The goal is now to further slice her handicap.

“I’d definitely like to be single figures before the Academy Games,” she said.

The weekend camp was the first of four for the program.