Cameron Burechails
This summer is a great opportunity for you to get your kids into the game of golf.
Golf gives kids a chance to get outdoors, get some exercise, and make new friends. It teaches kids important values like honesty, respect, patience, and commitment.
When I was just a kid, I would spend my entire summer at the golf course. Our friends would all meet first thing at our local course and would play 27, 36, or even 54 holes each day before our parents picked us up for dinner. When we were not playing golf we were helping out at the range to pick up golf balls or washing clubs in the back shop for members. We would often receive a free bottle of pop or even lunch for our voluntary efforts.
Boy, how have things changed! Today most kids spend most of their time in front of a television or a computer texting their friends, playing video games, and surfing the internet.
Many courses offer clinics, summer camps, and special programs for juniors. It gives the kids an opportunity to get out and play, have fun and meet new friends on the golf course. The first week of July is ‘Take a Kid to the Course’ week. This summer from July 6 – 12, many of our local courses offer free green fees for juniors under 16. This means that when an adult pays a regular green fee then, they can take a junior out for a free round of golf. Visit kidsgolffree.ca to see which clubs in your area are participating in this year’s program.
I have been offering programs for juniors for over twenty years and really enjoy working with the kids and helping to grow the game of golf. If you would like information on junior programs, simply contact me. I believe that it is important that all golf clubs in our area promote junior golf. After all, it is our kids that are the future of the golf industry.
Next Week: A Day in The Life of a Greens Superintendent
Cameron Burechails (Teaching Professional), The Georgian Bay Golf Academy, baygolfacademy@bell.net, or www.baygolfacademy.com.
