With summer approaching, restless kids are going to need something to do, which creates an annual dilemma – a rite of spring, if you will – for parents everywhere.
So here’ s an idea. Pry the TV remote control out of your child’s hand and replace it with a golf club.
In the weeks and months ahead, most area golf courses will be offering camps, clinics and other programs designed to give novice youngsters a chance to learn the game as well as give more experienced players the opportunity to improve their skills. Costs are usually marginal, and in many instances there are scholarships and loaned equipment available for families in need.
“For any kid in the city of Everett or any other city that wants the opportunity (to learn or improve as a golfer), we will not leave them behind because of financial hardship,” said Bruce Christy, director of golf at Legion Memorial and Walter Hall golf courses, Everett’s two public facilities.
These programs, Christy went on, are “a great way to expose youngsters to a game of honor, a game of integrity and a game where they are going to get exercise, too. They’re going to learn a lot of skills and make friendships that will last them down the road.”
At Legion Memorial and Walter Hall, beginning golfers ages 8-18 can learn about the game through camps that cost $50 and include three days of instruction, two hours a day. There are camps in June, July and August, with space for about 20 golfers in each camp at both of the courses.
For those youngsters who enjoy their golf experiences and want to continue learning about the game, they can move into the Joe Richer program “to keep progressing in their young golf careers,” Christy said. For $3 a week (which includes a lunch), golfers get additional instruction in rules, etiquette and scoring along with more advanced coaching on their games. Initially supervised, the better golfers will eventually begin playing unsupervised rounds.
Christy estimates that 200 novice golfers will sign up for the camps at the two courses this summer, with an additional 200 participating in the Joe Richer program.
For information about either the Everett camps or the Joe Richer program, call the Legion Memorial pro shop at 425-259-4653 or the Walter Hall pro shop at 425-353-4653. Signups are handled through the Everett parks and recreation department at 425-257-8300.
Another good option, particularly for residents of south Snohomish County, is the First Tee of Snohomish County program, which in the last year has moved from the since-closed Lobo Ridge Golf Course outside Snohomish to the Lynnwood Golf Course. The program also uses other Snohomish County courses, including Snohomish, Kenwanda and Blue Boy, and the Choice Turf Range in Snohomish.
First Tee, which has more than 200 chapters nationwide, offers initial three-day camps (two hours a day) priced at $75. From there, youngsters can continue through once-a-week sessions where they receive golf instruction and a life-skills curriculum.
“Our model is to introduce kids to the game by giving them a six-week curriculum,” said Jeff Cornish, executive director of First Tee of Snohomish County, “and when they’re ready to play we want to fundraise so we can fund one round a week at a variety of courses.
“We think the key to growing the game is accessibility and affordability,” he said. “In other words, to have golf courses close to where these kids live that they can play, and then to help fund it. We’ re not trying to grow competitive golfers. We’re just trying to introduce the game. As kids grow in skill, we’ll refer them to other competitive programs.”
For more information about the First Tee program, visit the organization’s website at www.firstteesnoco.com.
At Cedarcrest Golf Course in Marysville, a junior golf league and junior golf camps are on the summer’s docket. The league is designed for boys and girls ages 11-17, and will run from June 19-Aug. 28 during which 10 round-robin matches will be played on Monday afternoons.
The Cedarcrest camps, meanwhile, are open to ages 8-17 and will provide basic instruction in putting, chipping, pitching and the full swing, as well as covering the rules and etiquette of the game. The two-day camps, which costs $60, include three hours of instruction a day and are scheduled for June 28-29, July 12-13, July 26-27, Aug. 9-10, and Aug. 23-24.
To register or for additional information, contact the Cedarcrest pro shop at 360-363-8460.
Most other courses in the area are also offering some type of summer programs for kids, so make a phone call to find out what is available.
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