The cold weather was par for the course for the beginning of May, but it didn't seem to put too much of a damper on the opening classes of the North Battleford Golf and Country Club Junior Golf Program.
The program, which is offered at no charge to junior golfers up to 14 years of age, consists of swing classes and Junior Golf Days.
The program has been running for about 12 years, starting off as a way to help develop future golfers who would become members of this and other courses, and has held strong over the years.
"We want to do our best to introduce them to this game and make sure they enjoy it and want to come back," says assistant golf professional Steven Piett.
Piett, along with director of golf Dana Johnson, instruct the swing classes, which are now held the first two weekends in May, a slight change in format of when they were run in the past. Enrollment numbers have remained similar to previous years, but the club finds it has more competition trying to draw kids out, with the convenience of the CUplex and other sports running at the same time, such as football.
The focus of swing class is learning proper swing techniques, balance, aim and putting. Groups were divided by age with two groups of 10 and under and one group of 10 and older. With a maximum of 20 kids per group, the instructors were able to spend more time with the kids, giving small but important pointers and helping to correct the things that are crucial to golf. However, with all of the other important components, the biggest emphasis laid out for the young golfers was that they were there to have fun.
"It is a game of a lifetime," says Johnson, "So just come out and have fun."
Junior Golf Days are another opportunity for the kids to come and practise their golf. Kids are encouraged to come and shoot a few holes on a modified course. This runs on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to about 5:30 p.m., starting early May and finishing mid-June. There is a big push for the kids to participate in Junior Golf Days, as this is the area in which numbers of golfers have been declining.
Aside from the Junior Golf Program, Johnson and Piett also volunteer their time to put forth an initiative program that has been running or three years, which offers kids, who may not otherwise be able to try golf, the opportunity to experience the sport. The pair has teamed up with the Boys and Girls Club of North Battleford to offer the kids a 90-minute lesson, teaching them all the aspects of the game. This runs once a week for three to four weeks, usually in July or August. Equipment use, food and lessons are provided to the kids at no cost. But it's not just golf these kids are learning. Johnson says they also learn life skills that are applicable on and off the course.
"I think golf is important to kids because it requires a unique set of skill sets, athletically and personally," says Piett. "There is lots of etiquette and rules involved in golf that can, in fact, help kids become more mature and personable in the real world."
These days, Johnson doesn't have the time to teach adult lessons; that is left up to Piett. But Johnson takes the time for the kids as they are the future of the sport.
"It's not a matter of how we put [the programs] on at no cost, it's a matter of getting the kids to go out and golf," said Johnson.
