Osoyoos Secondary School students, left to right, Sierra Dias, Nevaeh Law and Paige Hanson learn the finer points of putting at the Osoyoos Golf Club in celebration of Women’s Golf Day on June 4. (Dale Boyd / Osoyoos Times)

By Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

Female students from Osoyoos Secondary School learned some golf skills in celebration of Women’s Golf Day on June 4.

Classes took turns through multiple sessions at the Osoyoos Golf Club with golf course instructors guiding students through putting, chipping, teeing off and more Tuesday.

Golf coach and golf academy instructor John Seminoff organized the day with instructors from the golf course. Seminoff was off at provincials with student golfers at the time.

“It’s to introduce all of our Grade 8 to 10 female students to learn how to golf and get active in golf today,” said Nicole Quintal, teacher/counsellor at Osoyoos Secondary School. “The golf course is providing snacks and lessons for all of our females and I think they are looking to get more young adults interested in the game.”

Some students already have a vested interest in the sport, like Sophie Bissonnette who lives and breathes golf. She started as a child, but her passion for golf has increased considerably in high school. The 16-year-old works at the Osoyoos Golf Club as well as competing.

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“It’s good having all the girls around and getting on the golf course,” Bissonnette said, adding she enjoyed being in her element with her classmates.

She started back golfing with her friends in high school and enjoys the solo-style of play the sport provides.

“I really like it because I’m an individual-sports kind of person. I guess I’m OK at team sports, but I like working on my own skills and with golf I get to work on those skills,” Bissonnette said.

Since she is no stranger to the golf course, Bissonnette spent the day working on her short game.

“Putting, I need some practice in that department,” Bissonnette laughed.

Younger students hit the links later in the day.

The Osoyoos Golf Club is hosting the Ladies Amateur Desert Open on June 25, with an entry deadline of June 19. The tournament will also host a special raffle in support of Golf For the Cure, which raises funds for the fight against breast cancer.