Junior golfer Carter Sapach shows some fine form while taking a practice swing at the Osoyoos Golf Club, while his friend Joel Parker looks on. The Osoyoos Junior Golf Development Program kicks off with its opening clinic on May 30 at the driving range at Osoyoos Golf Club. All kids between ages seven to 15 are invited to participate in the summer program. (Photo supplied)
A program that has helped introduce and instill a passion for the wonderful game of golf to hundreds of youngsters is set to return for a 17th year.
The Osoyoos Junior Golf Development Program is set to return on Saturday, May 30.
Bob Blount, a retired high school teacher and longtime minor sports coach, invites all youngers between the ages of seven and 15 to come out for the season-opening clinic on Saturday, May 30 at the driving range at Osoyoos Golf Club.
The starting time will be 12:30 p.m. at the driving range area.
“Our regular program will continue on Saturdays through July 4, as the Canada Day holiday is on July 1 falls on a Wednesday this year,” said Blount. “We will move to Wednesdays to continue the clinics once school is out on July 8.
“Lessons will continue each Wednesday until Aug. 19 and then we will hold our annual wind-up events, which include the Osoyoos Junior Development Championships on Aug. 22 and the Junior-Adult Tournament and Awards Banquet on Sunday, Aug. 23.”
The Junior Golf Development Program was established 17 years ago by Blount and a couple of other avid golfers to provide an opportunity to introduce the game to youngsters from Osoyoos and the surrounding area.
The program is designed to provide an introduction to the great game of golf, with instruction, activities and fun, said Blount.
“We encourage youngsters between the ages of seven and 15 to begin to learn or continue in developing their golf skills,” he said. “We hope to have a great turnout once again this year as we put the young golfers through a series of beginning skills and exercises.
“We will invite all of the participants in this clinic to join our 2015 junior development program. We want to continue to attract all of the youngsters who participated in last year’s program as well as those who have an interest in learning how to play and have success in the game.”
The move to Wednesday afternoon clinics once school is out allows for more and better instruction as well as better use of the on-course facilities at Osoyoos Golf Club, said Blount.
“We have changed the starting times to fit in with the existing golf schedule and we will start at 12:30 p.m. and run for one hour or more during each clinic.”
Those involved in organizing the junior golf program continue to thank Osoyoos Credit Union for its ongoing support, said Blount.
“Because of their support, we are able to continue charging a very reasonable fee of $50 for the full season and all events we hold,” he said. “We are also able to offer reduced fees to families with more than one child participating in the program. It remains our stated offer that no child will be left out of the program due to financial concerns.”
Justin Snoek, a member of the Osoyoos Golf Club staff and a graduate of the Junior Golf Development Program, will be joining longtime coaches Ben Petreny and Rick Harris as senior instructors during the 2015 program, said Blount.
“We will also have some of the older members of the Osoyoos Golf Academy at the high school working as our junior instructors,” he said.
The program is always looking for new volunteers to work with the youngsters enrolled in the program.
“It can be a very worthwhile experience,” said Blount. “If you are interested or have any questions, just call me.”
All participants planning to attend the kickoff clinic on May 30 are asked to arrive 10 minutes early so organizers can begin registration and handing out information and schedules.
Blount also thanked Osoyoos Golf Club general manager Lee Sapach, the club’s board of directors and head professional Drew Bolokoski for their continued support of the junior golf program.
For more information, Blount can be reached at 250-495-5125.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
