A program that teachers youngster about the fine points of the great game of golf – and all of the great life lessons that are learned while trying to improve at one of the world’s most difficult athletic pursuits – is ready to roll for the 16th consecutive summer.
The Osoyoos Junior Development Golf Program will kick off on Saturday, June 7 at the driving range at the Osoyoos Golf Club.
The season-opening clinic will be open to all young golfers between the ages of seven and 15 as well as beginners of all ages, said program founder Bob Blount.
The starting time will be 12:30 p.m., which is a new starting time for this year, he said.
The regular program will continue on Saturdays through June 28, but will move to Wednesday afternoons, also at 12:30 p.m. starting July 5 once school is out for the summer.
Lessons will continue each Wednesday until August 20 and will officially wrap up with a season-ending banquet and awards event as part of the Osoyoos Junior Golf Championship tournament on Saturday, Aug. 23 and the Junior-Adult Tournament and Awards Banquet on Sunday, Aug. 24.
This junior development program is designed for youngsters in Osoyoos and the surrounding area, although some parents who spend much of their summer vacation in town sign their children up for several weeks, said Blount.
“This program is designed to be an introduction to the great game of golf featuring instruction, activities and fun,” said Blount. “The kids won’t learn if they don’t have fun.
“We encourage youngsters between the ages of seven and 15 to begin to learn or continue to develop their golfing skills.”
Last year’s program had more than 50 youngsters registered, which is the most ever in the 15 years it has been offered, he said.
“The program keeps getting bigger and attracting more youngsters, which is very exciting,” he said. “We’ve managed to attract eight graduate players to come back and help out with coaching this coming summer and that shows how much they enjoyed the program by volunteering to come back and teach.”
The Osoyoos Credit Union has been a loyal sponsor and their support allows the program to charge a very reasonable fee of only $50 for the entire summer, said Blount.
“We are able to offer reduced fees to families with more than one child in the program, and no child will be left out of the program due to financial concerns,” he said.
Rick Harris, who helped him found the program, will return to help run the junior program and some older members of the Golf Academy program at Osoyoos Secondary School will be assisting the junior instructors he has hired, said Blount.
Blount, who spent his career as a teacher, said being able to work with young people to teach them a game he loves, has been a blessing for more than 15 years and he’s looking forward to running another successful program this summer.
Anyone interested in registering his or her child for the 2014 junior program is asked to show up after noon on June 7 at the Osoyoos Golf Club driving range.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
