Future of golf in hands of youngsters
North in position for three-peat
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/07/2011 (5412 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Did you ever wonder what would happen if they held a golf tournament and there were no golfers to enter?
It’s a hackneyed phrase, but true, that the future of anything is in the young people, and that also applies to golf.
Especially after watching Carman’s Dean North fire a 4-under-par 68 Tuesday for a four-under total of 140 in the second round of the Titleist Footjoy PGA of Manitoba championship at St. Boniface Golf Club. Heading into today’s third and final round, North has a three-stroke lead in the defense of the title he has held for the past two years. Dauphin’s Henry Hemmes (70) sits in second place at 143, while first-round leader Glen Mills of Assiniboine shot 74 and and is in third place at 145.
It isn’t that there aren’t youth programs put forth by Golf Manitoba, said Niakwa professional Wade Nybakken, adding that there is also some golf taught in high schools. However, there is more to the game of golf than meets the eye, so in the spring Golf Manitoba launched a pilot project to teach young golfers (14-15 years old) not only how to play the game, but proper golf etiquette on and off the course, how it feels to be a member of a club, proper dress codes and hopefully to instil a love of the game that will last a lifetime.
In co-operation with Elmwood High School principal Mike Babb and phys- ed teacher Luke Buller, Grade 10 students Kelly Kuzina, Jonathan Boyer, Matthew Chartrand and Soleil Gallego, were selected for the project.
“There is no cost to the kids,” said Nybakken. “All they have to do is show up, have fun and listen to what Rossmere golf club’s assistant professional Ryan Delbigio says.”
“I didn’t know much about golf, not really,” said Kelly, 14, “but the opportunity came so I took it.”
A hockey player, Kezina said that one of her most challenging problems is “transferring from hockey to golf. The stroking and stuff is way different, but I am having fun.”
The idea was hatched last February, said Nybakken, who along with St. Boniface pro Geoff Kehler, Larter’s pro Peter Ewert, St. Charles pro Cory Kartusch and PGA of Manitoba executive director Dana Todd set out to explore the PGA’s future.
“We needed to establish ourselves as leaders in the game of golf and put our money where our mouth is and do what we do best, which is get people into the game,” said Nybakken. “We came up with the golf clubs between us, Delbigio provides instruction and Rossmere’s head pro Craig Yahiro and general manager Scott Parker provide the golf.”
“I had always wanted to try it,” said Soleil. “I found out that it is kind of hard, but I started getting better. The hardest thing is focusing and getting your game face on. I’ve lost five or six balls already, but I have my good days and my bad days.”
Delbigio says he tries to make the game fun. “What we do is play games. Sometimes it is me and the girls vs. the boys. Or all four kids vs. me. Little games like that introduce a little bit of competition into it, but also keeps things motivated and fun. Once the kids are in it, most of them are in it to stay.”
Jonathan had played the game a few times. “My dad usually takes me out maybe three or four times a year, but I really needed some more work on my game. I kind of have a hard time hitting it straight, but I’m passionate about golf and I am in it to stay.”
Matthew jumped at the chance to join. “I had played before, about five or six times with my dad,” he said. “I’m not getting as frustrated and I’m improving mostly on my irons and driver. My putting is not greatest. Maybe I’ll be able to play to par when the program is over. Well, every couple of holes at least.”
Down the road, Nybakken says he hopes to see the program in schools throughout the city.
allan.besson@freepress.mb.ca
