These smiling youngsters from Burton, Fauquier and Edgewood were the first attendees of a summer Golf Camp sponsored by the Fauquier and District Golf Club.
“This the first year that we have run this program,” Larry Parkes, Director of the Fauquier and District Golf Club told the Arrow Lakes News. “This program arose as we looked at the future of our game and how our youngsters (the future of the game) are to learn about it if we don’t give them the opportunity to do so.”
The Camp was free and ran every Tuesday during July and August. Meant as an introduction to golf, the youngsters had fun hitting golf balls and learning how to chip and putt. Members of the club volunteered to offer instruction and encouragement to youngsters from six to sixteen.
“We were hoping, at the wildest, six interested youngsters, but we got an average of nine each Tuesday,” said Parkes. The maximum was a whopping 20 kids who came out one week, but the average was about nine. Each youngster got a copy of the etiquette of golf, and all players were respectful of our members and each other.
Many of the young folks said it was the most fun they’d had all summer, the director said. “The youngsters loved having someone take an interest in how they were progressing,” he noted.
The small club had a dozen of its members come out and help for the no-charge event, and it went so well, the club is planning to do it again next year.
At the end of the camp, there was a windup which featured a fun tournament and long ball, chipping and putting contests followed by hot dogs, chips, pop. There were awards and prizes for all at the end of a happy summer of golfing. If you’ve got kids who might be interested, keep your eyes open for posters next spring.
