For beginning ladies’ golfers, there’s nothing like a little fore-play learning, says the Prince Rupert Golf Club.
The group is holding a “Ladies Fore-Play” introductory four-session course every Thursday in May, and they’re hoping to attract 12 females to learn the ins-and-outs of the game under golf instructor Jackie Touchet.
“What I’m going to try and integrate is having some of our own club members come down on the first night to help with the orientation. That way they won’t feel as intimidated to come and it might make the members a little more outgoing and friendly to newcomers,” explained club manager Judy Fraser.
The sessions are split into four nights, with each lesson covering the fundamentals of the greens, chipping, putting, driving, handling, dress code, etiquette and golf terminology. The club is also sprucing up each night with some entertainment and a complimentary glass of wine.
“A few women I talk to, their husbands come and golf and they kind of want to come but they’re scared and they don’t have any knowledge … and [hopefully] they’ll feel more comfortable going out when they’ve had some instruction,” said Fraser.
Orientation also includes a tour of the pro shop and, on the final night, each participant will play nine holes with green fees and club rentals covered by their initial registration fee of $100.
The club has also gathered sponsors for a few of the nights, including a fashion show by Udder Bags and a lesson in skin and hair care by Cowlicks’ Jane Handforth.
The club hasn’t done anything similar to this initiative before and it’s because of Fraser’s brainstorming that it exists this month.
“I was doing some research on the Internet and found that [other places] had been doing something similar. I was looking for a way to integrate new members and saw this and wanted to mirror it,” she said.
If any women are interested in the courses, they can contact Fraser at princerupertgolf@gmail.com or 250-624-2000.
Along with the women’s introductory lessons, the group is also offering free junior lessons to increase their youth base every Saturday starting May 31, organized by Byron Gordon. Hot dogs and pop will be provided to those who come out.
The club currently has two junior members and has already sold green fees to Prince Rupert youth, which is an encouraging sign for a membership base that had dropped from last year’s totals.
Along with Touchet, Ladies’ Club members Carol Schaeffer and Josie Lam will also be available on orientation night to provide advice for newcomers.
