Youth on Course Clinics
Poppy Hills hosts YOC Clinic
July 13, 2011
PEBBLE BEACH – This week the NCGA Foundation is partnering with the Friendship Baptist Church of Seaside at Poppy Hills Golf Course, providing golf instruction for deserving youth.
YOC kids learning how to hit a bunker shot
The event is held from 10:00-1:00 each day with foundation staff members, Poppy Hills’ staff and Friendship Baptist leaders coordinating the event. Trained Hills’ golf professionals are providing the golf instruction, while others highlight life skills training.
The weeklong event is just one of seven different Youth on Course clinics held throughout the calendar year. Youth on Course partners with a community leader and a golf course for each event and subsequently organizes a date for participation.
“The main objective of these clinics is to expose kids, who otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to interact with successful adults to teach them life skills and values,” said Adam Heieck, the executive director of the NCGA Foundation.
In addition to the Youth on Course clinics and events, this year marks the first where two youth will separately have the opportunity to intern at Poppy Hills Golf Course or TPC Harding Park. According to Heieck the program is being piloted at these two courses to see if there is a future possibility that it could be implemented at several courses throughout Northern California on a regular basis. The internship will allow the chosen youth to see all different aspects of golf course administration, from food and beverage to pro shop duties to golf course maintenance.
Chantelle Davenport, 16, of Seaside, who’s participating in the weeklong clinic, will be the first intern of this program, which begins this week at Poppy Hills and goes until September. Davenport who has been involved with Youth on Course for the past year and a half is looking forward to have this chance she may not have been normally given.
“Youth on Course just allowed me to meet a lot of different people, great people,” said Davenport.
Others at the event enjoyed themselves at the different stations (driving range, practice green, chipping), whether it was their first time participating or one of many times being involved.
Teresa Dennis, 22, of Seaside, didn’t have the opportunity when she was younger to participate in Youth on Course, but over the past couple of years she has been involved volunteering, making sure those younger than her have the chance to get involved.
“People where I’m from really don’t have the finances to play a sport like this, so I think this is a great opportunity for young people to get to experience [golf],” she said.
One of those” young people” who enjoyed the clinic and addressed the ball with left-handed clubs, was 13 year-old Justin Anderson. He explained he likes golf because “it’s about making a perfect full shot.”
The mission for Youth on Course is to provide deserving youth the opportunity to develop life skills and values through golf. To learn more about Youth on Course and to get involved, you can visit its website www.ncgafoundation.org.