Amaruk offers a professional spin for junior golfers

It is not often that you have the opportunity to be taught how to play a sport by a professional. But this year that is exactly what is being offered to any kid interested in learning how to play golf.

Carl Dingwell, one of the seven instructors for this year said, "The biggest bonus this year is Nikashantess Penashue, current Men's Provincial Champion. He's an instructor."

Mr. Penashue is only 17 and is the youngest to ever win the Men's Provincial Championship in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Amaruk Golf Club is holding the Junior Golf Program again this summer.

The program is open to kids between six and 17 and is separated into two levels of experience: beginner and intermediate.

The beginner division is for youth who have been playing golf for two years of less.

Intermediate is open to those who have the basics and a general knowledge of the game and are looking to go to the next level in golf.

Mr. Dingwell is looking forward to having such a young, skilled golfer as Penashue is for an instructor.

"We hired four of the juniors that went out to the provincials last year, aged 16 to 17; very good golfers," he said.

"We're trying to get a mentoring program going. The younger kids are seeing kids that are only a few years older than them. [They] can relate to them. That's the whole idea: trying to get the youth more involved in the program," says Mr. Dingwell said.

Along with the four junior instructors, Jeff Hillier, George Cabot and Mr. Dingwell will be instructing as well as running the program, to ensure kids get taught all they need to know.

The program is divided into three, two-week sessions that will each run for two and a half hours, five days a week.

The first session will run from July 6-10 and from July 13-17. Session two will run from July 27-31 and from August 3-7. The third and last session will run from August 17-21 and from August 24-28.

Kids can sign up for either just one session ($60), two ($110) or all three ($150). Each participant in the program will also receive a hat, golf shirt and range balls, says Mr. Dingwell said.

The beginner division will run in the mornings while the intermediate groups will be held in the afternoons.

To participate in the program kids must be a junior member with the club, or a junior member via a family membership, Mr. Dingwell said.

A junior membership costs $149 and also gives access to the golf course, as long as proper etiquette is maintained.

Mr. Dingwell hopes to keep the numbers to about 12 kids per instructor.

He said, "At the end of all the sessions a Little Swingers Tournament will be held where there is a plaque for each champion from each division, with a barbecue afterwards."

All kids that are registered with the program by June 6 will be offered a personal golf lesson with Newfoundland and Labrador Golf Associations Professional, Jimmy Stick. The lessons will be scheduled from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., between June 8 and 12.

There are about 25 spaces for each level, per session, so registering as soon as possible is the best way to guarantee a spot.

"This year it is going to be a really good program. With Nikashantess teaching it's a great time for your kid to learn," he said.

reporter@thelabradorian.ca