Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Kimball junior golf program for children kicks off in June

The Kimball Junior Golf Program will once again be available to children ages 4-18 for the entire month of June.

According to chairman Wilma Gilliland, participants can join the program at any time and previous skills are not necessary.

Area youth will learn grip, swing, rules and course conduct as well as many other valuable skills.

"It's about the integrity of the game, the friendship it builds and the lessons it teaches the kids," Gilliland said.

Youth aged 4 through third grade will meet at the junior club house at Four Winds Golf Course on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning June 2.

Instruction for third grade children begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 10 a.m. when first and second grade students begin. The hour-long class for pre-school and kindergarten children is from 11 a.m. to noon.

Instruction for eighth grade students through seniors is scheduled for 9-10 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning June 1.

Children in sixth and seventh grade with attend from 10-11 a.m., and those in fourth and fifth grade are scheduled from 11 a.m. until noon.

All students from fourth grade to seniors till meet at the pro shop at Four Winds Golf Course and they may come earlier than their scheduled time if they comply with all of the program's rules.

Parents are asked to stay with their younger children throughout their program.

"For those little ones the parents have to stay with them, or we wouldn't be able to have the program," Gilliland said.

Gilliland instructs the students with help from golf pro Chad Wise and Tanya Cook. Last year, Dylan Wise also helped the children.

Older participants will compete in a tournament on June 29, with prizes and hot dogs provided.The final day for pre-school students through third grade is scheduled for June 30. This is a fun day with hot dogs and prizes.

Juniors may play free at the regular course throughout June with permission from the pro shop, and all members of the junior program who want an annual program can receive 50 percent off their fee.

Young or inexperienced juniors must be accompanied by an adult. Gilliland said this is not because of discipline issues, but for safety.

"They get to hit the ball and then they have to sit down until everyone is done, then they can run and get their balls," Gilliland said. "My concern is making sure no one gets hit. So we have a sitting down tree, if they run out on the course or walk behind somebody, they go to the sitting down tree."

The program began shortly after the first nine holes of the local golf course were completed in 1969, according to Gilliland.

"I started first just having two or three children," Gilliland said. "It was after we opened the grass course. It evolved then until it got to be a problem at the pro shop."

One year the program received about 200 registrations, Gilliland said.

"Thank goodness they didn't all show up," she said.

Gilliland said that at that pivotal moment there were too many kids on the course when golfers wanted to use the putting greens.

"So I said (to Bruce), 'If I can get a contribution from the United State Golf Association, would you build us a junior golf area?'" she said.

She was aware at the time of support and funding programs available through the USGA for this kind of project. The USGA accepted her application and granted $36,000 to the program.

"The trap range had built a building, but over the years, people don't do that anymore," she said. "So now I call that the junior clubhouse."

That established the program and since then FirsTier Bank has also sponsored the youth program, providing for the tournament prizes and lunch.

 
 
Rendered 03/29/2024 00:11