(Melfort Golf and Country Club/Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Growing the game

Junior golf returning to Melfort after 10+ years

Jun 23, 2023 | 3:26 PM

After more than a decade with nothing in place, juniors who are wanting to learn how to golf can now do so in Melfort.

The Melfort Golf and Country Club (MGCC) had been without a junior program for the last 10+ years, however, that is no longer.

Starting on Monday (June 26) the 2023 Junior Summer Nights program will begin and the absence will be filled.

“We used to have a fairly active program, but over the years, with manpower and several other things, it just hasn’t been able to come to fruition,” explained Chris Corbett, president of the MGCC.

No previous experience is required and everyone is welcome to join.

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Lessons will be targeted towards ages six to 18, which will then be split into three different age groups (6-10, 11-14, and 15-18).

“It’s the future of the course,” Corbett told northeastNOW. “The future of any golf course is getting the young kids involved… it’s a huge excitement around our board table. This is something we’ve been trying to figure out how to do for a number of years, so we’re thrilled to have it back.”

Girls’ and boys’ summer nights will run every Monday until August 28 (excluding holiday Mondays) from 6 – 7:30 p.m. and will be based on a positive environment.

Students will learn the basic skills of golf, which include putting, chipping, driving and etiquette.

“Getting kids involved in the game is critical to the survival life of the golf course because those kids become golfers, they buy memberships, and then they turn into board members,” added Corbett. “It’s also one of those games that they can do forever, so they can take it wherever they go. It’s a physical activity that they can be doing until they’re 85 years old and they got their start right here, so it’s a pretty neat story.”

As of right now, the plan for the program is to alternate between instructional nights and playing nights.

During instructions, the juniors will spend a half hour in each discipline, while during play, they will go out for a couple of holes and tee off from forward tees.

“The chance to learn and the chance to win a prize, the chance to hang out with your friends, if you build that environment, build that experience, then suddenly those people want to come back to you… a one-and-done can happen if the experience isn’t good,” Corbett mentioned.

The program will have a fee of $10 per lesson/night with limited spots available.

As of Friday, 60 kids have already registered, which has been designated as the capped amount.

The kick-off night (June 26) will also be sponsored by Elk Ridge Resort, with general manager and managing partner, Ryan Danberg, in attendance as a guest instructor.

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news@northeastnow.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8