Jul. 30—Young children speckled the landscape of the Range Line Golf Center during the final Joplin Golf Foundation Junior Clinic of the summer on Tuesday.
About 30 kids of all ages participated each week in the clinic, which was made possible with proceeds from the annual Ditto-Sapp Memorial Pro Am, which is set for Sept. 11.
The program, which took place each Tuesday in July, returned for its first year after an eight-year hiatus.
At its peak, the program once drew as many as 200 young golfers. Foundation President Greg Crawford said he hopes to increase participation next year and in years to follow.
“Hopefully next year instead of 30 kids, we might have 50 or 60,” Crawford said.
The program teaches fundamentals of the game, including chipping, putting, driving and even tasks as simple as placing the ball on the tee. The program is free, and equipment is provided, if needed. The foundation also offered free balls and clubs for kids to take home to continue working on their games.
“We’ve got all sorts of drivers of different lengths, depending on how old the child is,” Crawford said. “Same thing with wedges — different lengths — and putters. We have just about everything they need to play golf.”
Volunteer Jack Spencer, 18, shared the experience of working with younger golfers, some as young as 5 years old.
“It was good to work with the kids and get into their minds and see how golf looks to them,” Spencer said. “It’s kind of refreshing teaching kids how to play and spark that fun for them.”
Spencer, this year’s Ozark Amateur champion, said from what he saw, the future of the game is in good hands.
“I saw some good swings, and I think if they stick to it, anything can happen,” Spencer said.
Six-year-old Sadie Lutz, of St. Louis, was in Joplin visiting her grandparents and said she came to the clinic to learn how to hit the ball.
At the conclusion of the clinic, Crawford announced $500 scholarships to three junior golfers — Jack Tyrrell, of Thomas Jefferson; Nick Collier, of Neosho; and Harry Satterlee, of Joplin. Tyrrell will be attending the University of Nebraska. Collier will be a part of the inaugural Pittsburg State University golf team. Satterlee, a Joplin graduate, will be playing golf for Division I University of Cincinnati.
The scholarships, which also were funded with proceeds from Ditto-Sapp, were awarded based on essays on why they love golf.
