Now’s the time to register juniors for summer camps and clinics. Here’s how to make that a win-win.
By Susan Fornoff
Don’t overcelebrate just because you got your taxes filed on time. April signals another important deadline, one for every parent of a current or future golfer age 3 to 17: Get signed up and ready for summer camps, clinics, lessons or leagues.
Which ones? Where? There are so many options, especially in the Denver area but even in the mountains, the Springs, Fort Collins, Montrose and on the Western Slope. The list that follows this article will help you get started, as well as a few valuable pointers that emerged in a conversation with Stefanie Ferguson, who coaches Metro State’s women’s golf team during the school year and spends her summers as lead instructor at CommonGround with ExperienceGolf.
ExperienceGolf’s junior programs provide a microcosm of what’s out there. They start kiddos in Future 36ers at age 3! Parents come along for that one, once a week for five weeks of basics. Graduates move into Operation36, a pathway that’s illustrated on ExperienceGolf.biz under the services tab. To summarize: Players start out at 25 yards from the hole. When they can score 36 from there over nine holes, they move back to 50 yards, then 100 yards, until they get all the way back to a full tee box. When they can score 36 from there, they’re sent off to college on scholarships.
Just kidding about that last thing. Sort of.
“I think there are a lot of parents that think there are so many unused golf scholarships, they’re just pushing their kids to be really good early,” Ferguson says. “But golf is one of those sports you don’t want to specialize in too early, and you don’t want kids to burn out. So try to be really careful with that.”
ExperienceGolf has introduced a new program to take advanced juniors to the next level. It’s called the Junior Competitive Coaching Program: 10 weeks that include a weekly class and supervised practice, three individual lessons, three on-course lessons and numerous sessions on the par-three course.
So, obviously, an early challenge is to match your child’s level and interest with the goals and objectives of the program. What’s got more appeal, the five-day overnight Nike Junior Golf Camp at the University of Denver or four weeks of 45-minute classes from the South Suburban Parks and Rec?
A few other considerations for golf parents
- If just starting kids out, search out options close to home. Ask the head professional, not the bartender or the cart attendant, at the course you play for summer programs. He or she will know!
- Junior golf doesn’t discriminate! Groups tend to be established by age and ability, which means girls play with boys through the ranks. That can even be true at LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, which caters to girls but does not exclude boys from joining and enrolling in programs. “They come once a week for 10 weeks and go through the basics,” says Stef. “They try to keep that one really fun and lighthearted. They might make bracelets to count their shots, for example.”
- If there’s an instructor for every six students, that’s a pretty good ratio. “I think with older kids you can get more flexible, but I don’t think you want to go too much over 6-to-1,” Stef says. “We’ve seen some camps where it’s 10 to one, and it gets scary because it’s hard to keep all the kids safe and always have an eye on them. Clubs and golf balls can do some damage.” How does the program define “instructor”? Caring, trained volunteers or summer workers can enhance engagement and safety, but not without credentialed golf teachers in the lead.
- Check the fine print. What happens if the weather’s bad? What’s the dress code? And what are the equipment requirements? First Tee has plenty of loaner clubs and bags, but many programs expect you to outfit your golfer yourself.
- Look closely at the family schedule. If your junior is going to miss two weeks in a five-week program, that is not a good value. “We typically try to have a conversation with parents on the phone before they sign up,” says Stef, “just to make sure that whatever they signed up for is the right fit for the kids. Are there time constraints? Are they going to be out of town a lot?”
- Look at your own schedule. At ExperienceGolf, parents are expected to caddie for matches at the Operation 36 level – three of those in the five-week session. In programs that take small children, parents should expect to be there throughout. In every case, it’s beneficial to plan some fun family practice or play in between lessons. It’s bonding time for most families, and it helps new golfers get more comfortable at the course.
- Finally, keep an eye on that line between “supportive” parent and “overbearing” parent. “Be supportive but don’t try to push kids to be the next Rickie Fowler,” says Stef. “Keep golf lighthearted, and when they’re tired of practicing, let them go home. And for the older kiddos, let your kids be with us and let us do our jobs. Some parents like to stand behind their kid the whole time and critique every shot. I’d say, go hit balls for an hour and a half and come back when we’re done.”
A few summer options for junior golfers
ExperienceGolf operates out of CommonGround Golf Course and has details about Future 36ers, Operation36 and the Junior Competitive Coaching Program on its website under Services. Costs range from $150 for the little ones to $1,575 for the new 10-week coaching program. experiencegolf.biz
First Tee Colorado Rocky Mountains and First Tee Southern Colorado have programs for juniors 17 and under ranging from $5 clinics to $170 four-day camps, at courses all around Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, the Western Slope and in the Vail area. June and July are packed with options. firstteecoloradorockymountains.org and firstteesoco.org
LPGA*USGA Girls Golf has chapters in courses all over Colorado geared to girls from 6 to 17, and a few for girls 5 and under – and boys are welcome at all of them. Start searching at girlsgolf.org.
PGA Junior Leagues offer a fun, team-based approach to golf, with divisions for players 13 and under and then 17 and under. There’s a $99 annual fee plus coaching fees ranging from $100 to $500, depending on venue and program. Look for one at your club or course, or search at pgajrleague.com.
Air Force Academy camps at Eisenhower Golf Club fill up so fast, this year’s session has already sold out. With four full days Monday through Thursday and a half-day Friday, kids ages 10 through 18 can enroll as boarders ($1,500) or commuters ($1,000). goairforcefalcons.com
Nike Junior Golf camps cater to the more sophisticated student, with programs that include an five-day, four-night camp for 10-to-17-year-olds at DU and an Elite Camp with CU Boulder Men’s Golf for competitive golfers 12-18 who want to play in college. Look for other camps in Broomfield, Lone Tree and at Eisenhower. nike.com/kids/nike-sports-camp
South Suburban Parks and Recreation has summer camps in four locations, ranging from 45 minutes a week for 7-to-10-year-olds at South Suburban to four-day camps with a 4-to-1 instructor ratio at Family Sports. Prices range from $65 to $315. ssprd.org
Whatever your neighborhood, check with your local parks and rec department for affordable summer camps and clinics nearby.
Veteran journalist Susan Fornoff has written about golf for publications including the San Francisco Chronicle, ColoradoBiz magazine and her own GottaGoGolf.com. She became a CGA member when she moved from Oakland, CA, to Littleton in 2016, and ghost-writes as “Molly McMulligan,” the CGA’s on-course consultant on golf for fun. Email her at mollymcmulligan@gmail.com.
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