Youth Clinics And Camps Popular At Jersey Shore

By Rebecca Gaona, NJSGA P.J. Boatwright Intern

Throughout the United States, junior golf has drastically grown over the past few years. Down at the Jersey Shore, the scores are decreasing while the participation is increasing.

Whether it is at the local driving range or an exclusive country club, there is a high demand for golf clinics and camps for juniors. The average one-hour golf lesson can range from $75 to $150, which may be drastic for a child who is just beginning. Youth camps tend to bring a side of golf that one may not find in a one-on-one lesson, which is socializing.

Junior camps tend to bring a group of kids together for a few days to learn the basics of golf, which can be taught by either a PGA Professional or an experienced golfer.

Either way, these group programs are less inclined to be pricey due to the fact they are weekly sessions rather than daily.

The key to group camps is to allow children to socialize, while teaching them different tools on and off the golf course.

Some notable summer junior golf programs private and public across the Jersey Shore are: Twin Brook Golf Learning Center in Tinton Falls, Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale, the Monmouth County Park System, Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Lakewood, Colts Neck Golf Club, and many more institutions.

The Monmouth County Park System holds many different program options for all ages. Boys and girls have over a dozen options to play in team matches, learn the basics, or enter in specific clinics. The possibilities are endless through the Monmouth County Park System.

VIEW MONMOUTH COUNTY PARKS YOUTH CLINICS

Golf camps are typically the stepping-stones for any beginner in golf. Whether it is a child or an adult, golf camps and clinics can be one of the most helpful and fun ways to learn the game of golf.

Through different golf clubs and associations, clinics have become popular, especially in the summer season.

At the Jersey Shore, the amount of golf camps and clinics are endless. At many golf clubs, they hold clinics for their members and children. At public golf courses and driving ranges, they open up clinics to the public, for certain fees.

For some organizations, their camp or clinic may be free at a slim fee. The First Tee, in different areas of New Jersey supports youth while learning life skills through golf.

The First Tee of Monmouth and Ocean Counties serve to children ages 7-17 through their different camps, programs, and classes. They offer six different summer camps, where in the spring they hold different programs for children.

First Tee Coach, Ashley Navin, who this spring finished her career on the Monmouth University golf team, speaks about her first year coaching for The First Tee:

“It is fantastic coaching for the first tee. Not only being able to teach them skills about the sport I love, but skills they'll use in life off the golf course as well is important.”

As for the demand in summer golf programs, it is tough to keep up with expenses with golf equipment and summer camp fees.

“There’s a variety of social classes and backgrounds of children participating, they’re all there to learn, which is the main point,” Navin said.

It is not hard to come across a golf program for junior golfers. Across New Jersey, there are more than 280 golf courses, where a majority of these facilities hold clinics for youngsters with Royce Brook in Hillsborough and Galloping Hill in Kenilworth each attracting more than 100 young golfers.

In a 2012 study by HSBC Banking:

“In the United States, The First Tee national program, designed to introduce younger players to golf, is exposing around 1.6 million children to the game through elementary school gym classes.”

Golf is beginning to have a different face, where it is more likely to see a large amount of younger players on tour rather than elder players. The norm has also changed where women are evolving the game and slowly but surely, catching up to the men.

Exposure to the game of golf has driven many children to hop on the golf bandwagon and become not only a player, but also a fan. The positive outlook at a junior program is vital by these programs to set the tone for kids who are just beginning.