By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
For over 25 years, the leadership of the Paint Creek Country Club have understood the importance of introducing the world of golf to young players. Now, it’s more important than ever for the next generation of Woods and Mickelsons to grace the green.
Beginning in the 1980s, PCCC created a junior golf program aimed at bringing more attention to the sport but also as a way to give their members something extra included with their memberships.
This year, PCCC is teaching 83 junior golfers ranging in age from seven to 17, and according to the program’s coordinator, Don Carrier, the program teaches much more than technique.
“It teaches honesty, integrity and the kids play with different kids every week so it also helps teach social skills and they make friends,” Carrier said “It gives them the opportunity, if they’re good, to play on high school teams and a few people in the program have gone to college on scholarships.”
Carrier, who’s spent 48 years himself golfing, believes the etiquette taught at the program, like sportsmanship and respect, benefits a person in their daily life, for the rest of their life. He added unlike other sports like basketball, football or hockey, golf is something that can be played, even competitively, from young to old.
The program is split up into four levels: beginners, intermediates, 9 holers, and 9 holer advanced. Over 30 kids are in the 9 holer programs with many playing at the high school level for Lake Orion, Oxford, and Notre Dame.
Head Golf Pro for PCCC and lead instructor for the program Steve Vickery has been with Paint Creek for over 25 years and has been involved with the program for just as long. Regardless of the junior’s skill level, he never shies away from the fundamentals of the game; posture, grip, and alignment. With those three fundamentals, it creates a stable foundation to dial in a consistent golf swing.
“The biggest reward is to see the improvement in them and sometimes, especially for the beginner’s and intermediates, when they hit that one great drive or sink a 20 foot putt, things that get them excited, those are the real reward seeing them achieve that and have success in the game,” Vickery said.
Vickery is a registered PGA professional and says getting the kids involved is paramount for the survival of golf but what’s equally as important is the support parents give their kids to continue with the sport. Paint Creek closes the golf course every Tuesday morning in the summer for the program and without the support of the parents, Vickery says the program couldn’t work.
“I think the kids are the growth and future of the game, if we don’t get the juniors involved it’s not going to keep golf courses in business because for the game of golf, we have to get kids involved,” he said. “It gets the family involved so as a private club we strive to make a membership attractive to the entire family so it’s not just one person that’s playing golf, it’s the entire family.”
Although the 2016 program registration is past the deadline, registration for the 2017 program normally opens in April or May for those interested in getting in involved with the program.