There’s no better feeling than helping a child discover something they’re passionate about, and nobody takes that discovery more seriously than Briar Leaf Golf Club. For over 25 years, Briar Leaf has held Junior Programs in the summer to help hundreds of kids learn about and develop a love for golf. On Tuesday, June 20, Briar Leaf kicked off this summer’s lineup of Junior Programs with an exciting First Swing session.
Briar Leaf’s First Swing sessions are introductory four-day golf camps meant to get children of all ages excited about golfing, even if they’ve never picked up a club before. The camp covers all of the basics and goes over everything from golf etiquette to how to properly swing to chipping and putting. The camp also teaches kids about the different types of clubs and how to use them.
“They truly get to experience every part of the game, and it’s remarkable how much they improve in just four days,” said Jay Williams, PGA golf professional and director of instruction at Briar Leaf.
As the kids took turns practicing their swings, the instructors went around and spent time working with each child one-on-one to help them with their form, provide tips, and answer questions. Williams has been helping with the Junior Programs for many years and explained that, every time he sees a child smile when they hit the ball just right, he falls in love with golf all over again.
“Meeting all the kids and their parents is just great. Many kids will come out to First Swing when they’re 7 years old, and they’ll come back year after year until they age out of the program. A lot of the kids I’ve taught during First Swing are adults now, and I’ll run into them out here while they’re golfing. It’s just incredible the friendships you can form,” said Williams.
Many organizations hold sports camps in the summer for kids, but summer camps like Briar Leaf’s First Swing are special because golf is a sport a person can stick with their entire life.
“You can’t play football forever, you can’t play baseball forever, but golf is a sport you can play forever. Here at Briar Leaf, we’re really trying to grow golf, expose kids to it, and encourage them to stick with it because it is something they can do their entire lives,” said Williams.
Unlike many other sports, a person doesn’t have to be super great at golf to participate and have fun.
“You can chop the ball down the fairway the entire time and still have a great time with your friends and family,” laughed Williams.
Ultimately, Briar Leaf’s Junior Programs are a fantastic opportunity for children to learn more about golf. Each time a child swings their club or asks a question, the Briar Leaf team strives to instill in them a passion for golf that can benefit them for a lifetime.
“Our goal is always to get the kids excited to come out and play again whether it’s the next day or even later in life when they decide to get back into it,” said Williams.
If your child missed out on Briar Leaf’s beginning First Swing session, don’t worry--three more sessions will be held this summer. Session Two will take place from June 27-30, Session Three will be held from July 18-21, and Session Four will take place from July 25-28.
To learn more about Briar Leaf Golf Club and register for its Junior Programs, visit briarleaf.com.
