By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
Since 1990 there’s been obvious changes in the golfers that have participated in Paint Creek’s Junior Golf Club.
The staff at Paint Creek has seen changes in clothing style, music, hair styles and shoe choices but two things have always remained uninterrupted: the golfer’s desire to learn the game and the larger-than-life lessons they walk away with.
While many children enjoy sleeping in during summer vacation, the Junior Golfers are up at sunrise every Tuesday practicing everything from driving, chipping, to putting. Now the quarter century-old program boasts nearly 100 golfers ranging in age from 7 to 17 stretching over nine weeks.
‘It starts with three weekend clinics in June and that’s where they get their most instruction,? Paint Creek Head Golf Professional Steve Vickery said. ‘This year we were lucky to have Lake Orion’s Golf Team come out and volunteer their time to teach these kids about the game.?
Last Tuesday marked Week 7 of the program and was also the Junior Club Championship. Just like the normal weeks, the championship was broken into three skill levels and divided into boys and girls groups.
The beginner golfers champion for the girls was Aubrey Wittman who shot a -41 and Matthew McMahon for boys, shooting -25 over five holes. Intermediate champions were Claire Romain for the girls shooting -37 over six holes while Zachary Robertson topped out the boys at -29.
Finishing out the advanced group for the girls was Grace Hines who shot -57 over nine holes while Pierce Burke shot a -44
Driving from 150 yards and coming in second for the Boys Advanced group was 15 year-old T.J. Hirschfield.
He shot only one below Burke and tying with Alex Klein at -45. Hirschfield who’s been participating in the program for over five years was able to join the Varsity Golf team as a freshman.
‘We’ll have over half a dozen kids from our program on various high school teams and many of our kids go on to play in college,? Vickery said.
The Junior Program has but only one week left in the 2015 season and then their group will don their backpacks and return to school a couple weeks later. Vickery and Junior Golf Coordinator Don Carrier look to continue the program next year and it looks like they’ll have no problem doing so.
Since the development of the program they’ve had high participation rates every year from 80 to 100 junior golfers. Despite family vacations, illnesses, and other commitments weekly participating exceeds 80 percent. Vickery mentioned how the Junior Club teaches much more than just golf.
‘This game teaches you patience and teamwork because they’ll have their good days and bad days,? he said. ‘There’s so much this program teaches them too like etiquette and definitely camaraderie.?