Golf camp teaching youth lessons both on and off the course
Click here for photos of the youth golf camp
The 27th annual P.J. Wilson and Henry Scott Youth Golf Camp is in full swing and on Tuesday 79 young golfers were at the Eastern Florida State College Fred Gay Golf Academy Driving Range learning about life and the game of golf.
It has been one of the goals of the camp for the past 27 years and this year is no different as campers learn how to swing a club as well as treat each other and adults.
"This is a group of kids that are enthusiastic about playing the game of golf and we have tried to instill in them the importance of being good students, not necessarily just becoming good golfers," longtime volunteer instructor Isaac Johnson said. "Once you are a good student in the classroom, you can be a good student on the golf course. Good etiquette is being taught and I think this camp has always provided kids encouragement and good instruction on not only the game of golf but being good students."
It is noticeable all around the range as students would be encouraging each other and saying good shot throughout the day.
And in between sessions the campers would get some water and a snack and answer some trivia questions about the game of golf with the winners getting golf balls.
This year's camp features some special instructors as former Titan golfers Kerry Sweeney and Ryan Rozic along with Gianna Piscitelli were helping teach the younger kids how to improve their games.
"It is good to just come out and grow the game, you never now one of these kids could be playing at Eastern Florida State College one day but it's good to see them excited about golf," Rozic said after working with a group on their swings. "It is a good feeling to be able to help them, I was in their shoes once and I had players I looked up to who helped me and now to be able to do that for others is really good. I am passing the torch. It is really fun to watch them learn the game and you can see they have some athletic talent because some of them can hit the ball pretty well already."
Rozic worked with one camper who was struggling a bit with her swing, but after a couple minutes she was all smiles as she hit a perfect shot right at the 50-yard sign.
The golf camp will continue through Thursday this week and next week with a banquet set for Thursday, June 20.