Junior golf league gets rolling at Haven on Sunday

How is developing a proper golf swing like learning a foreign language?

“We find that the younger someone takes up the sport of golf, the better their swing will be,” said youth golf instructor Danny Gall. “Kids are easier to mold and they don’t have the same bad habits you might find in an adult.”

This Sunday will mark the return of the Green Valley Junior Golf League, with registration taking place at Haven Golf Course from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The registration fee is $25 per child.

Registration day will also feature a free putting clinic and competition, hosted by Gall and fellow instructor and Haven Golf Club pro, Greg Chesney.

The first official day of the clinic is scheduled for this Wednesday, with meeting times at 4 and 5 p.m.

“We’re going to teach the kids how to swing a golf club from the ground up,” Chesney said. “We’ll rotate range work, putting and chipping to make sure the kids get a well-rounded golf experience.”

Any golfer ages 6-18 is welcome to participate, regardless of skill level.

Practices will take place each Wednesday, with each session costing $5—a fee that includes range balls and instruction from PGA professionals.

The GVJGL will last throughout the middle of September, with various tournaments and competitions scheduled throughout the summer.

Both Gall and Chesney have extensive experience with youth golf clinics, with this year marking the return of the GVJGL after a brief hiatus.

“I was working over at Desert Hills and didn’t have the chance to do it, but I’m back at Haven and really excited to get this program rolling again,” Gall said.

Chesney said the benefits of the GVJGL reach well beyond the boundaries of the fairways.

“Golf teaches kids how to focus and the importance of hard work and an attention to detail,” Chesney said. “The skills a kid learns on the golf course definitely translate into the classroom.”

While the actual nuts and bolts of the proper golf swing is a big part of the clinic, Gall and Chesney also emphasize the importance of proper golf etiquette.

“Our kids will know the rules and the proper way to conduct themselves on a golf course,” Gall said.

In addition, participants are also eligible for the GVJGL Golf Card, which enables those that qualify to play at participating local golf course for a $1 greens fee.

With the start of this season’s league right over the horizon, Gall and Chesney have their hopes set high for the Southern Arizona youth.

“It’s been an extremely successful program,” Gall said. “We’ve only broken one window in past programs, so we’re feeling pretty good.”

For more information, please call Gall at 891-2011 or Haven Golf Course at 625-4281.

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