Earlier this year the Newport County YMCA started YGolf to offer an exciting and inclusive program for all skill levels and ages.
As part of the YGolf initiative, opportunities for the community include the Junior PGA Program for ages 7 to 17, golf clinics for all ages, summer golf camp, family golf days, adaptive golf and golf simulator reservations.
YGolf is led by Orlando Peace, the community golf director at the Y and PGA professional. Peace said the center saw a need for the program with children coming to the YMCA who had never played the sport before.
“We thought why don’t they get involved with golf?” said Peace. “I’m just blessed to be involved with the YMCA and have their support as a community-oriented offering. I already had a golf program, and I thought it would be nice to grow with the YMCA.”
Cori Kilzi, the associate executive director of the Newport County YMCA, said they first began talking with Peace last summer about the possibility of bringing his program to the Y. YGolf then finally amped up over winter and became full-scale in January.
“When it comes to specific programming, you need the right person leading it,” said Kilzi. “So, when Orlando came to us, we thought YGolf would be great. It’s an awesome sport for number of ages. The success we are having with this — it’s all about the job Orlando is doing.”
YGolf Features
The Junior PGA Program is sponsored by the PGA and provides youth with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of golf while emphasizing sportsmanship, teamwork and leadership. Participants receive professional instruction, engage in friendly competitions, and gain the confidence to excel both on and off the course.
The YMCA also offers golf clinics with tailored instruction for each age group. These clinics focus on key aspects of the game and are ran by experienced instructors.
Finally, the addition of a golf simulator at the Y lets participants enjoy the sport year-round. The simulator is rented out through 90-minute sessions and provides a realistic and immersive golfing experience.
“With being on the inside, it acts as a classroom and everyone gets the same attention,” said Peace. “It’s so relatable for kids. They can hit into the screen and see the ball travel and learn why the ball moves the way it does. A lot of adults didn’t grow up on systems like this, and it really improves their swings. It also brings families together. They come in and play together here at the YMCA. It’s one of the better teaching tools I’ve used in my years as an instructor.”
The Newport County YMCA offers different types of payment options for YGolf, including all-access monthly fees, family and individual rates, along with member and nonmember prices. Thanks to the positive reaction already this year, Kilzi said the Y will be adding another simulator in the coming weeks.
A Community Effort
Peace said YGolf would not be a reality without local community partners Green Valley Country Club and A1 Roofing and Construction.
“They’ve believed in me and what I was doing,” said Peace. “It’s about supporting the community. It’s the only reason why this program can reach so many people. Green Valley Country Club is a golf course we’ve used, and they’ve been instrumental in whatever we needed.”
Due to the program’s success, Kilzi said golf is now an added compliment to all the other sports the YMCA provides. “It’s another opportunity for recreation, and another opportunity for this area to stay active,” she said. “We want to promote healthy living throughout one’s lifespan, and this is a way to do that. Golf is a game that can accessed by all.”
Kilzi’s top piece of advice for other industry leaders who also want to capitalize on golf is to ensure you have an invested and knowledgeable person like Peace leading the way. Also, any community rec center can do this, but you need a program that complements having a golf simulator due to this device’s surging popularity.
But if you create a program with access to high-quality facilities and equipment, guidance from skilled and passionate instructors, and a welcoming atmosphere that encourages growth and camaraderie, your center will be in a position to succeed.
