Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/130253
iG1304--proof 5/8/13 4:53 PM Page 1 GROWING THE GAME Alberta PGA Intent On Realizing that youth is the future of their game is one thing for golf's professional staff. Having those same youth become part of the game is quite another. Because of that, the Alberta PGA and its member clubs are striving to bring more kids on-stream with the game of a lifetime, by giving them access to opportunities anywhere and everywhere. Included in that was the putting zone set up for kids at the recent Alberta Golf Show in Edmonton, which was run by club pros. "I've learned a lot from a lot of other professionals and it's been a big focus for them," explained Adam Werbicki from the Derrick Golf and Winter Club in Edmonton, who was named the Alberta PGA's top junior leader twice in the past three years and also captured the same title nationally in 2011. "Our goal is to involve a lot of other professionals so they can build that passion as well. There are a lot of young professionals who want to be involved," Werbicki continued, "and it is happening in Alberta now. That's just going to help it grow, for sure." One of the largest drawbacks in attracting kids into golf these days is that there are so many other sporting avenues open to them and they likely want to at least sample the vast majority of those, if not all of them. The thing about golf, Werbicki pointed out, is that kids don't need to focus solely on the game itself to get lots from it. "There are a lot of challenges that way 18 and other sports can take up a lot of their schedules. We actually want them to play other sports. We don't want them, especially at a young age, just to play golf. If we can have them take part in a camp, for a week, or play once in a while, that's perfect. Golf's a game for the rest of their lives if they learn it, so that's perfect." Werbicki noted the game is challenging and as such introducing a child to the sport and having them see, and feel, success early on is fundamental to keeping them interested and coming back. "Golf can be very frustrating and challenging especially at a very young age," the pro noted. "The kids all want to run to the range and hit balls but when they swing, and miss and the ball doesn't go anywhere, it deflates what they're trying to do because they want to hit it. "For us, we use a lot of other sports, tools, equipment, to get them engaged in what they're doing, making it a little easier for them to hit the golf ball, whether it's through the use of oversized plastic clubs or a tennis racket in order to get the ball moving and going in the right direction. "Kids have success in other sports and we want to translate that into golf and we find that easy to do." Golf is a game of honour and tradition and those traits for youngsters are good things to possess early in life, Werbicki agreed. "They start to learn so much about the PHOTO CREDIT - GORD MONTGOMERY Bringing Youth Into The Game THE DERRICK'S ADAM WERBICKI SEES THE POSITIVES OF STARTING KIDS AT AN EARLY AGE, USING OVER-SIZE CLUBS, BALLS AND EASY TO HIT TARGETS game, the people they meet and coach and let your kid learn the right learning the sport that involves honesty way. Let the coach do their thing and and etiquette and that's what it's all the parents? Their role is to help support about," he noted. the coach and support the junior. As for what age kids and parents should "There's a long, long time to teach them set their sights on what golf could and have them improve and get really possibly bring them in the future, good," and perhaps one day earn a especially those with talent, Werbicki living from what many consider the feels there's no need to jump to any best game of all. hasty decisions. Thus, the young pro About the writer: Gord Montgomery is offered up some very timely, sage advice. the sports editor of two weekly "As parents, their role is very specific – newspapers in the Edmonton area and provide a lot of support for your kids, is a member of the Golf Journalists a lot of encouragement. Find someone Association of Canada. He has written for Inside Golf for the past five years or a program that's good. We have lots of programs with the with the majority of his coverage in Alberta PGA or the PGA of Canada with north and central Alberta. He can be professionals that are so good at doing reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. this. Find somebody that can be the He's also on Twitter at @iGgolfwriter.