August 25, 2021 – One of the sports that has remained available to all ages during the pandemic is golf. The sport is played outdoors and allows social distancing with ease. Golf is physical and provides an opportunity to move around while focusing on a long-term, multi-faceted approach to success.
Florence has two golf courses, and both will host major events this week sponsored by the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) that will attract dozens of high-profile young golfers from across the state to the area to compete.
Nik Remmer, the PGA Pro at Florence Golf Links, coordinated a unique effort not only to promote healthy outdoor alternatives for youth, but hopes to revitalize a once successful community of young golfers in the Florence area.
“We hope to reach more young golfers in the long term,” he said. “We want to give children a sport that they can play in teams or individually, and we want to teach children skills that they can use both on and off the golf course: professionalism, honor and good etiquette.”
Remmer was a four year old golfer at Siuslaw High School in the 1990s and has been disappointed with the state of golf for the students since turning pro on the golf course.
To meet his desire for a more active youth golf program in this area, Remmer created the Florence Golf Links Junior Camp. The camp opened last week and will last through Thursday this week.
“When I came here in 2019, no kids were playing golf, so we decided to have a two-week camp,” said Remmer. “Children can enroll for a week or two and there is no cost to them. We will provide all necessary equipment, instruction and a meal while the children are here. “
He started the camp with Jesse Schütte, “because we got into golf years ago,” said Remmer. “Jesse is now a professional golf player and I am a professional golf player at Florence Golf Links because of junior camps when we were young here in Florence.”
Remmer has developed a curriculum for the young people currently registered in the camp, which provides for lessons at socially distant stations on the practice area, separated according to age groups and club types.
The clubs and golf balls used by campers are provided by the golf course.
Remmer wishes that participants not only have a good time, but also learn the underlying rules of golf – which emphasize athleticism, practice and respect for your competition.
This is the second week of the camp. The first week introduced the youngsters to the different types of clubs and the basic techniques of golf. All participants were allowed to fire as many shots as they wanted.
Each group is assigned two volunteers who work individually with each student and have a daily lesson topic. Talented golfers are available to answer questions.
Remmer has decided to keep the camp free of charge so that anyone interested can participate.
In addition, Florence Golf Links worked with the Siuslaw School District to provide lunch to campers while other individuals and organizations assisted in purchasing additional meals for attendees.
“The warehouse doesn’t cost anything. Florence Golf Links is donating the driving range and all assistance is on a voluntary basis, ”said Remmer. “We understand that there is a cost to playing golf and we don’t want it to keep children from playing. As long as they are with an adult, we always let them play for free just to have them supervised. “
46 local children have registered for this week, regardless of the OGA Junior tournament. The camp ran from August 17th to 19th and this week from August 24th to 26th with the children in attendance for three hours.
“The kids start with lunch, some basic golf stretches, and then split the day into groups,” said Remmer. “We have four children’s groups, separated by age, and four stations: putting, chipping, iron and wood.”
One of the advantages of playing golf for Remmer is the ability to practice the sport for all ages. Golf can be played at a high level by both older and younger players, which brings a cross-generational aspect to the game.
The Florence Golf Links Junior Camp age groups range from 5 to 17 years old, made up of boys and girls. The volunteers who help teach the game are often between 60 and 70 years old and many have gambled for much of their lives.
“It only takes one solid golf swing to create a future golfer. Who knows, maybe we’ll have future golf professionals here this week, ”said Remmer. “If you are a parent or grandparent and play golf, bring your children to the class. We don’t charge children for playing with their parents while they play. Even if it only goes on foot or in a cart. “
He said people can donate old balls and clubs to Junior Golf.
“Golf equipment can be expensive, and we use donated clubs and balls for juniors who don’t have them to play,” he added.
This week’s OGA Junior Tournament took place on Tuesday at Florence Golf Links and will take place today on Ocean Dunes Golf Course. The tournament was public.
For more information on junior golf at Florence Golf Links, visit florencegolflinks.com.