Golfers ages 5-7, shown here, were part of a youth camp at the Island Country Club, where they learned basic golf skills from the club’s golf professional, Alex Drenga, back left, with some assistance from George Stevens Academy standout golfer Percy Zentz, back right. Courtesy of Island Country Club
Island/Blue Hill Peninsula—The country clubs in the area, from Castine to Deer Isle, have been offering students a chance to learn the sports of golf and tennis throughout the summer. The programs are open to both public residents and members of the respective clubs.
The Island Country Club in Deer Isle just wrapped up two weeks of golf camp sessions, for students ages 5-15. Those who participated were island residents, as well as kids from the Blue Hill Peninsula and members both local and from away.
The program is called First Links and is geared toward teaching the students the fundamentals of the game, as well as core values such as honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, confidence and courtesy, among others.
Island Country Club teaching professional Alex Drenga is charged with the golf play instruction, while club member Linda Kimbrell takes care of the etiquette portion of the lessons.
Each participant’s registration fee includes hats, shirts, and golf equipment to use if they need it, according to Island Country Club Co-President Sam Ostrow.
The program is funded by money raised from an annual fundraising tournament, which ended a few years ago after enough money was raised to keep funding the program on a yearly basis. Ostrow said that no decision has been made at this time as to whether or not there will be a need to fundraise again in the future.
On the tennis side, club tennis professional Bob Slayton offers weekly group clinics and individual lessons for students ages 5-12. These clinics will be offered through the month of August, as long as there are students signed up for them. The sessions are Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 to 10 a.m., for ages 5-7, and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 8-12.
“The membership believes that these programs are critical to the club’s future. Given the island’s aging demographics, it is only by encouraging youngsters to participate in these activities,” said Ostrow.
PGA-certified golf professional Noah Tapley heads up the youth program at the Castine Country Club. His programs are offered on a weekly basis, and are also open to both public students as well as club members.
“Everything is easier if you learn it at an early age,” said Tapley, who is also the head golf coach for Maine Maritime Academy.
The program is open to kids ages 6-16, and takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The sessions for ages 11-16 are from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the sessions for ages 6-10 are from 1 to 2p.m.
Tapley said that he, along with the club, provide the equipment for the clinics should the students need golf clubs, balls, etc.
“The clinics are important for youth,” he said, “because of the ethics and values the sport instills. Golf specifically works on things like etiquette, respect, patience, and a social experience.”
The club’s tennis professional Rodney Ross heads up the youth tennis programs. The program runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for ages 4-7, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 3 p.m., and Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. for ages 8-11, and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. for ages 12-16. For the more serious tennis youth, the Davis Cup program is Monday through Saturday from 7 to 8:30 a.m.
The Blue Hill Country Club offers weekly combination camps throughout the summer, with an hour and 15 minutes dedicated to golf and an hour and 15 to tennis daily. The remaining camp is scheduled from August 6 through 9. The daily schedule is golf from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., and tennis from 10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. for ages 11-16, and golf from 1 to 2:15 p.m., and tennis from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m., for ages 8-10.