ETHS student offers introductory golf camp for kids of color
Dear Evanston,
Thomas Haller, an Evanston Township High School (ETHS) student who is on the ETHS golf team, recently received a $1,000 scholarship from Advocates4Action (a project of Evanston Cradle to Career) for his idea to encourage young students of color to learn to play golf at Evanston's public Canal Shores Golf Course.
He is looking for anywhere from five to 15 boys, ages eight to 13 (they will focus on girls next year), to start twice-weekly lessons on June 11.
Lessons will be from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks, led by golf pros from The Golf Practice.
Lessons will focus on the game and golfing etiquette. In addition to Thomas, Nikko Ross from Family Focus Evanston, will also attend each session--he hopes to increase interest in golf among young people of color, and wants to learn the game himself!
The lessons are free and will include free clubs, snacks and gatorade. All participants will receive a Canal Shores t-shirt at the end and will celebrate with a pizza party.
"I'm on the golf team and it's very noticeable throughout the north shore that there's a lack of minority interest in golf," Thomas told me. "A big reason for this is many haven't gotten the chance to be exposed to golf, so I thought with the help of our community golf course we could help introduce the game to kids with a beginner golf camp. This would help kids who may otherwise not have the opportunity to be introduced to golf and maybe fall in love with it for the rest of their lives."
Participants who finish the four-week program will get unlimited free access to Canal Shores, and kids from the ETHS golf team will be happy to accompany anyone who initially may not comfortable going to the club on their own.
If anyone is interested, you can get more info from Kelly Marcelle who is Thomas' adult sponsor for the grant.
You and your child can also learn more by showing up at 4 p.m. on June 11 at Canal Shores (meet at the America Legion patio, 1030 Central St, Evanston).
