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Apr. 1—EVANS, Ga. — Demarkus Mealing, a third grader with the Boys and Girls Club of Augusta, said his only real golf experience has been playing putt putt.
That changed for the aspiring young athlete March 30 during Bank of America's Golf With Us Clinic at Jones Creek Golf Course in Evans, where around 70 students from the Boys and Girls Club, First Tee of Augusta and area high school girls' teams had the chance to get firsthand instruction from the best of the best.
Another Golf With Us Clinic was hosted earlier this month at the Old Barnwell Golf Club in Aiken County.
"I have never met a pro golfer in my life," said Mealing, who was enthusiastic about getting a hang of golfing basics with the aid of some household golfing names: World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam alongside Suzy Whaley, an ESPN commentator and former PGA of America president.
For Bank of America's Augusta-Aiken Market Executive, Marissa Smith, this is what the clinic is all about — extending opportunities to students who may otherwise never be exposed to the game.
"There's so many young kids now that don't have access to golf. And so this is really just about giving them that opportunity," she said.
Part of Golf With Us's mission to make golf more obtainable for youth includes providing young golfers with the ability to play at golf courses across the nation at a low cost.
Bank of America is currently inviting kids 6-18 to Golf With Us through a free one-year membership to Youth on Course, which gives them access to tee times for $5 or less at thousands of courses nationwide.
Sorenstam, who has been involved with this clinic for years, said she's especially fulfilled by the opportunity to interact with "curious minds."
"I love the energy. They come here with a lot of energy," she said. "They're ready to go. I love the enthusiasm and the excitement and then the joy when they hit a good shot...I love this partnership, and the friendships that many of them build, and for them realize that there are 'other kids just like me.'"
Whaley said that small communities like Aiken and Augusta are where magic happens when it comes to inspiring a love for golf.
"In these small communities, we as PGA professionals feel like that's where we can make it happen, where we can get a golf club in a child's hand, teach them the fundamentals, teach them life lessons, have them meet some friends and have some fun," she said. "For us, it's a joy to be able to inspire the next generation of the game.
Six notable young women competing in this year's Augusta National Women's Amateur also worked side-by-side with students.
These players included 20-year-old Jasmine Koo from University of Southern California, 18-year-old Nikki Oh committed to Stanford University, 19-year-old Scarlett Schremmer from University of Miami, 17-year-old Asterisk Talley committed to Stanford University, 21-year-old Ava Merrill from Vanderbilt University and 21-year-old Kelly Xu from Stanford University.
Merrill, who will be playing ANWA for the first time this year, spoke about the competition and the opportunity to be an instructor for Golf With Us.
"I'm so excited to be here. It's just one of the most exciting weeks of the year, and this event is just spectacular. It's such an honor to be here," she said.
"I remember when I was in high school looking up to college girls thinking about how I wanted to be in their spot, so this opportunity to give back is really unique," she added.
One fourth grader, Lloyd Watson, said he's been playing for about a year; his goal on Monday afternoon was to hit about 50 yards.
"I want to work on getting my swing better," he said.
He shared that he was looking forward to working with accomplished golfers.
"We're getting to experience stuff that you get to experience once in a lifetime...they have experience and I want them to see my experience and I hope they can teach me a lot of stuff that I don't know yet," Watson said.
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That changed for the aspiring young athlete March 30 during Bank of America's Golf With Us Clinic at Jones Creek Golf Course in Evans, where around 70 students from the Boys and Girls Club, First Tee of Augusta and area high school girls' teams had the chance to get firsthand instruction from the best of the best.
Another Golf With Us Clinic was hosted earlier this month at the Old Barnwell Golf Club in Aiken County.
"I have never met a pro golfer in my life," said Mealing, who was enthusiastic about getting a hang of golfing basics with the aid of some household golfing names: World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam alongside Suzy Whaley, an ESPN commentator and former PGA of America president.
For Bank of America's Augusta-Aiken Market Executive, Marissa Smith, this is what the clinic is all about — extending opportunities to students who may otherwise never be exposed to the game.
"There's so many young kids now that don't have access to golf. And so this is really just about giving them that opportunity," she said.
Part of Golf With Us's mission to make golf more obtainable for youth includes providing young golfers with the ability to play at golf courses across the nation at a low cost.
Bank of America is currently inviting kids 6-18 to Golf With Us through a free one-year membership to Youth on Course, which gives them access to tee times for $5 or less at thousands of courses nationwide.
Sorenstam, who has been involved with this clinic for years, said she's especially fulfilled by the opportunity to interact with "curious minds."
"I love the energy. They come here with a lot of energy," she said. "They're ready to go. I love the enthusiasm and the excitement and then the joy when they hit a good shot...I love this partnership, and the friendships that many of them build, and for them realize that there are 'other kids just like me.'"
Whaley said that small communities like Aiken and Augusta are where magic happens when it comes to inspiring a love for golf.
"In these small communities, we as PGA professionals feel like that's where we can make it happen, where we can get a golf club in a child's hand, teach them the fundamentals, teach them life lessons, have them meet some friends and have some fun," she said. "For us, it's a joy to be able to inspire the next generation of the game.
Six notable young women competing in this year's Augusta National Women's Amateur also worked side-by-side with students.
These players included 20-year-old Jasmine Koo from University of Southern California, 18-year-old Nikki Oh committed to Stanford University, 19-year-old Scarlett Schremmer from University of Miami, 17-year-old Asterisk Talley committed to Stanford University, 21-year-old Ava Merrill from Vanderbilt University and 21-year-old Kelly Xu from Stanford University.
Merrill, who will be playing ANWA for the first time this year, spoke about the competition and the opportunity to be an instructor for Golf With Us.
"I'm so excited to be here. It's just one of the most exciting weeks of the year, and this event is just spectacular. It's such an honor to be here," she said.
"I remember when I was in high school looking up to college girls thinking about how I wanted to be in their spot, so this opportunity to give back is really unique," she added.
One fourth grader, Lloyd Watson, said he's been playing for about a year; his goal on Monday afternoon was to hit about 50 yards.
"I want to work on getting my swing better," he said.
He shared that he was looking forward to working with accomplished golfers.
"We're getting to experience stuff that you get to experience once in a lifetime...they have experience and I want them to see my experience and I hope they can teach me a lot of stuff that I don't know yet," Watson said.
Continue reading...
