Nonprofit offers free golf lessons for kids
Grandfathers for Golf, a nonprofit organization that offers free golf lessons for young people in the Hemet-San Jacinto, is offering summer golf instruction for ages 5 to 18 beginning June 14.
Classes will be held 7:30-9 a.m. Tuesdays at Golden Era Golf Course in San Jacinto.
In addition to weekly golf lessons through the summer, participants receive golf clubs, a hat and a T-shirt, according to a news release. Classes are limited to 50 students.
To sign up for the program, go to grandfathersforgolf.org/ signup/ or call Tony Viola, president of Grandfathers for Golf, at 909-754-4148.
Earlier this year, Grandfathers for Golf raised funds to support the organization’s free golf lessons with its Grandfathers for Golf Memorial Tournament held Feb. 25 at Soboba Springs Golf Course in San Jacinto. The event sold out, with 160 golfers participating, according to the news release. Marty Finn started the Grandfathers for Golf program in 1999, enlisting the help of a few other grandfathers. They used one putting green where they taught a few children and since then the program has expanded with hundreds of young people learning golf every year, according to the news release.
The program has three levels — Pee Wees for ages 5 and 6; Beginners, starting at age 7 and learning putting, chipping and driving; and Intermediates, who play the game of golf.
Some students who have completed the program have continued on and received college golf scholarships, according to the news release.
The program is run by volunteers. Board members, in addition to president Tony Viola, are Bob Wadlow, vice president and intermediate head coach; Norm Kyriss, vice president and intermediate coach; Jim Crandall secretary and web master; Arnie Gianotta, treasurer and beginners’ coach; Linda Greilich, coordinator for the Golden Era Golf Course; Danny Crosser, beginners’ coach; Ivan Johnson, special projects coach; Mike Bryant, beginners’ coach; Brad Haskell, beginners’ coach; Jim Sullivan; and David Jimenez.