Old Tappan Youth Golf Clinic 2009

Great News! The Old Tappan Recreation Department will be expanding the Youth Golf Program this year, as Old Tappan is presently in the process of becoming affiliated with The First Tee Organization to significantly enhance the program.  First Tee was created several years ago by the World Golf Foundation as a program designed to expose children to the basics of golf as well as to teach life skills and character education through the game of golf. We are excited that First Tee is willing to create this partnership with the Borough of Old Tappan, and this is a unique and wonderful opportunity for our children to obtain the benefits of being part of such a successful and proven program.  Our golf course professional, Doug Meeks, will be a certified First Tee instructor and volunteers are needed to become certified First Tee mentors so if you are interested, or require any additional information, please contact Chris Hliboki at chliboki@optonline.net.  (Note:  In addition, all coaches must have attended the Rutgers safety clinic, have a completed background check and have a photo coach ID card from the recreation department – for more information, please contact the Recreation Director, Gloria Wiesner at 201-664-1849 x24, or gwiesner@oldtappan.net)

This year, we will be running separate sessions for children ages 7-9 (grades 1 through 3) and ages 10-14 (grades 4-8), and the registration fee will be $85 per child.  These sessions will start in either late June or early July and will be run one weekday evening per week at the Old Tappan Golf Course (most likely on Tuesday evenings, but final dates and times to be determined and may be subject to change based upon weather conditions).  Since each group size must be limited in order to provide effective instruction, please register early.  In the event that a larger number of participants register, then every effort will be made to add further sessions so that everyone can participate.   Registration will begin on Wednesday April 15, 2009 and will remain open until May 15, 2009 through Community Pass.

For the kindergarteners (ages 5-6), a program similar to last year will be instituted at Stone Point Park in a clinic-style format, with four basic clinic stations, as follows:

                        1.  Hitting:  Participants will learn the correct way to hold the golf club, and the fundamentals of the swing.  This would allow them to experience hitting the ball with a full swing off a mat and tee.

                        2.   Pitching:  Participants will learn how to use a reduced swing to hit the ball at a raised intermediate target.

                        3.  Chipping:  Participants will learn how to chip the ball toward a close target.

                        4.  Putting:  Participants will learn the basics of putting. 

            The fee for the kindergarten sessions will be $45 per participant.

Registration will begin on Wednesday April 15, 2009 and will remain open until May 15, 2009 through Community Pass.