8 2021 CENTRAL OREGON GOLF PREVIEW • THE BULLETIN • SUNdAy, MAy 23, 2021
Youth
movement
Junior golf opportunities abound in 2021
BY SCOTT BARTON • For The Bulletin
A
s Central Oregon’s population
continues to grow, so does interest
in outdoor activities. Residents are
continually finding more ways to enjoy all there
is to see and do outside.
Of particular note is an ever-increasing
interest in golf, especially by children under the
age of 18.
Brasada Ranch is just one of the area’s
many facilities to notice the surge in youth
enthusiasm.
“With so many kids attending school
from home, we’ve added an after-school golf
program,” said Zach Swoffer, Brasada’s director
of golf operations.
The program includes an introductory class
on basic fundamentals of golf for resort guests
Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin
and members, Swoffer noted.
Bend High’s Brody MacLeod hits his way out of trouble and onto the sixth green while playing in the La Pine Invitational at
Crosswater last month. Junior golf opportunities are on the rise in Central Oregon.
Only a few miles away at Pronghorn, director of golf
Jerell Grow has noticed a significant increase in youth
interest as well. “The Academy at Pronghorn has clin-
ics, lessons, and schools that fit any schedule and ability,”
Grow said. “Jeff Ritter and Erika Stoner (who run the
academy) are here to help juniors in 2021.”
The golf industry has also witnessed an influx of
new teaching platforms and frameworks specifically
designed to get juniors involved and excited about the
game of golf. Many of Central Oregon’s facilities have
quickly adopted these programs and are seeing results.
This year Widgi Creek Golf Club in Bend is imple-
menting Operation 36, a player-development program
geared toward helping juniors understand every aspect
of the game, from etiquette to short game and scoring.
“The program uses divisions and points to motivate
productive practice, with the goal to shoot 36 for nine
holes from yardages beginning at as little as 225 yards
from the hole,” said Taylor Giacomini, head professional
at Widgi Creek.
See Youth / 9