With golf season just ahead, opportunities for young athletes are taking center stage in Augusta.
The Golf with Us Clinic, a day camp style sports event by Bank of America for kids in The Boys and Girls Club, has introduced in its fourth year a new expansion with a clinic experience just for area high school girls.
On March 31, the annual clinic was split into two segments: One that gave girls from Lakeside, Evans, Greenbrier, Harlem and Grovetown high schools a chance to learn from ANWA (Augusta National Women’s Amateur) players and other big names in golf, and one that was a hands-on golf experience for local youth.
High school girls were led by World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam and former Professional Golf Association (PGA) of America President Suzy Whaley, alongside ANWA participants Megha Ganne and Kiara Romero.
Area high school girls learn from the best
Clinic participants practiced putting, chipping and swinging just days before this year’s ANWA competition.
Lakeside High’s Cami Williams said she was excited to get instruction from elite athletes.
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“I’ve pretty much been with one coach my whole life, and so it’ll be cool to be exposed to new experiences and new people,” she said.
Williams, who has been on the golf course since around age three, said she looked forward to working with Sörenstam.
“[It’s a] lifelong dream… she’s the best in the world, you know,” said Williams.
Sörenstam, who hails from Stockholm, Sweden and who has won over 90 professional golf tournaments, spoke about her gratitude for being involved in the clinic.
“I love sharing my knowledge of the sport to these young ladies because, I mean, it’s not that long ago I was in their shoes,” she said.
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“It’s all about having fun and building friendship, which I think this is about, you know. Having your teammates here,” she added.
An introduction to golf for local youth
While this is the first year that high school girls have had a chance to join in on the fun, the event has traditionally been a co-ed learning opportunity for children.
Former PGA of America President Suzy Whaley has been attending Golf with Us Clinic since it first began four years ago, and said she has enjoyed seeing children from the Boys and Girls Club develop a love for the game.
“What we love is just seeing that passion come alive, because maybe some of them have never, ever even considered playing golf. They’ve never had a club in their hands,” she said.
