Kale sets league for young golfers

If you have a youngster between the ages of 8 and 12 years old who is showing some interest in the game of golf, then there might be something that you want to look into right here in the area.

Kale Creek Golf Course, just outside of Newton Falls, will be offering a league for young children who want to learn the game of golf along with a parent or other relative.

Jamie Brawley, an intermediate school teacher at Southeast Local Schools, is heading up the league.

“This is a non-competitive golf league for parents or grandparents wanting to introduce the game of golf to young children,” Brawley said.

The league will begin June 14 and run for eight weeks, ending Aug. 2. It will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Kale Creek Golf Course is relatively new as it begins its fourth season. The course is located between state Route 225 and state Route 534 in Palmyra Township on Cable Line Road.

The cost is just $5 per golfer per session or $40 for the eight-week season.

“This league is intended to introduce young children [ages 8-12] with little or no experience to the game of golf,” Brawley said. “Parents/grandparents will partner with their child.

“We’ll start out hitting some balls at the driving range and receiving golf instructions from instructor Joe Valentine and then play four holes of golf.”

Each participant will need his or her own golf clubs, golf balls and tees.

As a bonus each golfer that prepays for the entire season will receive a certificate for nine holes of golf with a cart at Kale Creek.

For more information, contact Brawley at (330) 654-5128 or e-mail her at jbrawley@embarqmail.com.

Here’s another event for junior girls to take part in.

The Ohio Girls Golf Foundation (OGGF) brings together girl golfers, the corporate community and LPGA Tour professional Barb Mucha for one of the area’s premier high school events: The OGGF Open.

Set for July 20-21 at Avon Oaks Country Club in Avon, this year the Open features an interactive playing clinic by Mucha, an 18-hole tournament and awards dinner.

“The OGGF Open has become a good indication of what the upcoming high school golf season will be like,” said OGGF executive director Judd Stephenson. “Some of our past champions have gone on to win district and state awards in the fall. But just as important is that our tournament also introduces countless opportunities to girls just learning the game.”

The first day selected high school girls are paired with corporate sponsors in a nine-hole scramble. On the second day ,the full field gathers for Mucha’s clinic, followed by the 18-hole tournament.

All female high school players are eligible to participate, including seniors who have just graduated and incoming freshmen. For more details on the event, e-mail Stephenson at juddstephenson@yahoo.com, call the pro shop at (440) 871-4638 or download the registration form on www.oggf.org. The registration deadline is July 1.

There are still opportunities available for corporate sponsorship at the event. Proceeds enable the OGGF to sponsor clinics and offer financial assistance and college scholarships. This year’s scholarship recipients are Jamie Berndt and Jennifer Hudock of Canfield, Megan Weaver and Meryl Weaver of Canton, Nicole Woggon of Graytown, and Kaitlin Seibert of Poland.

The OGGF’s mission is to encourage, sponsor and support golf for girls by providing college scholarships, training programs and financial assistance to attend designated tournaments. Since the foundation was established in 1994, the number of girls high school golf teams in Ohio has grown to more than 300.

XPete Mollica covers the local golf scene for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.