Karzmer discovers Northwood Golf Academy


This past week, I mentioned to Vindicator Editor Todd Franko that I was in need of a few local stories to report on before the end of the season. He knew just the place. A few hours later he texted a confirmation time and I added it to my calendar:

Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 at 1 p.m. at Northwood Golf Academy.

If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. I take pride in being a knowledgeable Valley golfer, and I had no idea what he was talking about.

That all changed last Tuesday.

Leaving downtown Youngstown, we headed East up the old Sharon Line. Turned left on Jacobs Road and then made a right on Northwood and continued just past the McGuffey Rec Center. That’s where Brulinda “Bru” Turner met us with what seemed like the most out of place golf cart I’ve ever seen.

One hour later and I was sold as the newest fan of the Northwood Golf Academy.

Formed in 2005 as a joint effort with the McGuffey Rec Center to teach neighborhood kids golf, Northwood really took off when Bru retired in 2009 and devoted her efforts to the academy.

And it’s not just Bru. In the hour long span I was there, I met two of her brothers and a cousin from Dallas. Youngstown State women’s golf coach Nate Miklos and one of his players, senior Haleigh Guerrero volunteered to assist Bru throughout the day.

For a $25 sign-up fee, students go to academic classes Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m.-noon. There’s an hour-long lunch, students split into groups for golf instruction for the rest of the afternoon. There were 150 students this year.

The main academy area is situated on property that used to have abandoned houses. There the students get instruction and can practice from five different tees to one green with seven holes on it. Todd, Bru, and myself had a little chip-off before the students got there and I can assure those students that any shot that stops on that green is a good one.

On the other side of the street, Bru had a couple more abandoned houses torn down and is waiting for the rubble to be cleared so she can install the nets she has and offer students the chance to hit 50- and 100-yard shots on the new driving range.

Take the new walking path from the main academy space down the right side of the street and you’ll find a cleared-out field with picnic tables and a space for volleyball and other outdoor games.

For the winter months, Bru had a shed built and plans to use the space to feed the kids and teach them golf etiquette while they wait out the snowy weather.

And while I could type all day about the amazing setup Bru has developed in the most unlikely of spots, I really have to conclude with a few personal thoughts.

The first is just how much —and how often— I take this game for granted. Standing there Tuesday, and reflecting on it now, it’s very touching and almost emotional for me personally. I can’t help but mentally overlay my golf career with the emerging careers I saw this week. I’m so thankful that I had an opportunity to play this game. I’m damn lucky I was exposed it in the way and in the environment I experienced.

The second and more important take away is the amazing opportunity Bru is giving these kids. Just by talking to her for 30 minutes I could genuinely tell how important this academy is to her. She genuinely believes in the individual growth opportunities her students are exposed to through the game of golf.

Golf has given me so much throughout my life; joyful memories, friendships, travel, education, relationships and while I wish the same for every single one of those kids from Tuesday, no one can say how meaningful or what impact golf will have on their lives at this point. But I can say thi:, without Bru and her Northwood Golf Academy, we’d never have the chance to find out.

Jonah Karzmer is a former golf professional who writes a Sunday golf column for The Vindicator. In his spare time he sells commercial insurance and loves getting feedback on his weekly columns via email at Jonah@thekarzmerinsurance.com.

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