Young golfers practice on the driving range at Bear Creek.
Thirty young golfers participated in this year’s Bear Creek Junior Golf Program, including many first-timers as well a large contingent of experienced links men and links women.
During the week of July 8-12, Robbie Hendrickson, PGA teaching professional from Three Lakes Golf Club in Malaga, taught the players and was supported by valley resident Rick Lewis, who taught experienced players later in the week. Players started by learning the basics of putting and chipping, gradually progressing to iron work and eventually to hitting drivers. Instructors also reinforced the finer points of golf etiquette and rules of the game, with an emphasis on playing with integrity, perseverance and mutual consideration.
The program concluded with a team competition consisting of a three-hole scramble tournament and drive, chip and putt competitions. Six teams competed for the lowest score on the scramble, longest drives, and closest to the hole in chipping and putting.
First-place team members were Carson Bechard (Snohomish), Willa Hilton (Winthrop) and Hannah Vanbuskirk (East Wenatchee.)
Second-place team members were Graham Sheley, Oliver Shaw and Blake Burgess (all of Winthrop).
Third place team members included Daisy Hilton (Winthrop), Ethan Cramer-Michelsen (Twisp) and Maeve Belsby (Winthrop).
