Golf Teaches Kids How to Stay on Course

It teaches youths about concentration, manners and patience. It even helps them learn to be quiet and follow instructions.

Sounds like a miracle, or at least a really intense self-improvement course, but far from it--it’s the Summer Youth Camp at Camarillo Springs Golf Course.

“You learn a lot about patience,” said 14-year-old Scott Vickers of Newbury Park. “And you have to think about what you’re doing.”

Scott, who is in his third season at the camp, was one of about 100 youths who played in a tournament Thursday that capped a six-week golf camp with 200 youths ages 6 to 16.

“If you don’t have patience, you’re not going to last long,” agreed 13-year-old Nathan Cota of Camarillo.

Good judgment also helps, said 13-year-old Brandon Knutson of Camarillo.

“You’ve just got to relax and play the game,” Brandon said. “When I first started, I couldn’t play because I’d get frustrated and mad at myself.”

Golf not only teaches the youths skills that make parenting a lot easier, but also gives them a chance to make new friends.

“I think we’ll probably keep in touch and continue to be friends,” said 13-year-old Eric Trout of Camarillo, referring to Scott, Nathan and Brandon.

Attending Ventura County’s largest golf camp provided the younger golfers with math skills and terminology they couldn’t help but show off.

“First you learn about putting, but then you’ve got to learn how to add so you can count all of your strokes,” said 7-year-old Max Miller of Somis.

But there’s even more, according to Max’s 7-year-old cousin, MathewMcPeek of Orange County.

“There’s chipping, putting and driving,” Mathew said. “And it’s fun to hit the balls.”

Some campers have even ended up with college scholarships because of the program, said Dave Sepulveda, the head teaching pro who started the camp eight years ago.

“We’ve got a lot more kids involved this year than ever before,” Sepulveda said. “I’m sure it has a lot to do with Tiger Woods’ influence on the kids.”

Although golf teaches children self-control, because “temper has no place in this game, it’s mostly so they’ll have fun,” he said.

The young people played according to age, and the top 10 winners in each group received a trophy. But everyone walked out with something, because of the numerous raffle donations, he said.

This year’s first-place winners were Blake Coble, 9, in the 7- to 9-year-old division; Mally Mahan, 11, in the boys’ 10 to 12-year-old division; Scott Vickers in the boys’ 13- to 17-year-old division; and Kim Jenkins, 11, in the girls’ division.

For more information about mini-camps beginning Monday and Aug. 18, call 484-1076.