There are unlimited opportunities for Pacific Palisades youth to learn to play basketball, soccer, tennis and even lacrosse, but it becomes trickier for parents who want a place for their kids to learn golf.
Entering its sixth summer, LA Golf Academy will hold camps for youth ages 6 to 15 at Penmar, the nine-hole golf course on Rose Avenue in Venice.
Camps will run from June 10 to August 31, with full-day options from 9:30 to 4 p.m. or half-day options from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or from 1 to 4 p.m. Carlos Rodriguez, a PGA teaching pro, is director of the Academy.
The camp day typically begins in the classroom at the golf course. “Teaching rules and etiquette are paramount. That’s the first thing you have to teach kids about golf,” Rodriquez says, noting that honesty [about stroke count] is important for character development.
After the classroom, golfers go outside and learn how to drive, chip, putt and shoot bunker shots. If campers stay the full day, they play three, six or nine holes depending on age and experience.
At the end of the camp, depending on a youngster’s progress, junior golfers under the age of 13 may receive their certification, which allows them to play on most City golf courses. (To be certified, junior golfers must be able to demonstrate that they can consistently strike the golf ball in a manner that will allow them to keep a normal pace of play, as well as pass a test covering golf rules and etiquette.)
“I used to teach martial arts for many years and the philosophy of learning remains the same,” Rodriguez said. “Many students tend to focus on techniques or steps rather then letting their bodies go and feel that movement. Just like the martial arts, golf is not entirely physical; this is clearly evident because you don’t have to swing hard to hit long. Golf is a mental sport, and when I teach my students, I try to have them visualize the movements in the mind, staying centered and free-focused.”
Call or text (310) 230-2052 or visit lagolfacademy.com.
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