Junior Golf Academy a success for Sioux Lookout Golf and Curling Club

Mike Lawrence - Staff Writer

A new program at the Sioux Lookout Golf and Curling Club (SLGCC) hopes to encourage youth six to 16 to hit the links. The Junior Golf Academy held its first clinic on May 26, and if the amount of interest it has garnered is any indication, it looks to be a success.
Austen Hoey is the Manager of the SLGCC, and as he explains, the goal was to make the game of golf accessible regardless of age, stating, “We wanted to try to make everyone enjoy golf more, whether it was junior players who haven’t had a chance to play, or more experienced golfers who want to play their daily nine. Making sure that relationship was amicable is very important to me. Being able to help nurture the next wave of golfers and keeping our course strong is also super important.”
Hoey notes that the registration filled up quickly with 32 youth registered and more on the waiting list. 
Keith Atwood is the owner of Atwood Consulting, which is sponsoring the program, and as he explains, getting behind this program was an easy call both as a businessman and a father. 
Atwood notes, “It was actually Austen (Hoey) up at the golf course that came up with the idea. He’s like a visionary, with branding, with marketing, and coming up with programs... He’s the one that approached me about starting up this Junior Golf Academy. I thought it was great. Two of my three kids love to golf, and there is just a real need to introduce a new generation of golfers, into golf.”
Atwood continued, “Myself and other parents were just looking for a good activity to do during the spring and summer months. How do we get them out on the golf course in a way that they know the rules and the etiquette, how to treat the course properly, and be sort of accepted into that environment?”
Hoey added, “We hope to expand the program next year, with more kids, maybe two waves, depending on interest level. It’s going to run for 10 weeks and hopefully culminate in the Jr Blueberry Open Golf Tournament. It seems to have been well received, and the parents and kids have enjoyed it so far, I think.”