Indigenous youth in the area got an introduction to golf with some of the country’s best golfers as their coaches.
“We’ve been looking at how can we help connect indigenous youth with sport,” Executive Director of Lethbridge Sport Council Susan Eymann said.
“The PGA tour being in Lethbridge was a great opportunity to say ‘let’s have some of our youth benefit from an event like this.'”
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The Indigenous youth golf clinic ran on Wednesday as one of the additional events associated with the Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open.
Golf pros are in Lethbridge for the PGA Canada’s Mackenzie tour. They helped coach youth ages 13 to 17 during a free one hour session.
“I enjoy helping out and watching the kids and watching them enjoy it,” winner of PGA Tour Canada’s GolfBC Championship in Kelowna George Cunningham said.
“It helps me kind of get away from the my golf a little bit, take the time and relax.”
Thirty-nine teens received tutorials on how to hold and swing a club, as well as received tips and stories from the pros themselves.
“They told me to hold it lower, bend my knees and whatever way you’re going to hit it, like ‘say you’re hitting it that way, your body being that way,'” first time golfer Christa Healy said.
“Have good posture, and always be on the balls of your feet and to have good weight when you shoot,” Malackhi Pagan said.
The clinic was well received by participants and some even made future plans.
The clinic coincided with Indigenous sport and wellness month, with this week specifically for youths.
Organizers said if there is more interest for the program, Paradise Canyon will look into hosting a beginners clinic at the course.
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