By Mike Donahue
Moapa Valley Progress
COYOTE SPRINGS — Five new young golfers used the driving range, putted and practiced their short game here Monday, wrapping up a four-week Clark County Recreation Department Summer Camp.
The golfers, included Jayden Smith, 4, of Moapa; Joey Boss, 5, Logandale; Rowdey Blackwell, 11, Moapa; Kolby May and Kirby May, 13, both of Moapa. The boys have all showed some great improvements since the first class of the camp, according to Gail Lindsay, a Clark County recreation specialist, who works out of the Moapa recreation center.
“The whole purpose of the camp was to familiarize them with some of the basics of the game and they have just done wonderful,” Lindsay said. “Among other things, during the four weeks they learned about the different clubs, how to keep score and some of the central rules of golf.”
Prior to Coyote Springs, summer camp participants used different clubs on the grass at the Moapa recreation center and then practiced putting on a portable indoor green. Lindsay said the trip to the Coyote Springs Golf Club was an opportunity for the youngsters to use everything they learned in an actual golf course setting.
“I really felt like they needed to get the feel for a real course and see some of the different holes out here,” Lindsay said.
The arrangements to use the world-class Coyote Springs Golf Club were made through Adam Smith, security chief at the facility, and Karl Larcom, head golf pro.
Most of the youngsters had been on a golf course prior to Monday’s event, but they all agreed the chance to visit and hit balls on an exceptional course was a special treat.
Mike Ghiorso, director of operations for the Wingfield Nevada Group, owner of the Coyote Springs course, said the club really enjoyed hosting the young golfers.
“It’s really a pleasure for us to help introduce the game of golf to new young players,” Ghiorso said. “We’d like to think that some or all of them may take up the game and learn to come out enjoy it.”
The golf summer camp was such a success Lindsay said she plans to run a second four-week camp, starting Monday, July 25. Anyone interested should contact her at the Moapa office of Clark County Parks and Recreation Department, 864-2423.
People can also sign up in Moapa or Logandale for the camp which will consist of three classes of instruction and a fourth class at Coyote Springs.
