Elks again offering free youth golf program

SANDPOINT — On the heels of several successful seasons, the Sandpoint Elks Lodge is once again offering a free youth golf program, for any and all area boys and girls between the ages of 8-15 years-old.

There are still 12 spots left for the league, where each participant gets a free set of clubs and two different sessions to choose from. A registration will be held on Tuesday, May 31 at 5 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Participants must be present at registration.

The T-Level clinics are for people who have never played golf before and do not have their own set of clubs. Linda Tatlock, Chairman of the Elks Board of Directors, says the kids get a lot out of the program.

“Just teaching kids sportsmanlike conduct. Some kids get out and start messing around, the rules are explained, and they say ‘OK, I can’t do that here,’” she said. “Teaching any kid something they want to learn is important.”

Session No. 1 will run from July 11-15, while Session No. 2 will be held from July 25-29, from 9-10:30 a.m. each day.

Each session will consist of five days of instruction; with day one at the Elks Golf Course, then three days at the Vandal Driving Range, and a final day at the Elks Golf Course with a participant camp, with a parent two or three hole mini scramble on the golf course.

Participants must have their own transportation.