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Malta Golf Camp tripled in size for 2020

Typically in golf, if your average goes up, things aren't looking good for the golfer, but this year's Malta Golf Camp at Marian Hills Golf Course added 19 new campers, which was exciting for Camp Leader and Malta High School Golf Coach Kate Webb.

"It's just good to see kids out here to confirm that golf is not a dying sport," Coach Webb said. "To see that there are kids still interested in golf and that we are able to foster a program."

Malta Golf Camp for students in sixth through twelfth grade started on Thursday, June 11, and concluded on Saturday, June 13th. While the 2019 Malta Golf Camp hosted less than 10 golfers, the 2020 rendition hosted 29 golfers. Golfers were given a Mustang Camp Shirt, instruction on Skills and fundamental work, a chance at individual awards, and training to learn and master the basics of putting, chipping, and executing a full swing. At the end of camp, golfers were also given a nine-hole pass at Marian Hills, in which they can bring parent, legal guardian, or another adult family member.

The camp included instruction from Coach Webb, assistant coach Gordon Webb, and former Malta Golf Coach Travis Somerfeld.

Webb has had experience in teaching at younger golf camps in the past, but when she became the golf coach in 2019, she wanted to also check out the skill level of the older children.

"I wanted to see the older kids that we work with at (Malta Middle School and Malta High School)," Coach Webb said. "They do need that extra time in the summer to develop."

On day one the golfers focused on putting greens for the first hour and then another hour driving range. After practicing their swings, the campers were sent out on the course and played several holes. Webb said that day one was windy which played a factor for many of the young golfers.

"When you are out here, learning new things and it's already kind of stressful, the wind just kind of wears on everybody," Webb said. "It just made yesterday, a long day."

Webb said that the 2020 camp featured many new golfers, so she and her husband wanted to help those golfers fine-tune their swings individually, rather than spend most of their time on the course.

Day two, the counselors focused more on skill levels for the Team Scramble event which took place on Saturday. They wanted to try to make teams more even.

The winning team in the Team Scramble was Kaden LaBrie, Kenzie LaBrie, Kylie Bishop, and Tailynn Wilke. The team had a total of 26 strokes on five holes. The runner-up team consisting of Kaden LaBrie, Kenzie LaBrie, Layla Messerly, Laney Simpson, and Colin Simanton had 29. Two teams tied for third with 30.

"The teams were pretty close, so I think that we did a good job pairing people up," Coach Webb said.

The PCN caught up with seventh-grader Dawson Hammond and eighth-grader Kyann Bergos after the conclusion of the Team Scramble.

"I think it went pretty good," Hammond said. "It was a lot of fun playing golf. I don't get to do it that often."

Hammond, who lives near the course said that he has played all nine holes at Marian Hills.

Bergos also said that she plays at Marian Hills often.

"Camp was really fun and I love the people here and being with them," Bergos said. "It is fun to play. It was nice today. The breeze was lovely and we had a nice, warm, sun."

Both Bergos and Hammond said that there were a lot of mosquitoes out that day, but they came prepared with mosquito repellant. Though they have previous experience, both also said that they learned something that helped them with their technique. While Bergos said the coaches helped her with putting, Hammond mentioned that the coaches improved his swing.

"They taught me how to look at the slopes and the way that they were slanted and how to hit," Bergos said.

Bergos said that she wants to play golf in high school. Hammond said that he will probably participate in track because of how fast he runs.

"My family and my uncles take me out here a lot and play with me," Bergos said.

 

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