RGA to hold golf clinic for youth

With the Northern Marianas Junior Golf League shelving its training sessions for the youth, Refaluwasch Golf Association has decided to take the cudgels in proving golf lessons junior to CNMI kids.

RGA tournament director Jess Wabol said the club is planning to tie up with the Division of Youth Services in conducting a golf clinic this year.

“DYS is holding an annual youth camp and we are planning to take part in that camp and hold a golf clinic for the youth,” Wabol said.

The Division of Youth Services’ Summer Youth Sports and Empowerment Camp is usually held in July and runs for three weeks with participants learning to play various sports and other fun and productive activities, such as coconut weaving, sand painting, and face painting.

“RGA will be holding meetings in the coming months to discuss further details of the clinic,” said Wabol, adding that golf instruction sessions under NMJG were last held in 2006 at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.

“NMJG was very active with the promotion of junior golf in the CNMI, two to three years ago when Laolao was still under UMDA [United Micronesia Development Association]. Now with a new management at LaoLao and with the current economic crisis we are facing, the program just stopped,” Wabol said.

“We understand the situation. But RGA would still want to reach out to kids who have interest in playing golf so in coordination with DYS, we will be conducting a clinic this summer,” he added.

Meanwhile, Wabol is encouraging members to support the Inaugural San Jose Church Fundraising Golf Tournament, which is set for March 14 at the Kingfisher Golf Links.

Wabol said the fundraiser will also serve as a March qualifying tournament for the club.

RGA members competing in next weekend’s will pay $20, besides the entrance fee of $100.

Tee time for the San Jose Church golfest is set for 7:30am, while check in time is at 6:30am.

Prizes will be given to the top three placers in both the men’s and women’s low gross categories. First placer will get $300, $200 for second, and $100 for third.

In the low net division, which is a co-ed event, the champion will take $300, $250 for the runner-up, and $150 for the third placer.

For more information about the San Jose tournament, contact Manny Mangarero at 235-2609 or 878-4499, Rev. Fr. Jesse Reyes at 234-6991 or 483-PALE, Jess Wabol at 233-3673, or Jerry Ayuyu at 286-1400.