This past weekend 38 junior golfers from around the state gathered at Hickory Knob State Park for our Fourth Annual Camp Reward. The camp was started four years ago as a reward for junior golfers across the state who participate in the Hootie & the Blowfish Junior Golf Series. Each of the nineteen chapters across the state chose two players to attend. The best thing about the camp is that its free of charge to those who are selected; all they have to do is find transportation to and from Hickory Knob. All players are housed, feed, and instructed right there at the state park. All instruction and programing are delivered by the George Bryan Golf Academy.
Friday PM
• Ken Taylor kicks off our event each year on Friday nights with a talk titled Nutrition for Competition. Ken discusses the importance of fueling your body properly before, during, and after a competition. He also talks about the proper exercises for junior golfers; what will help your golf game and what can hurt your golf game.
• Dr. Robert Vanderburg followed up Mr. Taylor with a talk directed at parents. His talk was about the influence and involvement parents should have with their child’s golf game. Dr. Vanderburg discussed the consequences of too much involvement in your child’s game and how this kind of behavior may drive your child away from the game.
Saturday AM:
• Short-game rotation
o Lag putting
o Pitching
o Chipping
• George Bryan demonstrated the difference in using you the bounce of your wedge and digging with the leading edge.
• Course Care by Jeff Connell
Saturday PM:
On Course exercises for nine holes:
• Play on holes 1-3 should only be done with one club and your putter
• On holes 4-6 players receive points for the following
o A drive in the fairway
o A wedge on the green
o A chip that stays on the green, one additional point for a chip that stays on the green within the flagstick of the hole
• Play on holes 7-9 will be the same as holes 4-6 with the exception of the chip shot
o All Players will chip two balls and count the point total for their worst chip shot.
Saturday Night:
• Parents Dr. Vanderburg Part 2:
o When your child’s results become more important to you than your child. And the pitfalls of comparing your child results to other children’s results.
o How to help your children when their on course results become so important that the game isn’t fun anymore.
• Children
o Outdoor and indoor putting challenges
Sunday AM:
• What is the SCGA/SCJGA/SCJGF – Justin Fleming
• Introduction of the Gamecocks
o Exhibition followed by Q&A from George Bryan
• On Course play, Team Captains Choice with the Gamecocks
• Another Exhibition by the Gamecocks followed by Q&A from parents and juniors
• Awards and Victory Speeches
