As a community with many diehard golfers and two world-class golf courses, Promontory is abuzz with the AJGA Rolex Junior Girls Golf Championships starting this week. And our daughter, Katie, is clearly no exception. The invitational tournament is all she has been talking about since we learned that 72 of the top girl golfers from around the world would be competing on the Pete Dye Canyon Golf Course. We love seeing how the kids have started to develop new interests since we moved to Park City, and this event has Katie wanting to take up golf. We certainly live in the right place for it!

Our neighbor is graciously hosting some of the players, so hopefully, Katie will have the opportunity to meet them. She signed up to volunteer, which will give her a unique, first-hand look at the sport and the amazing talent and dedication of these girls. I am volunteering as well, and I am looking forward to meeting the moms who raised these impressive girls! The American Junior Golf Association helped launch the careers of some of golf’s biggest names like Tiger Woods, for one. I’m sure these young women players, ages 14 – 18, will be an inspiration to Katie and other Promontory kids who will have a chance to watch them play now that school is out.

The event kicked off Monday with a Junior-Am fundraising tournament, giving sponsors the unique opportunity to play with one of the top junior girls on each team. The tournament will raise money for AJGA charities like the Ace Grant, local junior golf organizations, and the Promontory Foundation. Official championship play starts today, June 12, and concludes June 15 with an awards ceremony at 2:30 p.m. at The Shed Amphitheater.

Several of our neighbors will be volunteering to ensure the event runs smoothly.

Here’s the schedule for the week:

Monday
8:00 a.m. – Junior-AM Fundraising Tournament

Tuesday
8:00-9:50 a.m. – First Round tee offs

Wednesday
8:00-9:50 a.m. – Second Round tee offs

Thursday
8:00-9:50 a.m. –  Third Round tee offs

Friday
8:00-9:50 a.m. – Final Round tee offs
3:00 p.m. – Awards Ceremony at The Shed Amphitheater

In anticipation that Katie will want to take some lessons this summer, we gathered some info on Promontory’s golf programs for kids. They include both group and one-on-one instruction. There are 11 golf professionals here at Promontory that are highly skilled at offering individual instruction to junior golfers. Typically, lessons last one hour and can be scheduled around other summer activities kids participate in. Instruction begins with proper set up as it’s the foundation of the golf swing. (PGA: posture, grip, alignment). Lessons can incorporate every aspect of the game, and I just learned that packages are available for multiple sessions.

As for group instruction, Promontory offers weekly Junior Clinics on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, taught by the club’s golf professionals. Group lessons are grouped by age beginning at seven years old.

Lastly, there is Promontory’s Junior Golf Team! Players compete in two-player team scramble format against other teams in Park City (Park Meadows, Jeremy Ranch, Canyons, Park City). Team practice is held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:00-6:30 p.m.  Players receive a team jersey to wear for matches. Young golfers ages 7 to 17 are welcome to compete.

We will be chatting with Katie about these various options and figure out what will work best for her this summer! Whatever we opt for, we know Katie will have a wonderful time learning this social sport she can play for life!