With the theme for this year dubbed “Ambition”, the first week of action for the 10th annual Grow Well Junior Golf Programme (GWJGP) in collaboration with Sandals has been dubbed a success by the organizers.
Throughout the three days at the Sandals Golf and Country Club in Cap Estate, the 20 young aspiring golfers from Gros Islet and its environs were under the watchful eyes of Grow Well Inc co-founder and Director Colleen Newman; coaches Henix Joseph and Cliff Alcide and assistant coaches Rayshorn Joseph, Lisa Daniel and Samuel Richelieu (the trio also graduated from the programme in 2019).
The camp participants included: Adrian Richelieu, Keymanie Thomas, Celina John (Seniors); Gabriel Felix, Javid Volney, Yakinii Phillip (Intermediate 1); Gia Gittens, Heb Gittens, Hope Auguste, Isaac Sidonie (Intermediate 2); Lea Noelien, Javel Francois, Neil Carasco (Juniors); Alecka Gaspard, Daniella Richelieu, Emily Phulchere, Generva Gaspard, Jaide Poleon, Jaiden Paul and Rahim Christie (New).
Cliff Alcide, one of the two coaches said, “Over the three days, the players mentioned above were divided into three divisions depending on their level of skill; beginners, intermediates and seniors. With the beginners we start with the fundamentals, the introduction to Golf: grip, posture, stance, ball position and basic forms of the golf swing”.
“With the intermediate golfers, we work on every aspect of the golf game to include chipping, pitching, ball striking, and driving, with lessons on how to control themselves on the golf course and club selection”.
“The seniors were trained how to assess choices on the course; what club should I play from this position, what should work from here, how to control my power, my strength and how to use skills on the golf course to get the most effective score.”
“That is our goal for this year’s camp, which is the beginning of the tenth year of our programme. The Grow Well golfers honestly have been very productive, and I am very proud of what they are working to accomplish, and I am proud that I am part of this development”.
Grow Well Co-founder/ Director Colleen Newman said, “Each day there’s a competition for each group. The colourful balls were presented to the best player in putting, or the best in executing a specific shot. Sometimes a prize, for example, colourful socks, is given to a team, all to make the camp educational and fun”.
In terms of attendance: “We have had perfect attendance of 20 juniors ages 10 to 18, including seven beginners. Three former champions who were furloughed from their jobs because of Covid-19 returned as assistant coaches. We also have leadership skills training which is a key component of our programme. It was wonderful to see Rayshorn, Lisa and Samuel excel at their responsibilities as coaches, managers and role models to the younger ones,” noted Colleen Newman.
Sponsorship wise, this is the 8th consecutive year that Claire Nardoni and her family have sponsored Grow Well Golf’s summer camp.
Other sponsors: The Sandals Foundation; the Oliver Gobat Sports Fund, Cox and Company and the Golfing Flamingos. They contribute to coaching, uniforms and equipment.
Colleen said, “The Sandals Golf and Country Club provide access to the course, transportation and encouragement year-round even now, when the clubhouse is closed. Sandals management helped enormously in planning for the success of this year’s camp. They also help enforce the health protocols, encourage compliance with our guidelines for discipline and etiquette while ensuring that camp remains as much fun as they remember”.
She continued, “We had long been planning for this camp a great start to our 10th year in providing access to an elite sport for Grow Well’s juniors in the Gros Islet district, but with the shutdown, the golf course was closed. We were overjoyed when it partially reopened and Sandals management worked with us to fit the camp in their limited golfing schedule”.
Colleen said, “It’s a joy to see the enthusiasm of the youngsters in their colourful uniforms enjoying the game and remembering their shots after a long absence”.
On the course/ play time: Celina Lubin stunned the boys in her group of three seniors by having the best score. Hope Auguste had the best score among her group of intermediates; Daniella Richelieu, Alecka Gaspard Best Putters on day two, Daniella has an excellent eye and good pace, and Keymanie Thomas won Coach Henix’s praise. The coach demanded a knockdown shot and Keymanie executed it perfectly.
With Tropical Storm Gonzalo on the horizon, the organizers are keeping their fingers crossed that the pending storm stays away as they continue planning for the second week with the same schedule for Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th and Thursday 30th July.
With the theme for this year dubbed “Ambition”, the first week of action for the 10th annual Grow Well Junior Golf Programme (GWJGP) in collaboration with Sandals has been dubbed a success by the organizers.
Throughout the three days at the Sandals Golf and Country Club in Cap Estate, the 20 young aspiring golfers from Gros Islet and its environs were under the watchful eyes of Grow Well Inc co-founder and Director Colleen Newman; coaches Henix Joseph and Cliff Alcide and assistant coaches Rayshorn Joseph, Lisa Daniel and Samuel Richelieu (the trio also graduated from the programme in 2019).
The camp participants included: Adrian Richelieu, Keymanie Thomas, Celina John (Seniors); Gabriel Felix, Javid Volney, Yakinii Phillip (Intermediate 1); Gia Gittens, Heb Gittens, Hope Auguste, Isaac Sidonie (Intermediate 2); Lea Noelien, Javel Francois, Neil Carasco (Juniors); Alecka Gaspard, Daniella Richelieu, Emily Phulchere, Generva Gaspard, Jaide Poleon, Jaiden Paul and Rahim Christie (New).
Cliff Alcide, one of the two coaches said, “Over the three days, the players mentioned above were divided into three divisions depending on their level of skill; beginners, intermediates and seniors. With the beginners we start with the fundamentals, the introduction to Golf: grip, posture, stance, ball position and basic forms of the golf swing”.
“With the intermediate golfers, we work on every aspect of the golf game to include chipping, pitching, ball striking, and driving, with lessons on how to control themselves on the golf course and club selection”.
“The seniors were trained how to assess choices on the course; what club should I play from this position, what should work from here, how to control my power, my strength and how to use skills on the golf course to get the most effective score.”
“That is our goal for this year’s camp, which is the beginning of the tenth year of our programme. The Grow Well golfers honestly have been very productive, and I am very proud of what they are working to accomplish, and I am proud that I am part of this development”.
Grow Well Co-founder/ Director Colleen Newman said, “Each day there’s a competition for each group. The colourful balls were presented to the best player in putting, or the best in executing a specific shot. Sometimes a prize, for example, colourful socks, is given to a team, all to make the camp educational and fun”.
In terms of attendance: “We have had perfect attendance of 20 juniors ages 10 to 18, including seven beginners. Three former champions who were furloughed from their jobs because of Covid-19 returned as assistant coaches. We also have leadership skills training which is a key component of our programme. It was wonderful to see Rayshorn, Lisa and Samuel excel at their responsibilities as coaches, managers and role models to the younger ones,” noted Colleen Newman.
Sponsorship wise, this is the 8th consecutive year that Claire Nardoni and her family have sponsored Grow Well Golf’s summer camp.
Other sponsors: The Sandals Foundation; the Oliver Gobat Sports Fund, Cox and Company and the Golfing Flamingos. They contribute to coaching, uniforms and equipment.
Colleen said, “The Sandals Golf and Country Club provide access to the course, transportation and encouragement year-round even now, when the clubhouse is closed. Sandals management helped enormously in planning for the success of this year’s camp. They also help enforce the health protocols, encourage compliance with our guidelines for discipline and etiquette while ensuring that camp remains as much fun as they remember”.
She continued, “We had long been planning for this camp a great start to our 10th year in providing access to an elite sport for Grow Well’s juniors in the Gros Islet district, but with the shutdown, the golf course was closed. We were overjoyed when it partially reopened and Sandals management worked with us to fit the camp in their limited golfing schedule”.
Colleen said, “It’s a joy to see the enthusiasm of the youngsters in their colourful uniforms enjoying the game and remembering their shots after a long absence”.
On the course/ play time: Celina Lubin stunned the boys in her group of three seniors by having the best score. Hope Auguste had the best score among her group of intermediates; Daniella Richelieu, Alecka Gaspard Best Putters on day two, Daniella has an excellent eye and good pace, and Keymanie Thomas won Coach Henix’s praise. The coach demanded a knockdown shot and Keymanie executed it perfectly.
With Tropical Storm Gonzalo on the horizon, the organizers are keeping their fingers crossed that the pending storm stays away as they continue planning for the second week with the same schedule for Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th and Thursday 30th July.
