Golf camp in full swing

Seth Sills, above, and his sister Miriam Sills, below, both took part in the Warrior Jr. Golf Clinic. For more photos, go to triplicate.com/photos The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

At the 2011 Warrior Jr. Golf Clinic, a group of 6- and 7-year-olds was being instructed on how to properly swing.

Cris Rice, the clinic organizer and the head girls golf coach at Del Norte High, and other volunteers worked with the children. A few were already able to hit the ball with confidence in only a few short days.

“It’s important to get them out and have them exposed to golf at a young age,” Rice said. “It’s been great to see them learning and having fun.”

The event, sponsored by the Elk Valley Rancheria, began Monday and concludes today with a tournament, with trophies to be handed out. More than 60 kids from 6 years of age to teens are taking part in two groups –– beginners –– and intermediate and advance.

With the younger kids, whiffle balls and other balls were used instead of golf balls, so they wouldn’t miss and get frustrated.

With the larger balls, the kids learn the needed fundamentals and build up their confidence, Rice said.

“We had one (kid) hit the ball 115 yards and he’s only 6,” Rice said.

Volunteer Brian Farley watched Seth Sills, 7, hit the ball with confidence. Although it was his first year at the clinic, he proved to be a natural as he hit the ball straight down the fairway.

“That was awesome,” Farley  said to Sills. “You crushed that.”

Seth said that he enjoys the sport and hopes to continue palying. One of the things he has learned, he said, is that “you’ve got to practice because if do, you can get better.”

Katie Marx, 7, also took part in her first clinic.

“It’s been great,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun. I’m probally going to do this every year now.”

 While the clinic has taken place off-and-on for several years, it has recently become an annual event and is now in its third consecutive year. Rice said the clinic helps introduce youths to golf. He said that currently, many of the teens who try out for the high school team have little experience, if any.

“Right now the learning curve varies and it takes time to work with and develop them,” he said. With kids starting golf at an earlier age, Rice hopes this will help the golf program at the school be even more competitive.

Volunteer Jane Rumiano said  that she loves working with the beginners and watching them improve their games and the excitement and interest they bring to the game of golf.

“I enjoy working with our youth. I love their energy,” she said. “They haven’t forgotten what playing a game means.”