Kids Learn Golf, Life Lessons
By Ashley McClure
When it comes to using golf to teach kids about life and character, Mark Eberle wrote the book – literally. Eberle, who has taught golf for more than 30 years, decided three years ago to develop a more structured guide to the sport. He now uses the fruit of his labor – an instructional workbook featuring 36 lessons, each covering rules of golf, golf etiquette and a topic for the kids discuss – as the curriculum for Growing Kids Through Golf, a faith-based program he founded in 1989.
“We see golf as an opportunity for young people, beyond being a sport,” Eberle said. “Golf is a social game that offers unique opportunities as a lifelong activity and is the perfect setting to develop faith-based character that will help build foundations for kids as they begin to make critical life choices. We also direct the program toward different youth organizations, for example, Boys and Girls Club, where we’re trying to help advance their social interaction skills as well and create opportunities for them.”
Kids ages seven through 18 of any skill level can join GKTK, and Eberle stated that as much as 75 percent of those who participate have never played golf before. GKTG is an ongoing program, with teams of 12 to 16 kids. The Celebration team, which is currently on its break so as not to interfere with Little League, was established in March 2007 as a pilot program in the area. GKTG continues to expand locally, nationally and even internationally, including a branch in South Africa.
“I’ve been in Celebration a long time and I knew a lot of families, so it was easy to get kids excited about the golf program,” Eberle said. “It was a huge success – the families are thrilled with the program, the kids that have never touched a golf club before now in love with golf and they can’t wait to get out there. We’re now starting a group of kids in Pine Hills and Kissimmee – kids that typically aren’t associated with golf opportunities.“
Noah Perez, son of Oddy Perez and one of the participants in the Celebration GKTG group, said he is grateful for what he has learned from the program.
“I have not only gained an increased passion for the game of golf that I did not have before joining GKTG, but Coach Eberle has inspired in me to always make the right choices in my life as I grow up,” he said.
Noah’s sister Sophia is also part of GKTG, and said she too is inspired by her coach.
“I had an awesome time hitting the golf ball and listening to Coach Eberle tell us interesting stories about his life as a pro golfer and how golf changed his life,” she said. “I have been very fortunate to get a chance to hang out with my friends and learn golf at the same time.”
Although the Celebration GKTG team is in its off-season, Celebration kids still have a chance to volunteer as peer mentors for the other teams.
“Our program is really based on leadership training,” Eberle stated. “We’re trying to teach kids how to be leaders in their peer groups, and [this is] a perfect opportunity to reach out and help the kids that might not be able to have that situation in their life.”
Eberle explained that the Celebration GKTG participants, who have completed the first two series in their workbooks, will help the new players with those sessions and serve as positive role models.
Recent improvements to the program help kids develop their golf game more quickly and successfully, Eberle said.
“We found that the kids were thrilled to be at the golf course and they love to practice and participate, but they weren’t really advancing when they would come back,” he stated. “The fact is, if the kids don’t advance with golf in a hurry, they get bored with it. We now give the kids practice balls that won’t break windows or dent cars so nobody gets hurt so they can practice throughout the week now. Because of that we’ve seen a tremendous ability for the kids to advance and that’s pretty exciting.”
GKTG participants have specific practice assignments to work on throughout the week, and Eberle said he makes sure each player has golf equipment to use.
Eberle also noted some of the events on the horizon for GKTG, including a television show based on the program that will be “fast-paced and light-hearted” and even feature a weekly celebrity, tentatively scheduled to kick off in early summer. Also in the works is an Orlando-area Tournament Series for summer of 2008 for GKTG students and all other junior players who would like to participate.
For more information, visit www.GKTG.org or e-mail info@gktg.org.
Return to Celebration Independent front page.
By Ashley McClure
When it comes to using golf to teach kids about life and character, Mark Eberle wrote the book – literally. Eberle, who has taught golf for more than 30 years, decided three years ago to develop a more structured guide to the sport. He now uses the fruit of his labor – an instructional workbook featuring 36 lessons, each covering rules of golf, golf etiquette and a topic for the kids discuss – as the curriculum for Growing Kids Through Golf, a faith-based program he founded in 1989.
“We see golf as an opportunity for young people, beyond being a sport,” Eberle said. “Golf is a social game that offers unique opportunities as a lifelong activity and is the perfect setting to develop faith-based character that will help build foundations for kids as they begin to make critical life choices. We also direct the program toward different youth organizations, for example, Boys and Girls Club, where we’re trying to help advance their social interaction skills as well and create opportunities for them.”
Kids ages seven through 18 of any skill level can join GKTK, and Eberle stated that as much as 75 percent of those who participate have never played golf before. GKTG is an ongoing program, with teams of 12 to 16 kids. The Celebration team, which is currently on its break so as not to interfere with Little League, was established in March 2007 as a pilot program in the area. GKTG continues to expand locally, nationally and even internationally, including a branch in South Africa.
“I’ve been in Celebration a long time and I knew a lot of families, so it was easy to get kids excited about the golf program,” Eberle said. “It was a huge success – the families are thrilled with the program, the kids that have never touched a golf club before now in love with golf and they can’t wait to get out there. We’re now starting a group of kids in Pine Hills and Kissimmee – kids that typically aren’t associated with golf opportunities.“
Noah Perez, son of Oddy Perez and one of the participants in the Celebration GKTG group, said he is grateful for what he has learned from the program.
“I have not only gained an increased passion for the game of golf that I did not have before joining GKTG, but Coach Eberle has inspired in me to always make the right choices in my life as I grow up,” he said.
Noah’s sister Sophia is also part of GKTG, and said she too is inspired by her coach.
“I had an awesome time hitting the golf ball and listening to Coach Eberle tell us interesting stories about his life as a pro golfer and how golf changed his life,” she said. “I have been very fortunate to get a chance to hang out with my friends and learn golf at the same time.”
Although the Celebration GKTG team is in its off-season, Celebration kids still have a chance to volunteer as peer mentors for the other teams.
“Our program is really based on leadership training,” Eberle stated. “We’re trying to teach kids how to be leaders in their peer groups, and [this is] a perfect opportunity to reach out and help the kids that might not be able to have that situation in their life.”
Eberle explained that the Celebration GKTG participants, who have completed the first two series in their workbooks, will help the new players with those sessions and serve as positive role models.
Recent improvements to the program help kids develop their golf game more quickly and successfully, Eberle said.
“We found that the kids were thrilled to be at the golf course and they love to practice and participate, but they weren’t really advancing when they would come back,” he stated. “The fact is, if the kids don’t advance with golf in a hurry, they get bored with it. We now give the kids practice balls that won’t break windows or dent cars so nobody gets hurt so they can practice throughout the week now. Because of that we’ve seen a tremendous ability for the kids to advance and that’s pretty exciting.”
GKTG participants have specific practice assignments to work on throughout the week, and Eberle said he makes sure each player has golf equipment to use.
Eberle also noted some of the events on the horizon for GKTG, including a television show based on the program that will be “fast-paced and light-hearted” and even feature a weekly celebrity, tentatively scheduled to kick off in early summer. Also in the works is an Orlando-area Tournament Series for summer of 2008 for GKTG students and all other junior players who would like to participate.
For more information, visit www.GKTG.org or e-mail info@gktg.org.
Return to Celebration Independent front page.
Photo courtesy of Mark Eberle
Participants in Growing Kids Through Golf prepare
to tee off at Orange County National Golf Center.
