A common goal for junior golfers learning the sport is to join a high school team.  Quite honestly, since we live in FL it is something that both Coach Danni and I discuss with our teen golfers quite often.  For those who are serious about it, we adjust our lessons accordingly and also encourage them to become a real student of the game so they can become a leader on their team.  

Since 2017, Beaver Golf has developed many high school players and some of those high school players also play in competitive tournaments, check out the video below.  Not all high school players are competitive tournament players and not all competitive tournament players play on high school teams but both provide great development opportunities depending on the goals of your golfer.

In like manner, high school golf coaches and golf coaches like Coach Danni and myself provide different development opportunites for your golfer.  A high school golf coach is generally going to oversee the tryout process, select players that will best represent their school and develop a team environment.  Most high school golf coaches have a love for the sport but they are not trained as golf professionals nor is it their full-time job; making it very important to maintain your schedule of private lessons with Coach Danni or myself.  

In rare instances, a high school golf coach may be trained as a golf professional and they use the opportunity to convert the high school players into their private students.  While this can be a great marketing tool, it can easily become an unethical practice when the coach fails to recognize that the player already has a golf coach.  It is easy to fall prey to their promises especially, if they are offering bells and whistles that you think your golfer needs.  ​

In the past, a couple of junior golfers have made the decision to leave Beaver Golf and work soley with their high school coach or simply coach themselves but that decision has been detrimental to their golf aspirations.  Bells and whistles do not guarantee progress.  Solid coaching practices coupled with a player who is committed to doing the work is a better bet.

Now, if the high school golf coach is reputable, they will accept the fact that the golfer has a coach and may offer general guidance to the golfer. The key in these instances is to always share those tips with Coach Danni or myself to ensure that long-term goals are not compromised. 

If your golfer is considering playing for a high school team, please speak to Coach Danni or myself before making any decisions.  Coach Danni played for Oxbridge Academy so she brings a personal element to this important decision making process that is invaluable. One last note, always be sure that any golf coach that you are considering is in good standing with our local First Tee office. ​

Last week, the first Cognizant Classic of the Palm Beaches was played at PGA National.  Junior student, Mateo Muñiz, was assigned to be standard bearer for the group that included David Skinns.  He was not familiar with any of the golfers in the group so he was excited to meet some new players.  David immediately introduced himself and after the first tee shot surprised Mateo by kicking off a conversation with him as they walked down the fairway to assess his second shot.  Most golfers keep the conversation with the standard bearer and walking scorer to a minimum but David enjoyed talking to Mateo throughout the round.  

The most memorable part of the round for Mateo was watching David's response to a damaged putter.  Ray, David's caddie, tripped over a tee marker on the 5th hole which caused him to take a tumble with David's clubs.  Fortunately, Ray was fine, but when it was time to putt David discovered that his putter somehow got bent during the fall.  Ray was visibly distraught since his misstep caused an important club to become damaged but David did not get angry with him.  Instead he maintained his compusure and called an official to explain that his putter needed some repair.  "I watched him bend that putter with a purpose and he never gave up.  Somehow he got it back into position and sunk an 8 ft 7 in putt with authority.  It was awesome!" said Mateo.  Ray still feeling bad, continued to apologize, but David simply replied "Forgot about it, it's in the past."  This is a great example of how to respond to a situation with dignity and acceptance.  

Mateo also enjoyed watching him interact with his son who was walking outside the ropes.  "One time, his son was complaining about being thirsty and David responded like a dad 'why didn't you tell me that at the tee box so I could get you some water?' It reminded me of something my Mom would say," giggled Mateo.  "They only walked the first 9 holes of the  round but David never lost sight of them.  He stayed focused on his game the whole time no matter what was going on," Mateo continued. "He even spoke to me a lot which was so unexpected and kept playing well. I hope to apply this lesson in my own game."  

David Skinns would finish the round tied for 3rd, by the 4th round he would be tied for lead and ultimately finish in 4th place.  That was his best finish in 33 career starts.  If you would like to learn more about David click here.  

Disclaimer: Mateo's experience as a standard bearer is not the norm.  If your golfer chooses to do this in the future they could encounter a golfer that does not interact beyond the introduction and the thank you at the end of the round.  
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Recently, I had a parent voice a concern that my group class is too young for their middle school golfer and while I get why they might think that I decided to share my thoughts on why Beaver Golf teaches the way we do.  Golf is a sport that you can start to learn at any age, I chose 5 for my program because in my experience golfers younger than that are unable to stay focused for longer than 30 minutes and some 5 year olds may be challenged in this area as well.   

I offer one junior class weekly on Thursday evenings because to tell you the truth it is the only day that my coaching team can make work in our schedule and it has worked great for the last almost 4 years that we have been offering it.  All beginner junior golfers age 5-17 are welcome to join the class but they will be grouped by age and ability.  All golfers are taught the same way and they will also learn to become golfers of character.  That is the goal of the class.  

My Thurday junior class usually has at least two high school volunteers who are more than willing to help middle schoolers excel in this sport if they are really interested.  The question then becomes is your golfer really interested in learning this great sport or are they simply looking for a social activity?

To sum it up, we teach junior golfers to respect players no matter how old they are. We teach them the skills and the values needed to play with integrity.  We also teach our golfers to create community rather than cliques.  If your middle school golfer can thrive in this environment then they are always welcome on Thursday evenings, just be sure to register them accordingly.  ​

Our last but definitely not least, Senior Spotlight is Nathan Vertes.  He has somewhere near 700 community services hours and he still contacts me when he is not working to ask if he can come volunteer.  The more I learn about Nate, the more I am convinced that he truly understands what it means to live each day as your best self.  

When did you get involved with golf?

I attended a First Tee camp in Michigan when I was 6 years old but I didn’t do much with it until middle school when I started taking lessons with Coach Glen. Later, I decided to play competitively and I tried out for the Seminole Ridge High School team.  My freshman year was Covid year so it was a weird year.  We didn’t even have District qualifications.  My sophomore year, we came out of Covid and we qualified for Districts and continued to do so for my junior and senior year.  

What do you think about Coach Glen? 

I love Coach Glen.  He’s a really great teacher and he pushes me to do things I would not have done otherwise.  He’s firm and direct with his coaching. I like that so much more than the  “you’re doing great,” kind of feedback.  It takes time to really understand his coaching style, he’s not mean, he just wants you to be your best self.  He is a lot like my hockey coach. ​

Your senior year hasn’t been what you expected, has it?

I did not expect to be injured so much.  I have had a sprained wrist, sprained shoulder and now a fractured wrist.  Definitely learning to persevere through the different challenges that come with an injury. It was tough to be sidelined for the golf team especially since I have been playing since freshman year and have been “team captain” for the last two.  I barely had enough matches played in golf to qualify for Districts but I made it.  While at districts, I shot my best round ever.  

What’s it like being “team captain?”

As a team captain, I get to lead my teammates and help them push themselves while also encouraging them to be the best they can be. I have had my fair share of injuries but I continued to cheer them on even when I could not be part of the action. For me it is never about the title. It’s remembering that it’s not about you; it is about helping others. 

I am fortunate to have had two great coaches who were willing to invest in me so I enjoy giving back to others in the same way. ​

What other ways do you give back? 

My parents have always been involved in community outreach helping abused and neglected kids. That experience made me realize how lucky I am to have the love of family and access to basic necessities. In 2018, I started fundraising by collecting aluminum cans from neighborhood recycling bins to redeem them for money at local recycling centers and writing fundraising letters to help Project Zawadi which builds schools and educational programs for Tanzanian children. It is definitely a lot of work, but the impact is far greater than my effort.

Additionally, I personally raised $6,780 over 3 years to benefit Shands Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network while also helping raise funds for School Wide Buddy Benches to promote peer cohesiveness for students who are struggling socially. 

While fundraising is great, I also enjoy tutoring other students to help them prepare for exams or complete projects, volunteer at Community of Hope Student Ministries and most recently have had the opportunity to help Coach Glen in his junior classes. That experience in particular has helped me to really connect the dots of what I learned while attending the First Tee Event in Montana.  

How are the dots connecting for your future?

I have always been motivated to do well in my academics.  I paid attention in class so I was well-liked by my teachers which made them more willing to help me when I needed it. Through that effort, I have only received 1 B and that was in middle school when I started taking high school level classes.  As of now, I have 5.1 Weighted GPA with a 1520 SAT score.  

Since academics came easy for me, that freed me up to help.  That has been a blessing and curse since I struggle to say NO to people and opportunities.  I want to do everything which has led to me overextending myself and then I am only able to offer limited help. Now I use a calendar and think through my decisions before saying Yes.  

I believe these experiences are preparing me for my future goal of starting my own pharmaceutical company.  My Mom has a history of heart issues and Crohn's so I am motivated to find cures behind the scenes.  I would love to do just that in my home state of Michigan by attending Notre Dame or Michigan but I have some work to do to secure the scholarships. 

When I met Sydney Rogers almost four years ago, I was impressed by her drive.  It was clear that she had a mission to learn to play golf and she was going to do it no matter what, even if it was pouring during her lesson.  Over the years, I have had the pleasure of watching Sydney develop into a young woman of integrity staying firm in her beliefs while also learning to laugh at herself and relax.  

When you first started golf lessons with Coach Glen, you were a dancer, what changed?  
I started lessons with Coach Glen the summer before my freshman year with the intent of making the golf team and I did. Actually, I played golf for Seminole Ridge for all four years of high school. 

I was still dancing that year but I wasn't enjoying it anymore. I was burnt out and it was not financially feasible for me to progress in dance. Golf is different. In dance you memorize steps but with golf you need to feel your swing, knowing is not enough, making it more personal.

What’s it like working with Coach Glen?
I liked Coach Glen from the start.  He provided all of the information for me to have a solid foundation. I also liked that he drives you to be golden, he wants you to develop discipline in your practice, in your mindset and he gives you all the facts you need to do it.  He is a good match for me because he is tough when I need it.  When I get frustrated, he can put me in the right headspace to get back on track and succeed.

What’s the hardest part about golf for you?
Definitely, the mental side. I have not perfected that.  I have a hard time getting out of my head. I usually go into a round with high expectations and then when I don’t meet them, I let the negatives take over my headspace as I play.  I am only now starting to make some progress but it is a struggle.  

I have discovered that I play better during high school matches than I do in individual tournaments.  My best round happened this year in a match at Winston Trails where I shot 44 over 9 holes. I seem to be more relaxed in those situations and freak out when the round is only about me but I am not giving up. I plan to continue taking lessons because I want to play this game for years to come. I am open to walking-on in college or playing intramurally.  

What advice do you have for junior golfers?
In general, I say "Don't be afraid to try.  Take opportunities that are offered because they could completely change your life."

For golf, "Practice.  Put the work in or you won’t see the results. Coach Glen can only offer you the information but you have to use it.  I like the drills a lot, especially practicing without a ball.  Take the time each day to work on feeling the swing and it will pay off.  It will make the difference in your technical game."

Speaking about technical aspects, why is biotech of interest to you? 
I have been helping to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network for several years; last year alone the Seminole Ridge Dance Marathon raised over $63,000.  Through that effort, I have learned that life is not about what you gain, something small we do for others can have a lifelong impact.

I have always enjoyed science. In one of my labs, I was able to study colon cancer by analyzing DNA samheples.  I learned my way around the lab and started to become fascinated by the practical applications of what I was learning.  I could be on a team that cures cancer or develops a treatment that makes it no different than the common cold. So many possibilities and being a part of it would definitely change the quality of life for the “Miracle Kids” and so many others.  

If I can start putting the puzzle pieces together at Clemson that would be a dream come true.
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Are there other puzzle pieces that make up who you are?
I am a part of the National Honor Society which is a great academic accomplishment but I really enjoy the community service aspect of being a member.  I volunteer for Beaver Golf every chance I get because it is so cool to witness the kids progress in their game and take it to the next level.  It is also a lot of fun to squirt them and make them laugh. 

Best Buddies is another group that I enjoy.  I get paired up with other students at the school who may have intellectual and developmental disabilities. I learn so much from them as we develop our friendship.

Last, but certainly not least is First Priority which allows me to connect students to Christ and a local church by hosting fun events like “Friendsgiving.”  This group is especially important to me because I was invited to attend a youth group in my freshman year and my life changed completely. I am so grateful and I want others to experience the same joy that I have. ​