Nearly 200 kids turned out for the Kids Fun Day & Junior Golf Clinic presented by the Missouri Golf Association on Friday, kicking off the first event of the PGA Web.com Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.
The day featured inflatables and other games courtesy of Amberg Events, face painting, the Logan-Rogersville Fire Department offering safety tips with a fire engine at Highland Springs Country Club. Brian Maloney, Director of Golf at Highland Springs, led the golf clinic as kids focused on their tee shots by hitting into an inflatable Golfzilla, another inflatable as well as Velcro targets.
The Springfield Boys and Girls Club, which is among the 49 children’s charities of this year’s PCCC, brought 40 children from its Sertoma, Henderson and Stalnaker units.
“This gets them out of the club,” said Michael VanWinkle, a team director. “Most like to hang out on computers and this gets them out and into activities.”
That’s why it appealed to Cecil Braxton, a gym coordinator at Henderson.
“The kids had a blast,” Braxton said. “It was just a good day. They were excited. A lot of them went on a trip here last year and enjoyed it. They always enjoy this one.”
Taylor Frederich, who handles Sponsor Development for the PCCC, called the day a success.
“This is just a great opportunity for the kids to get out here and learn the game of golf,” Frederich said. “The kids are what the tournament is all about. While we do have a golf side of it, it’s all about the kids, it’s all about charities, all about giving back to the community. That’s why we do this.”
Almost 20 kids from Lebanon YMCA made the trip.
“We do a field trip every Thursday or Friday and get to a place where they haven’t been to,” said Jaiden Offutt, a camp counselor for the Lebanon YMCA. “We have a lot of kids who love golf and some who haven’t touched a golf ball before.”
The Ozarks Parks and Recreation Department brought 30 kids.
“This really gives our kids the chance to play,” said Meghan Robertson of the Ozarks Parks and Rec. “We don’t get to do a lot of carnival games. They said this is their favorite field trip.”
Nearly 30 children from the Willard Rec Center Summer Camp arrived in orange shirts and ready to have a great time.
“We do field trips every Monday, and on Fridays we usually stay at the Rec,” said Willard’s Tanner Sevon, a camp director. “They’ve been talking about it all week. We go to the pool twice a week and we do a field trip like bowling. The emphasis is to get them outside.”