Overview

Spurned on by the exciting results of working with the NFL offering football camps, North American Sports Camps’ (NASC) next step was to tap into another one of America’s favorite pastimes — golf.

In 1996, NASC CEO/President, Dr. Gary F. Russell, met and worked with golf legend Jack Nicklaus and his coach Jim Flick to develop a golf camp program for boys and girls ages 5 to 18.  Using Russell’s child-centered curriculum, called Kidriculum®, as the foundation of the program, Golden Bear Golf Camps focused on instruction in the FUN-damentals of golf in an environment that encouraged learning through fun and games.

No Need to Tee-Off on a Golf Course

One might assume that the best way to teach young players the skills and techniques of golf would be to take them to the range or the local course. “Not necessarily,” said Russell.  “Golden Bear Golf Camps are about more than just learning the fundamentals of golf.  It is vital to the development of every golfer that they have a more complete understanding and appreciation for the game through exposure to concepts like etiquette, conduct and history.  Most importantly, it must be a fun experience for them.  This will make their later golf experiences all the more valuable.”

With this in mind, Golden Bear Golf camps were held in community athletic fields, where young golfing enthusiasts and their peers were taught by a coaching staff who, themselves, had been through an intensive pre-camp training program.  Because all NASC programs are child-centered—meaning that the needs of the child come before the sport—camp coaches were taught to adapt and change the program to fit the needs and level of the individual participant.

The main goal of the program was to build and develop self-confidence as well as skills.  Each player was challenged and encouraged to master the fundamentals of the mini-swing, half-swing and full-swing, conducted an environment that focused on learning through fun and games.

Using calibrated golf clubs, striking mats, short-flyte balls and portable putting greens, players experienced the right balance of instruction, competition and fun for all.  Attendees of this week-long program received their own golf club, short-flyte ball, t-shirt, and goody bag.  At the end of this exciting camp, these talented young players attended an awards presentation and received a graduation certificate signed by the Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus.