Every summer since 2016, Arrowhead Golf has hosted a four-week-long golf clinic for both the Special Olympics and the Rapid City Flame’s athletes. The program took a short hiatus during the pandemic, but Jesse Hansen, Arrowhead’s Director of Golf, is excited to offer the clinic again this August.
“Our main goal when we work with them [the athletes] is developing athletic skills, and we sprinkle in some golf specific instruction,” said Hansen. “We’re kind of getting them involved in golf, but then also building the athletes so they can excel at other activities.”
According to Hansen, the athletes that attend the golf clinic are incredibly dedicated.
“They give 100% all the time,” said Hansen. “They’re focused. It’s really nice to see. You can see learning and development happening. They take instruction very well, and a lot of them are just gifted athletes that naturally pick up the game of golf. So, it’s really fun to see that aspect of it.”
Yvette Lassegard, program coordinator for the Special Olympics Flame, explained the significance of her organization and how it connects to the sports culture in Rapid City.
“So, our flame organization is a group, it’s a Special Olympics group, for athletes from eight through young adulthood,” said Lassegard. “So, we participate in sports all year long. Right now, we are in our softball and basketball season, and then today they’re doing some golf.”
The Special Olympics Flame athletes are currently participating in Arrowhead’s golf clinic, which provides a solid foundation in golf basics.
“Jesse works with them on, you know, the actual driving and the putting and, you know, kind of the basics of holding the club, using the club, that kind of thing,” said Lassegard. “Yeah, it’s just a skill. It’s – it’s one we started just to kind of get it and trust in it. And then hopefully as we progress with that, we can get more of an interest in golf and maybe do some competition at some point.”
Although the Flame athletes have not yet played golf competitively, they compete in other sports year-round.
“We do we compete in sports all year long,” said Lassegard. “And it’s a great opportunity for the athletes. And they can participate in the sports that they love and at their level, which is amazing.”
By participating in Flame, athletes gain not only athletic ability, but also valuable friendships and connections with peers.
“You know, they get they get some peer interaction, and they get to enjoy those things like all the other kids do. Several of them have parents that golf, and so they like to be able to keep up with what the other kids are doing you know, their peers golf. So, it’s a good thing,” said Lassegard.
Looking for more news and information? NewsCenter1 Media Group has you covered go to NC1.TV today for all of your Western South Dakota and Wyoming news today.