For two decades, the Selkirk College Golf Camp has been a staple of summer fun for youngsters who want to build their skills with support from the region’s most dedicated purveyors of the sport.
This year’s event included 42 participants between the ages of seven and 17 who took part in the four-day camp between July 8 and 11. Under the tutelage of club pros and playing professionals, young golfers honed skills, played area courses, bonded with friends and cooled down from the West Kootenay summer heat in Champion Lakes.
“I am thrilled to see this camp continue and to see more people involved each year with some type of contribution, donation or by volunteering,” says Kim Verigin, department head for the college’s Athletics, Recreation & Student Life. “It is an important and awesome opportunity to help introduce and grow the game of golf among our youth, whether it’s for lifelong enjoyment or more competitive opportunities.”
An engine of support that helps provide bursaries for participants and purchases for equipment for the camp is the Laurie Palibroda Memorial Fund. The endowment fund was established in 2006 in memory of a Laurie Palibroda, a golf enthusiast who worked at the local mill as a machinist until his sudden passing in 2005. Palibroda was a dedicated volunteer at the Castlegar Golf Club and was committed to growing the game. To honour his love of golf and dedication to community, Palibroda’s family established a legacy that continues to day.
Since the first Selkirk College Golf Camp in 2005, organizers and participants have benefited from support by the likes of the Castlegar Golf Club, Champion Lakes Golf Course, Mountain Transport Institute, the British Columbia Golf Association, Kootenay Savings and many others.
“This camp happens because the community supports it, the instructors pour all their energy into it and the volunteers ensure that there are smiles all around,” says Verigin. “It’s amazing to see golfers who participated in this camp when they were young are still playing at the local courses. Golf is a sport that brings people together for a lifetime of enjoyment, so we are happy to do our small part in fostering this great game.”
Registration for the golf camp opens in the spring and fills up quickly. You can learn more about all opportunities and activity with Athletics & Recreation at Selkirk College here.
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Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.