Looking to reduce the stress that comes with finalizing your family’s busy fall schedule? Look no further than our Parentnooz After School Activities Guide!
This guide is an informative list of after school programs that will be available in Santa Barbara County for the upcoming school year.
Additionally, to help parents make informed decisions about which after school activities would be the best fit for their children, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of the local programs for this year’s Afterschool Activities Guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Carly Malanfant, Shop Operations Manager and Marketing Coordinator at Twin Lakes Junior Golf, to learn more about their afterschool programs here in Santa Barbara.
Twin Lakes After School Junior Golf
Question: What is the name of your afterschool activity/program? What is its mission?
Answer: Our Discover Golf and DGWee junior golf programs are designed for golfers of any skill level. We want our juniors to fall in love with the game of golf! Full swing, chipping and putting will be taught in a fun, game-like setting. Creative ideas and techniques are introduced to golf while providing juniors with basic knowledge in a safe and game-filled environment.
Q: When was your program started and what was the inspiration for creating it?
A: This is Twin Lakes’ third year of Discover Golf camps. We’ve welcomed veteran Discover Golf coach Mick Malanfant from Chicago as our new director of Junior Instruction. We create a stress free environment which is key to any child’s development. Not ONLY stress free, but FUN! We are committed to making the experience enjoyable for your child without sacrificing skill development. Simply put, the more fun your child has playing and learning the game, the more they will want to play it and learn about it.
Q: What is the age range for children to take part in your afterschool activity or program?
A: Our Discover Golf camp is for students ages 7-12. The DGWee program is designed for younger players, ages 4-6.
Q: Describe a typical day or schedule of your afterschool activity/program.
A: Students will arrive and see various Discover Golf games and drills. Learning through playing these games is a huge part of our program. Along with that, juniors will get instruction on the driving range, as well as actually going on the golf course to play. The last 20/30 minutes is set up for an end of the day challenge, where students will compete for a prize. Juniors may bring a snack, or purchase one in our Pro Shop if they would like.
Q: What is the average program size or class size for your activity? Teacher to student ratio?
A: Class size will vary, but there will never be more than a 4 to 1, junior to coach ratio.
Q: What is the protocol for bringing on a new employee or teacher? How are employees vetted before joining your program?
A: First and foremost, we look for coaches who have a golf background. Closely following, we make sure all of our coaches are great with kids. Creating a fun, high energy environment is key with our junior golf programs, and that starts with energetic coaches.
Q: In what ways is your program educational?
A: Teaching through the golf course and playing games helps our students develop their golf skills in a unique way. Educating in a fun environment with active coaches makes our program differ from others.
Q: Describe what makes your afterschool program unique and worthwhile?
A: Our junior golf program is unique because of the way we teach golf through play. Getting kids excited to come to the golf course is our biggest goal. Letting our juniors experience playing on the actual course makes our program stand out. We teach juniors etiquette that will carry them far on the course, and in life.
Q: How do you communicate with parents in case of an emergency?
A: When parents sign up their juniors, they are prompted to fill out two parental contacts, as well as an emergency contact. We keep this information on file in our golf shop where it is easily accessible in case of emergency.
Q: What is the date range and hours of your afterschool activity or program?
A: Our Fall Discover Golf program (7-12) meets Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30 from September 13th to October 18th.
Our Fall DGWee program meets Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00 from September 14th to October 19th. Saturday Fall classes meet from 9:00-11:00 (Discover Golf 7-12 yr olds) and 11:30-12:30 (DGWee 4-6) from September 17th to October 22nd.
Winter camps follow the same day and time schedule, and run from November 1st to December 13th (Discover), November 2nd to December 14th (DGWee) and November 5th to December 17th (Saturday Discover & DGWee).
**We will have the week of Thanksgiving OFF**
Q: What is the cost/tuition? Are scholarships available?
A: Discover Golf (7-12) is $240 per Fall and Winter Session. DGWee is $120 per Fall and Winter Session.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers about your afterschool program that was not mentioned above?
A: All juniors of any golf skill level are welcome. If you junior does not have golf clubs, we will provide them for him/her!
Click here for more information about Twin Lakes Junior Golf and their after school programs!