Bordewich-Bray Elementary School students learn basic golf skills

Fourth- and fifth-graders at Bordewich-Bray Elementary School spent their final physical education class of the year Thursday at Silver Oak Golf Course.

Teacher Linda Hurzel said it’s a good way to teach them the basics of a sport they can play for a lifetime.

“It’s a sport where you’re really competing against yourself,” Hurzel said. “You can play this well into your 90s if you want.”

Johnny Deleon, 9, saw even greater potential.

“It’s a chance for people who want to play golf when they’re older to learn how,” Johnny said. “When they’re older they can be professional or something.”

Hurzel said the students learned the basics of golf during a three-week course in January put on by the First Tee of Northern Nevada, which provides training at each of the schools.

It has become tradition at Bordewich-Bray and Fritsch elementary schools to put those skills to use on the actual golf course using actual clubs during the final week of school.

“It’s a very popular event with our students,” Hurzel said. “Some of our kids have never been to a golf course.”

Students participated in putting, chipping and full-swing drills set up by instructors from the First Tee of Northern Nevada, a youth-development program teaching life skills and leadership through golf.

“Nothing compares to bringing these kids out on the course,” said program director Christine Uhalde. “They are able to get a real feel for the game.”

Part of the First Tee program is to teach students the organization’s nine core values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.

“It’s awesome,” said Jordan Dickens, 10. “You try to be competitive but not so competitive that you’re not being a good sport.”

Phoebe Hubbard, 10, liked the teaching style.

“It’s fun and crazy,” she said. “They teach us how to learn golf the right way and not in a mean way. They’re soft about it, and they let us learn in our own way.”