Beginner's luck takes a back seat to life-long learning

Luis Carvajal lines up his chip, then sinks it from about 40 feet. On his first try — ever!

Now doesn't that just frost a lot of golfers?

Luis, 13, and his 24 Manatee Middle schoolmates are learning about golf, tennis and enjoying the benefits of cooling off in the Eagle Creek Country Club pool. They are taking part in a two-week sports program learning about life skills and inspiration to challenge life ahead.

Sally Lam, an Eagle Creek resident, coordinated the event with support from the Southwest Florida Golf Charities, Eagle Creek members and individual sponsors.

Scholastica Choi, Manatee Middle principal, who plays tennis with Lam, assisted by obtaining grants for the kids to have matching shorts and shirts, while Eagle Creek Country Club chipped in the hats and made golf clubs and tennis rackets available. Members donated some of the clubs and tennis rackets.

Choi also obtained grant money for backpacks for the kids that will stay with the program for next year and a grant for a bus to transport the kids. Golf Charities gave $3,000 for the program and Lam obtained lunch sponsors.

"Scholastica and I cooked this up last December," Lam said. "She is a member here and had helped some kids on the tennis courts at the school. We decided it would be great to do something here."

Scott Yates, head golf pro and Andy Bradley, head tennis pro, were willing and happy to participate, Lam said. Kyle Olson assisted Yates and Bryan Akers, assistant tennis pro, joined Bradley in lessons. Katie Borduas, in the pro shop, talked about a career in retail.

The kids receive two hours of tennis and golf, then ate lunch and swam.

"It is my goal to have the kids get enough confidence to try out for golf and tennis at Lely High School," Lam said. "At the very least these are lifetime sports and they will get a solid background."

Yates agrees.

"We are really pounding the basics, the etiquette, the care for the course and the overall spirit of the game," he said. "In learning how to conduct themselves it will help them fit into the scene in the future."

Luis said the program "is pretty cool. I like both (games) and the coaches are pretty great."

One of the sponsors, Mary Schell, was enthused by watching the kids.

"Sally has set up a wonderful program and believes in the kids potential," she said. "It is great that they are all wearing (sports) uniforms. That's a peer level ingredient. They are being taught to be courteous and this is a positive, warm environment."