18-07-2025
‘It's not just boys that are playing': 2-day camp introduces 40 girls to golf
A two-day golf camp for young girls at Victoria Golf Course on Thursday and Friday taught participants the basics of the sport, from swing techniques to the spirit of the game.
'I'm not hitting the ball every single time.… That's a part of golf,' one new golfer, Ariana, told CTV News Edmonton.
Paul Horton, who has won and been nominated for some of Canada's highest teaching awards and now coaches at Golf Channel Academy in Calgary, ran the clinic.
'It's not just boys that are playing,' he said. 'There's an increase of girls playing golf, and we're just trying to make it fun so that it's more accessible to the kids – whether it be boys or girls.'
Most of the 40 participants were newbies.
They told CTV News Edmonton the sport was fun to learn how to play, but that they also enjoyed making friends.
'It's really fun because you don't have to worry about being judged. You can just do it and they're here to help you,' Ariana said.
'It gets easier as you keep on going and learning how to do it,' said another participant, Amelia.
On both days, they practiced drives, putts and chipping. On the second day, they held a long drive contest and played a couple of holes on the course.
Some, like Quinn, who golfs with her family, were there for more practice.
'My favorite thing about golf is when you use the driver and the ball just flies in the air. It just makes me feel free and happy,' she said.
The camp is put on by Golf Town and was sponsored by Cobra Golf, which provided a set of clubs for each participant to take home after the camp.
Golf Town also put on camps in Calgary and Toronto, and is considering expanding to more cities in the future, said Horton, who is an ambassador for the brand.
'It's been a long time for me, but I still enjoy what I do, and it gives me great joy (seeing) the smiles on the faces and the faces light up after they hit a good shot,' he told CTV News Edmonton.
'It's all about the joy of exploring. Sometimes it's just one shot that gets somebody hooked to the game.'
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa
