Asked to give junior golf a boost by the Waukegan Park District Board of Commissioners after it was discontinued four years ago — in part because of the coronavirus pandemic — the program doubled in size from pre-COVID levels when it started again on Thursday.
Beckman and Michael Jesse, the Park District’s manager of operations and a PGA teaching professional, gave 30 families a taste of golf at an open house Wednesday at the Bonnie Brook Golf Course in Waukegan with a putting contest, a mini-lesson and a tour of the facility. Heather Hamlet brought her son Daniel Hamlet-Ruiz, a second grader at Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School in Waukegan, to the clinic. She said he has tried baseball, soccer and now it is time to learn something about golf. He is registered for the clinic.Daniel Chapa is another parent who wants his children, ages 5 and 6, to experience a variety of sports and activities. He said he learned about the open house on social media and decided to bring the youngsters.