City Parks program offers free golf lessons for children

Hailey Yap, 13, of Brooklyn, loves golf. She has been a regular at the City Parks Junior Golf Center for four years, and has taken her game to the next level.

She recently played the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf National Championship in North Carolina.

“The coaches, Coach Chris and Coach Bob, create such a fun environment, that like, everyone, just like enjoys it, like it’s just so fun,” Yap said.

The City Parks Foundation provides free sports programs across the five boroughs, including golf. A facility was constructed by the foundation next to the Dyker Beach Public Golf Course 17 years ago, offering free equipment and instruction.

“We’ve got a six-hole golf course, driving range, putting green, chipping green, classroom, lounge for the parents. We love bragging about the place and showing it off,” Bob Sorenson, program director, said. 

Young golfers like Yap, who doesn’t live far from the center, love knowing that when they need to work on their game, it is always there for them. Her 11-year-old brother Caden Yap is also an accomplished player. 

“Sometimes when my parents can’t go, I could just like walk over with my little brother and we can just go hit some balls on the driving range, and then practice short game for an upcoming tournament,” she said. “It’s just really nice.”

Yap will be attending the upcoming U.S. Kids Golf World Teen Championship at the end of July in Pinehurst, North Carolina. She hopes to at least play college golf — maybe even pro.

Sorenson stresses that the lessons here go beyond the greens.

“They wanted a place where kids that lived in the five boroughs of New York, that may not have had access to a great game, could come and play, learn the game for free, learn all the life skills, integrity, honesty, courtesy, sportsmanship, all the stuff that goes with golf, and learn not only the game, but how to apply all that stuff to being a better musician, being a better student, you name it,” he said.

For more information, visit cityparksfoundation.org.