Kate Via (left) teaches the first Girls Golf program class at Burke Lake Golf Course. Photo courtesy of Erin Herbig
Erin Herbig of Clifton admits signing her daughters up for golf lessons was a decision to benefit the whole family, not just the girls Summer and Kolby.
“My husband and I love golfing,” Herbig said. “It’s a great family activity, something you can all do no matter what age. That’s honestly the reason we did it, to get outside with your entire family. It doesn’t matter what your skill level is, you could spend a day together.”
Summer, 8, recently had her first lesson at Burke Lake Golf Course as part of Girls Golf, a nationwide program organized by the Ladies Professional Golf Association and United States Golf Association.
“I think it’s really fun, learning how to swing, how to hold your stance and how to hit a ball,” said Summer. “Especially when I get to know more of the girls there, I will get to do it much better. And they can guide me if they’re older.”
BURKE LAKE was selected to be one of 200 sites around the country for the program, which is intended as both a skill- and character-development opportunity for girls and young women ages 7-17.
“Golf is one of those sports that really lends itself well to teaching a lot of neat qualities in kids,” said Herbig. “There’s respect for people you’re playing with, and there’s a personal side, the onus is upon the player to be forthright.”
Fairfax Station resident Kate Via is the volunteer program director for the Burke site. She holds Ladies Professional Golf Association Class A teaching credentials. The 20-odd girls who show up for the monthly classes are hers to mold.
“I put the emphasis on fun, trying something new,” Via said. Regardless of whether the girls participated on their school teams or have never touched a club before, Via said there are plenty of life skills to learn from golf.
“Preparation, being on time, etiquette — you learn a lot about a person on a golf course,” Via said. Growing up in Scotland, Via was the only girl in her area who golfed, which she said helped her to develop some of these lifelong skills as a person and an athlete.
“I want to give back to the sport that’s given me so much,” she said.
MORE THAN 20 girls showed up for the first lesson at the end of April. Lessons will take place at the end of each month throughout the year and require only a $16 membership with the Ladies Professional Golf Association and $10 charge per session. There’s no year-long contract — students can drop in and pay each time.
Neither of Burke resident Jay Sullivan’s daughters Katelyn and Kylie had held a golf club before the group lesson. “But both were hitting it straight off the tee on a semi-regular basis by the end,” Sullivan said. “The instructor Kate was great with all of the girls and managed to have a good amount of one-on-one time with each.”
Sullivan said his daughters were so enthusiastic they continued hitting whiffle golf balls in their backyard after the lesson.
“On a slightly selfish level,” he said, “I’m hoping that my girls learn to love the sport as it will allow me to get out more often.”
Though the fees cover an hour of instruction, they are looking for corporate sponsors to help with keeping the costs low and providing the girls with equipment and balls. The engineering and information technology company Xator is the program’s first sponsor.
For more information or to register for LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, visit www.girlsgolf.org or contact coach Kate Via at kate.via.lpga@gmail.com. Any interest in corporate sponsorship can be directed to Erin Herbig at eherbig@gmail.com or 571-283-1271.