Young Utes get golf lessons from Native pro

The Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe hosted a Spring Break Golf Clinic
Emily McDonald gives instruction on Wednesday, April 3 to a group of aspiring young golfers during the weeklong Spring Break Golf Clinic of the Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe at Hillcrest Golf Course in Durango.
Juan Elizondo gives putting instruction to a group of club members. Students rotated between the professional instructors throughout the day, getting hands-on practice with each.
One-on-one advice was available for the young golfers during the weeklong clinic.
Sie Chakee hits practice balls on Hillcrest’s driving range with the La Plata Mountains shimmering with fresh snow in the distance.
Kids from the Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe spent a week April 1-5 at the Spring Break Golf Clinic at Hillcrest Golf Course in Durango with Steve McDonald, a Native American pro golfer.
Native American golf pro Steve McDonald gives a high-five to a club member.
Emily McDonald gives a warm embrace to young Sara Chakee on the green.
Students practiced their driving and pitching techniques.
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The Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe hosted a Spring Break Golf Clinic April 1-5 at the Hillcrest Golf Course in Durango. Native American PGA Tour player Steve McDonald led the clinic, which culminated in a skills challenge and a nine-hole match for older participants.
Emily McDonald gives instruction on Wednesday, April 3 to a group of aspiring young golfers during the weeklong Spring Break Golf Clinic of the Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe at Hillcrest Golf Course in Durango.
Juan Elizondo gives putting instruction to a group of club members. Students rotated between the professional instructors throughout the day, getting hands-on practice with each.
One-on-one advice was available for the young golfers during the weeklong clinic.
Sie Chakee hits practice balls on Hillcrest’s driving range with the La Plata Mountains shimmering with fresh snow in the distance.
Kids from the Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe spent a week April 1-5 at the Spring Break Golf Clinic at Hillcrest Golf Course in Durango with Steve McDonald, a Native American pro golfer.
Native American golf pro Steve McDonald gives a high-five to a club member.
Emily McDonald gives a warm embrace to young Sara Chakee on the green.
Students practiced their driving and pitching techniques.
Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Melinda Englert
Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Thumbnail image of The Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe hosted a Spring Break Golf Clinic
Thumbnail image of Emily McDonald gives instruction on Wednesday, April 3 to a group of aspiring young golfers during the weeklong Spring Break Golf Clinic of the Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe at Hillcrest Golf Course in Durango.
Thumbnail image of Juan Elizondo gives putting instruction to a group of club members. Students rotated between the professional instructors throughout the day, getting hands-on practice with each.
Thumbnail image of One-on-one advice was available for the young golfers during the weeklong clinic.
Thumbnail image of Sie Chakee hits practice balls on Hillcrest’s driving range with the La Plata Mountains shimmering with fresh snow in the distance.
Thumbnail image of Kids from the Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe spent a week April 1-5 at the Spring Break Golf Clinic at Hillcrest Golf Course in Durango with Steve McDonald, a Native American pro golfer.
Thumbnail image of Native American golf pro Steve McDonald gives a high-five to a club member.
Thumbnail image of Emily McDonald gives a warm embrace to young Sara Chakee on the green.
Thumbnail image of Students practiced their driving and pitching techniques.
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Forty youth from Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes and the Ignacio community got together to work on pitching, chipping, full-swing and putting skills April 1-5 at the Spring Break Golf Clinic, a program of the Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the SunUte Community Center’s Spring Break Golf Clinic.

Youth ages 8-18 convened at Hillcrest Golf Course for the weeklong clinic, which culminated in a skills challenge and a nine-hole match for several older participants. Club member Ocean Hunter won first place in the skills challenge.

Native American PGA Tour player Steve McDonald and his team of golf instruction professionals Juan Elizondo, Emily McDonald, and Nolan Pahmahmie taught not only golf fundamentals but also life skills, such as self belief, responsibility, honesty and perseverance.

Collaboration between the Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and SunUte Community Center with funding from the National Congress of American Indians made the clinic, as well as the healthy meals and snacks served all week, possible.

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