More than 40 years of 'Fore'

The Saratoga Lions Club kicked off the summer at the Saratoga Resort Hot Springs Resort with a youth golf clinic on the week of June 4.

There were many newcomers and returning kids who have had past experience. The new kids received tips from coaches and advanced kids. Platte Valley youth also competed in the Junior Golf Tournament. Winners were announced at the post-tournament cookout at Veterans Island on June 7. Junior golf players competed in four different age groups.

Bob Lauman started the youth golf clinic 47 years ago. Tim Dziadon took over and has been coaching the event for about seven years. Dziadon said this has been the best turnout since he's been coaching the golf clinic.

“This is the most kids we have had so far,” Dziaon said. “We had 53 kids this year and usually it is in the low thirties. It is a great turnout and we are getting so many returning kids, especially in the older groups such as the 10-year-olds and up. We have increased the number of new kids so it is exciting for us”.

Dziadon said this is the best group of kids he has coached. He said the returning kids have made a difference and are always willing to learn and help others.

“What is great about this group of kids is they return year-after-year,” Dziadon said. “Each one has made improvements and as far as skill level goes, I would say probably this is some of the best groups we ever had.”

Lauman said over the years there has been a deep interest in youth golf. He said he hopes it will continue for years to come.

“After we moved here in the Platte Valley, we had as many as 73 kids joining our youth golf,” Lauman said. “It was chaos with so many kids.”

Lauman said it wasn’t always the Saratoga Lions Club which held the junior golf clinic.

“The Lions Club has been a part of junior golf since 1977,” Lauman said. “Years ago, the Saratoga Inn was teaching lessons. People such as Bob Randall and Jake Hall have helped make this possible.”