Page 27 - GBC summer 2016

Hofstatter approached the club management four years ago after enrolling his own son to the junior golf program. After realizing the cost was restrictive to many families in the Perth area, he had a heartfelt discussion with the owners. The pricing structure was revisited, and the cost is now $299 for the same unlimited access to the driving range and golf course.
But, he felt there was still more he could do. “I approached the owners again in 2014 and asked if they would allow me to have half of an old utility shed to make a secure place for kids to store their clubs,” he explains. “We got some carpet, some old lockers from a college, and we put 20 of them in there.”
Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program helped to pay for the renovation. The Jumpstart Program started over a decade ago and has now helped over 1 million kids have access to sports by assisting with the costs associated with registration, equipment and/or transportation.
“Before we knew it, we had 17 kids signed up,” says Hofstatter, who explains the idea for an actual clubhouse evolved from there.
The current junior clubhouse is a fairly simple structure, measuring 16 x 24 feet in size and has 62 lockers in it (Hofstatter originally put in 50, but after two weeks of its opening, he had to add 10 more). It’s also built on blocks, meaning the structure can be moved around if need be.
“Each locker has the child’s name on it, so they have that pride,” he says. “There is a little table and chairs, and they can have a pop and chips and tell their own stories.”
THE OppORTUNiTy
Hofstatter also paid for the new clubhouse with his own money.
“I took it as a project of my own,” the 16-year storeowner says. While Jumpstart has helped some junior golfers participate in the golf program – a key initiative that can be applied in communities across the country – Hofstatter says he tries to personally give back to the
customers of his store.
“My main reason for getting involved was to be able to make it
so that many more families could get involved with golf,” Hofstatter explains. “In a lot of sports, it’s not just the access issues, it’s the financial barriers that get put up as well.”
“With 60 kids using the golf course, golf inherently has some good things that can help develop kids and their ability to interact with people,” he continues.
The clubhouse cost Hofstatter $15,000 to build, and another $12,000 to get set up with lockers, table, chairs, and patio furniture. It’s a donation to the kids in the community.
“You’ve got 60 kids coming back year after year, and probably more because they’re telling their friends or their parents are talking about it,” explains Hofstatter.
The objective is to get kids to come to the golf course at a young age for a reason, and if they participate in programs, Perth realizes they are cultivating the future of its golf course. With Perth being only 15 minutes from Smiths Falls, there’s some youthful inspiration that isn’t hard to see.
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