The Lincoln County School District is going beyond its athletic programs to provide some much-needed activity for its students.

This week, while athletes at the schools began strength and conditioning workouts for all sports, the coastal district unveiled a community partnership golf program that is available to all students.

Five golf courses have agreed to open time blocks for use by the district, which has limited in-person instruction. Students grades 7-12 can sign up to play golf and use course facilities for free.

The program is outside of OSAA Season 1, which runs through Dec. 27. Unlike in the district’s sports programs, students are not required to complete a physical examination to participate.

“Our focus on this is to reach a new group of students that might not otherwise be involved,” district athletic director Majalise Tolan said, “and to encourage new kids that might not consider themselves to be an athlete or one who is wanting to go to strength and conditioning camp.

“It kind of evens the playing field for kids who are wanting to get out there and experience it.”

Each high school in the district has partnered with a course: Taft (Chinook Winds Golf Resort), Newport (Agate Beach Golf Course), Toledo (Olalla Golf Course) and Waldport (Crestview Golf Course). Salishan Golf Links in Lincoln City has made its driving range available.

The district had hoped to start the program in mid-September, but it got pushed back due to wildfires in the area. It opened Wednesday with a session at the indoor driving range at Chinook Winds.

“We have some different ways to engage students throughout the coming weeks with golf and give them a mental break from their day,” Taft athletic director Matt Hilgers said. “I think this is an excellent opportunity for students to step away from their screens and enjoy the outdoors, whether they are the next Tiger Woods or they are like me, and just getting the golf ball to go straight is a victory.”

Tolan said about 30 students have signed up for the program. She is hopeful more students will get on board as the program progresses, even those participating in sports workouts.

“What we’re trying to do is get outside activities for kids outside of Season 1, even with the weather turning,” Tolan said. “Our parks and everything have been closed.”

Before students can participate, they must complete an online video and quiz about golf ethics and rules. At the course, they receive supervision and instruction from golf course staff, district coaches and volunteers.

“A lot of the kids have never played before, which is exciting,” Tolan said. “That was what we were going for. The courses are offering progressive lessons. They’re teaching them different parts of the game, and then once they’ve got it, they’ll start doing more holes at a time.

“We didn’t want it just to be, ‘Hey, go golf nine holes and walk around,’ and then the kids get discouraged and don’t enjoy their time.”

Golf clubs are available, many of them donations from local junior golf programs, the OSAA and others. Students can sign up to play during the time blocks that the courses make available.

How often can students play?

“It’s up to them,” Tolan said. “They could play once and say, ‘I don’t really want to do this,’ or they could say, ‘I want to sign up for every slot.’”

Relationship building also is an important aspect of the program, according to Tolan. She said that supervisors will make a concerted effort to “check and connect” with students.

“We’re really trying to work on all students in social and emotional health, and just getting them outside,” Tolan said. “This is an avenue to get to see them in a safe way and connect.”

The district is using money from Measure 98 – a grant that it receives each year through the Oregon Department of Education – to compensate the golf courses. She lauded the golf courses for their support and cooperation.

“It’s been incredible,” Tolan said. “Some of them said they don’t want any of our money. We have a strong community here, but when all five of the golf courses were on board with doing something for kids, I thought it was pretty neat.”

Hilgers thanked Tom Graves of Salishan and Keaton Fisher and Heather Hatton of Chinook Winds for their contributions in Lincoln City.

“Estos individuos y campos de golf son fundamentales en años normales y realmente se han esforzado para ofrecer esta oportunidad a nuestros niños durante este año desafiante”, dijo Hilgers. Poder empezar a jugar golf de nuevo me ha ayudado a liberarme del estrés de la escuela. También me ha ayudado a ser más activa mientras puedo divertirme con amigos – Veronica Jin 12 ° grado El descanso mental que me proporciona el golf es lo que me mantiene jugando. Prepararse para dar el primer golpe y mirar hacia abajo es la mejor manera de relajarse después de un largo día. – Ashton Champlin – 11.º grado ” El distrito se combina con cinco campos locales para ofrecer golf gratis a todos los estudiantes, dándoles un ‘descanso mental de su día’ 14 de octubre de 2020 por Jerry Ulmer, OSAAtoday Los estudiantes practican en el campo de prácticas bajo techo en Chinook Winds Golf Resort el miércoles en Lincoln City. El Distrito Escolar del Condado de Lincoln va más allá de sus programas atléticos para brindar alguna actividad muy necesaria para sus estudiantes. Esta semana, mientras los atletas de las escuelas comenzaron entrenamientos de fuerza y ​​acondicionamiento para todos los deportes, el distrito costero dio a conocer un programa de golf de asociación comunitaria que está disponible para todos los estudiantes. Cinco campos de golf acordaron abrir bloques de tiempo para que los use el distrito, que tiene una instrucción limitada en persona. Los estudiantes de los grados 7-12 pueden inscribirse para jugar golf y utilizar las instalaciones del campo de forma gratuita. El programa está fuera de la Temporada 1 de OSAA, que se extiende hasta el 27 de diciembre. A diferencia de los programas deportivos del distrito, los estudiantes no están obligados a completar un examen físico para participar. “Nuestro enfoque en esto es llegar a un nuevo grupo de estudiantes que de otra manera no estarían involucrados”, dijo la directora de deportes del distrito, Majalise Tolan, “y alentar a los nuevos niños que tal vez no se consideren atletas o que quieran ir al campamento de fuerza y ​​acondicionamiento. “En cierto modo, iguala el campo de juego para los niños que quieren salir y experimentarlo”. Cada escuela secundaria en el distrito se ha asociado con un campo: Taft (Chinook Winds Golf Resort), Newport (Campo de golf Agate Beach), Toledo (Campo de golf Olalla) y Waldport (Campo de golf Crestview). Salishan Golf Links en Lincoln City ha puesto a disposición su campo de prácticas. Antes de que los estudiantes puedan participar, deben completar un video en línea y un cuestionario sobre la ética y las reglas del golf. En el campo, reciben supervisión e instrucción del personal del campo de golf, entrenadores del distrito y voluntarios. Hay palos de golf disponibles, muchos de ellos donaciones de programas de golf juveniles locales, la OSAA y otros. Los estudiantes pueden inscribirse para jugar durante los bloques de tiempo que los cursos ponen a disposición. Hilgers agradeció a Tom Graves de Salishan y Keaton Fisher y Heather Hatton de Chinook Winds por sus contribuciones en Lincoln City.