By Naimah Shaw
For us locals, Spring Break is a time to enjoy the sport of golf that brings this city alive but the question remains: “How does one even get to the heights of collegiate golfing, let alone, professional golf?” I had the pleasure of interviewing Keith Bach, from the Junior Players Golf Academy (JPGA), and he had answers to questions that many of us ask when it comes to youth and golfing.
Augusta Family: What is JPGA’s main role?
Bach: The JPGA’s main role is to prepare students to play golf on the collegiate level and positively deal with the innate challenges that accompany being a student athlete.
AUGUSTA FAMILY: Is this sport ideal for male and females alike and is this encouraged?
Bach: Golf is equally ideal for both males and females and the JPGA promotes this philosophy.
What is the mission/philosophy?
The JPGA’s mission is to prepare junior golfers to compete in national level tournament play and receive a college scholarship. The core competency of the JPGA is to recognize and respect each student’s individuality. The JPGA approach is to get the student to commit to long-term athletic development, incorporating all aspects of training into a successful path to becoming the best athlete possible. This is all possible through the talented and personable staff, and most importantly the limited student to teacher ratio that we take very seriously.
Is there a cookie cutter approach to golf or is personal style encouraged?
The JPGA recognizes each student’s individuality and addresses their instruction accordingly. Common denominators of the world’s best golfers and athletes are incorporated to bring out the best in each student.
Does JPGA work in the community or is it solely based on private needs?
Each JPGA student fulfills community service hours in multiple ways with a majority of it done during the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage Classic played the week after the Masters.
How does golf help individuals, especially our youth?
Golf helps our youth understand life lessons in many different ways. Patience, commitment, planning/strategy, positively dealing with adversity and success, respecting others and their property are just some of the lessons that youth learn.
Why should youth get involved in golf? What qualities do they achieve?
Youth should get involved with golf for the lessons they learn mentioned above as well as the quality individuals that mentor them that tend to be involved in the game of golf.
Are there academic requirements?
There are academic requirements at the JPGA and all students are required to keep a certain GPA in school to stay eligible for practice and tournament play. A student’s performance in the classroom is generally the first question the JPGA’s College Placement Specialist receives from a college coach. The JPGA recognizes the importance of performance in the classroom and monitors their performance on a regular basis.
What type of camps are available?
Camps are available year round with a majority of the students that come to the JPGA for camps attending during the spring break, summer months and spring break.
Does this academy engage in any college preparedness?
A major role of the JPGA is to prepare students for college in the classroom as well as the golf course. On the academic side, ACT and SAT preparation classes are an option as well as tutors for students that require extra assistance in the classroom. Each student is given a packet that guides them through the college search process so they may find a school and golf program that is a good fit.
How many coaches are a part of the JPGA?
The JPGA has 5 golf coaches, a fitness instructor and a mental conditioning coach.
Where is this camp located? Does the JPGA travel to conduct training in other places?
The JPGA’s 2 locations are Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Orlando, Florida.
Can you share recent wins and accomplishments?
–Jeremy Sisson winning the prestigious Golfweek Junior Invitational at Innisbrook Resort in Florida in December with a final round 66.
— Ty Sullivan winning the Optimist Junior at Wexford shooting 71 – 71 for a 2 under par total in February
–Alan Smith winning the HJGT event at Eagle Harbour outside of Jacksonville in a playoff in Feb.
— Katharina Hesse winning the 54 hole HJGT event at St. Simons Island, GA this past weekend. She was even par for 54 holes.
— Savannah Hylton winning the prestigious Carolinas PGA Charles Tilghman junior Championship in December at Surf Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, SC
While students can benefit from a full time regimented academy, anyone who is interested can benefit from the exciting things JPGA offer by checking out their spring and summer camps for a taste of what they have to offer.
Spring Break Camps
Since spring break dates vary by region of the country, the JPGA conveniently offer 8 separate weeks for you to choose from. Juniors can choose a one to five day program.
The Academy is located at Orange County National in Orlando, Florida. A 36 hole golf complex with a state-of-the-art practice facility.
Spring Break Camps Include:
• Daily Golf instruction (5 days)
• Video analysis
• Limited Student to Teacher Ratio
• Accommodations ( 5 nights)
• Meals
• Evening Activities
Camp Details
• Students arrive on Sunday between 4-6pm and depart on Friday between 4-6pm. (if you are a multi week camper accommodations and golf are included for the weekends in between camps)
• Students can enroll as either residential students (with housing) or as commuter students (while parents vacation on Orlando, Florida).
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided to residential students while lunch will be available to commuter students.
• The JPGA program consists of 2 1/2 hours of instruction/training each day, 18 holes of golf (9 of which is done under the watchful eye of your instructor), meals, and video analysis with voiceover for future reference.
• Students enrolled in the Summer Camps will be chaperoned by a Certified Counselor.
• An additional night of accommodations beyond your stay is $125.00 per person
Summer Camps
The JPGA offers golf instruction beginning the 1st week of June through the 2nd week of August.
The academy is located in Orlando, Florida. Our summer golf camps take place at Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge, a 45 hole facility.
Our junior golf summer camps are geared for all ages and skill levels. They cover all aspects of the game. Extensive video analysis is used to help students understand their golf swing and enhance their overall fundamentals.
JPGA Summer Program is a limited student/teacher ratio.
Summer Camps Include:
• Daily Golf instruction (5 days)
• Video analysis
• Limited Student to Teacher Ratio
• Accommodations Sun-Fri ( 5 nights)
• Meals
• Evening Activities
Camp Details
• Students arrive on Sunday between 4-6pm and depart on Friday between 4-6pm. (if you are a multi week camper accommodations and golf are included for the weekends in between camps)
• Students can enroll as either residential students (with housing) or as commuter students (while parents vacation in Orlando, Florida).
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided to residential students while lunch will be available to commuter students.
• The JPGA program consists of 2 1/2 hours of instruction/training each day, 18 holes of golf (9 of which is done under the watchful eye of your instructor), meals, and video analysis with voiceover for future reference.
• Students enrolled in the Summer Camps will be chaperoned by a Certified Counselor.
• An additional night of accommodations beyond your stay is $125.00 per person.
Discounts and other information are available through their website at, https://jrpga.com.
This article appears in the April 2018 issue of Augusta Family Magazine.
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