The Sportmen’s Den, in Mt. Shasta, recently held a Coach Appreciation Golf Day at the Mt. Shasta Resort.

“We wanted to say thank you to all the coaches and other athletic staff from around Siskiyou County who have loyally supported the Sportsmen’s Den over the years. It’s important for members of small communities to work together to support each other. In the end it works out well for everyone,” said Sportsmen’s Den Equipment Sales Rep and Chief Food Quality Sampler Erik Johnson. “We had 36 athletic directors and coaches from all over Siskiyou County, and as far away as Anderson High School. We started with nine holes of golf at the resort. Then we had a great dinner at the Piemont with product presentations from Wilson, DiMarini, Under Armour, and Xenith football helmets.”

For the record, COS’ Les Courtermanche won the Longest Drive competition (No actual distance measured, his ball just went farther than the rest). Yreka High School AD Steve Van Ert won the Closest to the Pin contest, at 4′ 10.”

“Overall, it was a great day–perfect weather, great people, and a lot of fun,” said Johnson. “Besides, who doesn’t love golf. Even if you suck, it’s better than working.”

The Sportsmen’s Den is hoping to make the Coach Appreciation Day an annual event.

In post season play this year, the Shasta Cascade League did very well. At the Division II golf championships held at Gold Hills Golf Course in Alturas, Modoc finished first and Weed finished second. Daulton Davis from Mt. Shasta qualified for sections as an individual.

At the NSCIF championships (Masters) held last week at Whitehawk Ranch, Jake West from Weed finished first and won the Jay Bell Award for the second straight year. He is the only golfer to win this award twice.

West advanced to the Northern California Championships held last Monday at Butte Creek Country club in Chico, where he played outstanding against many talented golfers and qualified for the State of California Golf Championship which will be played at Poppy Hills Country Club in Pebble Beach Ca on June 8. West will be representing Weed High School and the SCL at this prestigious tournament.

The format will be individual stroke play with full handicap. The number of flights will depend on the number of players entered. Prizes will be awarded for Over-The-Field gross and net scores. Prizes for first through third place will be awarded for each flight. All payoffs will be in the form of gift certificates. The field is limited to the first 104 entrants.

Contact Jerry French @ jfrench@sisqtel.net or (530)467-5157 for entry forms or information. The tournament entry fee is $125.00 ($ 81.00 for Weed Golf Club members) and includes lunch.

A limited number of carts are available for $11.00 per day, per cart seat, payable daily to the club manager.

Entries should be returned to Dave Roy:

610 French St
Yreka, CA 96097

Entries must be received by August 3, 2010.

West won the 16-17 year-old age group, and was also the overall champion.

Nice job Jake!

Run by the YMCA’s Senior Program Director, Scott Eastman, the camp has been in existence for six years, and has grown in popularity each year. Last year, the United States Golf Association became involved.

“It really took off last year, when we got $2200 worth of funding from the USGA. It allowed us to actually pay our instructors, as opposed to them basically volunteering,” said Eastman. “This year, the USGA stepped it up and gave us $2800. What they want to see is us continue to try to get the numbers (of participants) increased, which obviously we’re doing, with 26 kids this year.”

The USGA also would like to see the YMCA create a connection to local golf courses and junior programs.

“They have made a commitment to where I would see them continuing to fund us for some time, as long we continue to show an increase in numbers and need.”

Joining Eastman as instructors at the camp are Dean Turner and Kevin Alexander. Turner has been with the camp since the beginning, and is the coach for Yreka High School’s golf club. Turner hopes to move golf from a club sport to an official school sport at YHS.

Alexander, who grew up with Eastman in Yreka, began assisting with the junior program last year, and was able to get driving range mats donated by the Kennedy Golf Course in Napa, where he works. What convinced him to continue to make the trek from Napa to assist with the program was the enthusiasm of the students.

“Last year was the first year I was involved with the juniors. I came up here and saw a lot of kids that were playing and were kind of excited about golf. I was impressed.”

The primary goal of the camp is to plant the seed that golf is a fun sport as either a hobby, or as a more serious endeavor. Monday-Wednesday class is held on the driving range at the Eastman residence. In addition to the driving range, Eastman has set up putting mats in the garage, and a hula hoop mini golf course is set up on the front lawn. On Thursday, they will go to the Shasta Valley Golf Course, and on Friday the golfers will head to the Scottish Links course at Lake Shastina.

“We use this private driving range for basically getting the kids out here and not being intimidated. They hit into a cow field,” said Eastman. “Hopefully, the kids come out of it going ‘this is something we enjoy doing and we want to pick up as a hobby,’ or if they want to get more into it, that’s fine.”