Shands Children's Hospital Program
Our first visit to Shands was October 15th, 2019.
Every week at the Gator Junior Golf Association, parents drive their eager kids to one of our classes and patiently watch them run around and learn the fundamentals of golf. It’s a freeing, fun outdoor environment that every child should at the very least have the opportunity to experience.
Unfortunately, such is not always the case.
Dozens of Gainesville children live their days in the rooms and hallways of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital right down the road, suffering from childhood illnesses of all forms that prevent them from doing much of the same things healthy children can.
It’s why — to expand our Grow the Game initiative — we recently looked into the possibility of a hospital outreach program with Shands to go spread the joy and pleasures of the game of golf to those most in need of it. Our initiative was welcomed with open arms, and we instantly scheduled a visit to the hospital.
Last month, the kindhearted staff at Shands welcomed us into their facilities and gave us a few play rooms for the children to come and go as they pleased. In attendance were our Chairman of the Board John Stevens, Director of Operations Max Meier, Board Member Dr. Bob Yezierski, and Operations Supervisor Bobby Estrada.
We set up our SNAG putting equipment – plastic putters, putting mats and tennis balls – and gave quick little tips and encouragement for quality strokes.
Seeing firsthand the difficulties each of these children face on a day-to-day basis to make their lives as normal as possible was an eye-opening experience for all that went.
“We are extremely proud of this program,” Dr. Yezierksi said following the visit. “We’re thankful to have the opportunity to bring a little joy to some of the most amazing little kids you will ever meet.”
As a result, the Gator Junior Golf Association plans on visiting the children at Shands once a month, and our next visit will be on Nov. 15.
Sure, seeing great shots or swing improvements on a typical Saturday is a fantastic feeling, but seeing the faces of the children at Shands light up around the game of golf is an unrivaled pleasure.