Getting golf ready

From the practice range to the 18th hole, developing golfers takes time and patience and golf pro Peter Procops has several programs in full swing at the village owned and operated Lawrence Yacht & Country Club.
Using the Professional Golf Association’s “Get Golf Ready” program, Procops has six adults ranging in age from 24 to 60-something learning the game’s history, etiquette and skills through five one-hour lessons for $99.
“When you learn to play the game it opens so many doors socially, for business, creates friendships and has spouses and families spending time together,” said Procops, the club’s pro for the past 10 years.
Procops, a Lawrence native who now lives in Lynbrook, believes in having fun on the course and seeks to give his students the opportunity to enjoy playing by tailoring a swing that melds with their physical strengths. “Golf is such a challenge, you never master it,” he said. “But there is no better feeling than making a good shot.”
To help golfers of all ages learn the game and improve, Procops has a junior resident program running for kids 5-17 through July 3. For the inaugural Junior PGA Golf League, the club assembled a team of 14-year-olds that are competing against teams from other clubs, including Inwood, Woodmere, Seawane, North Hills, North Shore and Huntington. In addition, there was a one-hour clinic for a few Lawrence women residents on June 1, there will be another PGA Get Golf Ready class and summer clinics with girls and boys from the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach and the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway.

“This is a service business and I enjoy the people, love hearing about their rounds and we are trying to promote the game,” said Procops, alluding to the drop in membership at clubs over the past few years.
Lawrence resident and golf student Alec Rapp, 13, has been taking lessons for three years after getting the bug from his older brother, Sam, 21. “It’s fun, you go around, take a nice shot and you are always improving,” he said.
Before their Sunday lesson, Steve Pollack and Josh Schwartz, both Lawrence residents, Leslie Fang, of Hewlett Neck, and Oceanside resident Lisa Cohen shared why they are learning the game. “The price was right,” Pollack said. “I played tennis and wasn’t ready for golf, now I am.” It’s nice to learn and you see improvement over time,” Schwartz said. “My kids play and I’m starting to enjoy it, it’s a lot of fun,” Cohen said. “To play with my husband,” Gang, said. “It’s fun, it’s a nice group and it’s nice to be outside.”

Second year for caddy program
Last year the LY&CC began a training program for caddies by recruiting high school students. It continued the program this year.
Taylor Garcia, 16, a Hewlett High junior-to-be, worked as a caddy for the first time on June 1. Garcia plays on the Bulldog golf team, however he already learned the big difference between caddy and golfer. “It’s how they want it, now how you want it,” he said. But he also knows this: “I can learn a lot from a lot of experienced golfers.”
Anthony Doll, 17, a senior-to-be at Lawrence High returned for his second year. Not knowing anything about golf, Doll said he had to learn everything about the game from how to locate the ball, read the greens, rake the bunkers and score. Saying it “pays and it’s fun” this is what he would tell someone who asked about caddying. “I would tell him to come and learn, it’s only four hours and you get paid,” he said. “Instead of being cooped up inside, enjoy nature.”