L.I. Golf Academy tees off

While the masses headed for the beaches last Monday to seek relief from sweltering heat, the Long Island Golf Academy began its eighth year of operation at East Meadow’s Eisenhower Park.

The program offers young golf enthusiasts the opportunity to gain the knowledge and experience of the game to become lifelong players. And it’s done in a fun environment, under the direction of Charles Cohen and Stewart Yaker.

Cohen and Yaker founded the program in 2004, and participation has more than doubled over the years. “When we started we had between 20 and 30 kids for the summer,” said Cohen, the varsity boys’ golf coach at Lawrence High School. “Now we’re up to 60 or 70 students.”

“Most of the kids are either currently playing at the high school level or aspire to play competitively in the future,” Cohen added. “We’ve had many students go on to qualify for the Nassau County High School Tournament.”

“The program teaches each player proper golf etiquette and behavior, and respect for the game and the course,” Yaker explained. “The primary objective is for the golfer’s playing ability to improve, but enjoying the learning process is also essential.” 

The academy offers five one-week sessions totaling 35 hours — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with lunch included — for $995. The morning session begins with two and a half hours of instruction, featuring the ABC 123 Golf Module. This instruction covers addressing the ball, backswing rotation and the completed swing. The sessions are designed to teach the student the complexity of the golf swing, but in a manner easy to understand. After lunch at the clubhouse, the golfers spend the afternoon on the practice putting green and on Eisenhower’s Blue or White course.

The ABC 123 Golf Module was developed by the program’s director of instruction, Mike Wade, who also serves as the director of programs and instruction at the First Tee of Nassau County. Among the skills Wade’s program teaches are grip, stance, posture, rotation, balance, transition, on-plane and release. Wade, a PGA teaching professional for over 20 years, coaches most of the up-and-coming junior players on Long Island.

The L.I. Golf Academy breaks down its groups to ages 7-11 and 12 and up. To assure that every student receives proper instruction, all groups have a 4-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio. Wade has seen many of the juniors he has worked with go on to become PGA pros. He has instructed young golfers who have earned college scholarships.

Cohen stresses fundamentals and the short game. “Eighty percent of shots are from 150 yards or closer,” he said. “A driver comes out only about 15 times a round, when you’re putting upwards of 40 times.” 

In addition to the youth programs, daily classes for men and two-day mini-schools for women are available. The men’s program runs Mondays (July 18, 25 and Aug. 1) from 1-4 p.m., while the women’s program takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays (July 19 and 21 and July 26 and 28) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information on the L.I. Golf Academy and to register, visit the website, www.ligolfacademy.com, or call (516) 316-4730 or (516) 532-6530.