Any conversation with Carrie or Jeremy Julie, the owner operators of Sawmill Golf Club in Fenwick, Ontario, will eventually come around to one subject – junior golf.
“Our passion for junior golf is completely giving back to the game that has been so good to us,” explains Carrie. “Jeremy went to the University of Virginia on a full scholarship, got a wonderful education and made wonderful friends. I’ve been in golf since I was 13 at my Godfather’s golf course.”
The Julies run a myriad of junior programs at their course which is located on the Niagara Penninsula including a new ‘Kids-try-golf series’ in which juniors get to try golf for free and get a snack and drink afterward.
The Stephen Ames foundation, who sponsored the initial summer program recently told the Julies they would fund the program for another 80 kids in September.
“We tell the parents that we don’t care where the kids plays afterwards, just that they play,” said Carrie.
They also run summer camps including one that features golf in the morning and hockey in the afternoon as well as weekly program through the summer where the kids have a lesson and then a game night where they go out to play the course.
“We also have a Sunday junior league for the better kids and we give up the golf course to them every single Sunday at noon for 52 kids,” says Carrie.
“For nearly all of our programs we believe in the kids getting on the golf course. We really believe that’s how we’re going to create golfers, by them actually playing the game.”
As you might imagine that doesn’t always sit too well with some members, especially older members.
“We believe that if our members aren’t happy with encountering kids on the golf course then Sawmill is not the place for them,” she says.
“We’re a golf course that wants to grow the game and we’re passionate about it.”
The Julie’s have also recently started an initiative to support other course owners, golf pros and superintendents.
“Dealing with the public all the time can take a mental and emotional toll,” Carrie explains. “We want other supers and pros and owners to know that if they need to get away from their course for a day with their kids our door is open to them. It’s just something we want to do to give back to the industry.”
