Saltleaf Golf Preserve launches camp focused on short game for young golfers

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WINK)—A new par-3 course at the Saltleaf Golf Preserve is helping young golfers learn the game from the ground up.

The new Leaf Legends Junior Golf Program focuses on building confidence and developing fundamentals. Young golfers in the Leaf Legends program will learn the game through Operation 36 play, a development model that starts players close to the hole and moves them back as their skills improve.

The program emphasizes the short game, which accounts for 60% of golf. Matthew Dees, director of instruction at Saltleaf Golf Preserve, explained the approach.

"The whole program of Operation 36 is designed for short game first and then working your way back to the tee box," Dees said. "Whereas you and I might have started from the tee box forward and, you know, just given up on the game, this program is reversed."

The goal isn't just to create better golfers. It makes the game feel fun and less intimidating.

"I just happened to, you know, love teaching and getting to golf," Dees said. "And you know what, there's got to be an industry in this, so here I am."

The Florida Gulf Coast University graduate now teaches in the same Southwest Florida community where he started his professional career just last year. The camp breaks each day into a different skill, from putting to chipping to bunker play.

"The real cool, unique thing about the program is taking it out to the golf course and putting everything that we just learned into effect right then and there," Dees said.

Beyond technique, the program teaches life lessons through golf.

"It's a life sport," Dees said. "So each time I go out and play, I learn something else about life. You know, patience, confidence, all those good things."

The first week of camp is set for June 1. 

Call 239-390-4602 for more questions.

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