The Opening Tee Shot for April 23, 2025 ⛳

Published: Wed, 04/23/25

Updated: Wed, 04/23/25

Welcome to The Opening Tee Shot

Thank you for reading along withThe Opening Tee Shot. We're working hard to make sure each weekly newsletter we send out offers you and your junior golfer valuable information that you can use on and off the course. If there's something new you'd like to see here then you can reply directly from this newsletter and let us know.

We've also got a few exciting plans in the works here at JGP, which we'll be unveiling here in the next few weeks!

Switching gears, I'm sure the warmer weather has meant more practice sessions and rounds of golf, so how can your junior golfer get better even if they're not working with a coach or playing in tons of tournaments? This is where online instruction and a summer golf camp (or two) may help. Let's dig in.

-Sara and Chili

Hole #3 at The Creek Golf Course at Hard Labor Creek in Rutledge, Georgia

⛳ Online golf instruction

We know not everyone has a coach or waits several weeks in between coaching sessions. This is where Instagram and YouTube can work their magic though. You can find a ton of accounts that focus on improving the golf game, but how do you know which ones are worth anything?

We know the mental game is one of the most requested areas of help for junior golfers, so take a look at these accounts focused on developing this critical skill:

Here's a list of Instagram accounts that focus on the short game that you may find helpful:

Don't forget about the Junior Golf Playbook YouTube channel either! It features numerous videos on short game technique and mental coaching, many of which were created exclusively for JGP.

🏌️Summer golf camps in the Southeast

It's not too late to find a great golf camp for your junior golfer. And no, it doesn't have to be a pricey camp at a D-1 school either.

I've pulled together a few options here in the Southeast but don't worry, I'll highlight camps in other parts of the country in next week's newsletter.

🏌️ Georgia

Nike Junior Golf Camps – Towne Lake Hills Golf Club (Woodstock, GA)

Dates: Weekly sessions throughout summer 2025

Ages: 7-16

Schedule: Full Day (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

Cost: Varies by session; lunch not included

Details: Comprehensive instruction covering all aspects of the game, led by experienced coaches Allen Hay and Bill Murchison

Bartram Trail Golf Club Junior Golf Camp (Evans, GA)

Dates: Week of July 7th, week of July 21st

Ages: 6-14

Cost: $225

Details: Designed for all skill levels, focusing on improving swings and understanding the game.

The Creek Golf Course at Hard Labor Park (Rutledge, GA)

Dates: June 2nd, 3rd & 4th, June 30th, July 1st & 2nd

Ages: 6-8, 9-11, 12-13 years old

Cost: $125

Details: Full Swing, Short Game, Putting Fundamentals.
Etiquette and Basic Rules of Golf will be taught.
Equipment is provided, if needed.

🏌️ Florida

First Tee – North Florida at Jacksonville Beach Golf Course

Dates: Multiple sessions throughout summer 2025

Ages: Varies by session

Cost: Members: Half-Day $175, Full-Day $250; Non-Members: Half-Day $225, Full-Day $300

Details: Programs aimed at developing golf skills and life skills in a fun environment .

Saddlebrook Junior Golf Camp (Tampa, FL)

Dates: Weekly sessions from June 9 to July 25, 2025

Ages: 8–17

Cost: Starting at $200/week

Highlights: Morning instruction with 9-hole play on Fridays; includes a Saddlebrook logo hat and discounted walking rates throughout the summer.

🏌️ South Carolina

Shadowmoss Golf and Country Club Junior Golf Camp (Charleston, SC)

Dates: Weekly sessions; Monday–Thursday, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Ages: 6-13

Cost: $200 per week

Details: Covers all aspects of the game, from driving to putting, with fun games and drills .

🏌️ North Carolina

Nike Junior Golf Camps (Greater Charlotte, NC)

Dates: June 2–6 and July 28–August 1, 2025

Ages: 7-16

Schedule: Half Day (9:00 AM-12:00 PM)

Cost: $345 plus $40 registration fee

Details: Focuses on putting, chipping, bunker play, and full swing, suitable for all skill levels .

Raintree Country Club Junior and Futures Golf Camp (Charlotte, NC)

Dates: Multiple sessions from June 17 to August 21, 2025

Ages: 7–10, 10-13

Cost: $180 per session

Highlights: Focus on fun and fundamentals; teaches golf rules, etiquette, and life skills.

🏌️ Alabama

Alabama Golf Academy – University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)

Dates: June 2–4 and June 9–11

Ages: 10-18

Cost: $890 per session

Details: Led by the Crimson Tide golf coaching staff, offering top-tier instruction .

🏌️ Louisiana

Nike Junior Golf Camp at Grand Ridge Golf Club – (Luling, LA)

Dates: Weekly sessions throughout summer 2025

Ages: 7-16

Schedule: Full Day (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

Cost: Varies by session; lunch not included

Highlights: Instruction covering all aspects of the game; beautiful setting amidst the Mississippi River Delta.

🏌️ Tennessee

Nike Junior Golf Camp – University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)

Dates: June 10-13

Ages: 8-18

Schedule: Full Day (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM)

Cost: $325 per session plus $40 registration fee

Details: Comprehensive instruction with lunch provided

Better Golf Academy – (Nolensville and Franklin, TN)

Dates: Multiple sessions from May 27 to July 31, 2025

Ages: 5–13

Cost: $299 per session

Highlights: Small group instruction (max 10 students); all equipment provided; sibling and multi-week discounts available.

Thank you to UP Consulting for your continued support as a sponsor and drop us a line if you're interested in affordable sponsorship opportunities with Junior Golf Playbook.