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In celebration of National Golf Day, the Police Athletic League of Buffalo (PAL) announced the opening of registration for its summer golf clinics. This initiative, in partnership with First Tee Western New York, is designed to introduce youth ages 5-17 to the sport of golf, providing them with invaluable skills and experiences while fostering a love for the game.

Recognizing the need for greater accessibility, Buffalo PAL is committed to diversifying the game by reaching out to underserved communities. Through ongoing initiatives like Buffalo PAL’s golf clinics, youth golfers are now more diverse than the overall golf population. A 2023 report by The National Golf Foundation highlighted a 40% increase in junior golfers since 2019, the largest gain of any age group. Through the summer golf clinics, Buffalo PAL aims to continue breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for youth to explore the world of golf.

“The Police Athletic League of Buffalo provides opportunities for youth to engage in various sports and activities that expose them to new experiences and broaden their outlook on sports recreation,” said Nekia Kemp, executive di rector of The Police Athletic League of Buffalo. The game of golf can improve quality of life, as it has many physical, emotional, and social benefits. We are grateful for our partners at First Tee Western New York, who will help coach our youth at the golf clinics. We encourage parents to enroll their youth in this summer program before it reaches capacity.”

The summer golf clinics will consist of five sessions on Mondays at the Delaware Park golf course. Partici pants will receive expert in struction from golf coaches, who will teach them fundamental techniques and etiquette essential to the game. With a limit of 100 slots available, parents are encouraged to register their youth promptly to secure their spot. The summer golf clinics will begin on July 15.

“First Tee Western New York is excited to partner with Buffalo PAL to offer free golf clinics to the youth of Western New York”, said Timothy Karches, execu tive director of First Tee Western New York. “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to making golf accessible to all, re gardless of background or financial means. By joining forces with Buffalo PAL, we’re able to reach even more young people in our community, providing them with valuable life skills, mentorship, and opportunities for personal growth through the game of golf.”

In addition to youth programming, Buffalo PAL offers opportunities for game of golf. As part of their spring lineup, adults can experience golf simu lation at the last spring Golf Social Mixer on May 23 downtown at Buffalo Golf Social. Adults looking for an authentic or more competitive experience can attend Buffalo PAL’s Annual Golf Classic, which will take place on Sunday, June 9 at Glen Oak Golf Club. The event offers a day of friendly competition and camaraderie.

For more information and to register for the summer golf clinics, please visit The Police Athletic League of Buffalo website at buffalopal.org.