Since 1998, the City of Oakland Parks and Recreation Department and Parks and Recreation Foundation have provided our youth with access to the game of golf. the Ace Kids Golf program was created over 18 years ago from the necessity to expose our City's youth to a sport that inspire a variety of skills sets including discipline, respect and responsibility. The majority of our children ranging from 8 years through 18 come from challenging environments such as neighborhood with blight, gang activity, drugs, and crime.
The game of golf is unique to each participant; it's challenging, frustating and rewarding. Golf is an individual sport which differs from more traditional team sports. Golf teaches mental discipline, eye and body coordination, and the development to swing a club that's unique to one's own ability to play. The game certainly encompasses many attributes including perseverance. Our youth learn to secure and anchor their ability to apply self-perseverance in all aspects of their lives. This definitrly increases their potential to attain their goals.
Moreover, we are proud to have served over 400 youth on an annual basis. Ace Kids Golf provides transportation, uniforms, instruction, and access to the City's beautiful Lake Chabot Golf Course, all free of charge. Additionally, we continually recruit positive role models to encourage our kids to succeed!
The Ace Kids Golf program runs year-round and includes after-school youth development, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum, summer golf clinics, and field trips to professional golf events like the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and past events such as the U.S. Open, Opening Ceremony at the President's Cup and Charles Schwab Championship Cup.
Invariably, we are witnesses as to how the game of golf has transformed our youth for almost two decades as a result of the commitment that Ace Kids Golf has for the children of Oakland.
What a difference the game of golf can make!
For additional information on how to participate in the program, volunteer or make a donation, please contact Preston Pinkney.
Preston Pinkney - Program Director
Email: ppinkney@aoklandnet.com
510-351-0391 | 510-351-3418 fax | 510-867-0680 cell
Note: Parents should register directly with the sites to participate.