Yale-New Haven Golf Program for youths also teaches them how to keep on course in life

	Kiarra Lavache (left) practices her swing under the watchful eye of Camile Collier (right), one of the Yale staff members who serve as mentors for the New Haven-Yale University Golf Program.

Alexandra James, a sixth-grader from North Haven, methodically swings her driver at the ball on the tee, sometimes missing it, other times hitting it, quietly practicing her stroke again and again. Yale golf pro Camile Collier stops to watch, then offers encouragement and instruction.

James is one of 15 youths from New Haven,North Haven, Hamden and Branford who are learning the game of golf—as well as important life skills—through the New Haven-Yale University Golf Program.

Founded by Yale student Christine Nguyen ’09, the free program is now part of the summer curriculum of the Dixwell-Yale University Community Learning Center (DYCLC) and is sponsored by the Yale African-American Affinity group (YAAA).

On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, the youths board shuttle buses, donated by Yale’s Office of New Haven and State Affairs, and travel to the Yale Golf Course for two hours of instruction, courtesy of the course’s director, Peter Pulaski.On Fridays, they attend life-skill lessons at the DYCLC. The Yale program, part of The First Tee of Connecticut, promotes nine core values: courtesy, honesty, integrity, confidence, responsibility, judgment, respect, perseverance and sportsmanship.

As she takes a break from her practice, James talks about the difference that the New Haven-Yale University Golf Program has made in her life. “It’s taught me more patience. I know if I don’t get the ball this time, I will get it next time,” she says. “Also, I was really shy about being around people and now I have new friends.”

“Alex has opened up a lot since orientation day,” says Cherice Dykes, a staff volunteer and member of YAAA, who works in pharmacology. Dykes and Renee Reed, Judaic studies, co-lead the program.

“Traditionally,” says Reed, “city youth do not have access to golf, so this is an opportunity to learn the game while developing friendships.”

“The kids are so much more focused at the course than when they first arrived,” says Elias Jackson, Cardiology, who volunteers with fellow YAAA members James Rawlins in ITS and John Mayes in finance, along with Jackie Riley of The First Tee. “Mentoring is a large component of what we do,” notes Jackson, “teaching life skills they will need to become successful.”

Lucas Dellaporta, a seventh-grader from Branford, professes to be one of the more experienced of the bunch but mentions playing golf second on his list of the things he most enjoys doing. “Miss Renee has taught us how to respect things, and Camile has showed us how to be better golfers,” he says.

Fourth-grader Kiarra Lavache of New Haven,whose dad plays golf and watches Tiger Woods with her on television, says, “I’ve improved my golf swing and learned to always line up the ball with the target.” Just like Tiger, she adds.