Except for the 215-yard 1st hole , all the holes on Sunflower ’ s short course are 100 yards or less , and each hole has three tee boxes . Designed for a class of 24 , a practice range was also built to facilitate eight students for each of three instructors and six foursomes , one per hole . There ’ s also a putting green and practice bunker . The greens are exceptional ; fairways and rough are kept well-manicured by Golf Course Superintendent Jonathan Bennett and his maintenance crew .
How many boys and girls have taken part in the junior program is hard to estimate , especially since many juniors took part over multiple years . “ For about a 10 – 12-year period , we were offering a dozen classes with 15 to 24 kids a week and six leagues ,” says Johnson . “ The [ Kansas City Kansas ] community college was offering a National Youth Sports program for economically deprived kids and would bus kids for lessons four days a week . We also did things for Special Olympics , Boy Scouts , and Tonganoxie recreation , so we ’ d average between 900 and 1,200 kids a year . We were also the first to offer a program for girls .”
Unfortunately , the program took some hits , none of its own making ; The National Youth Sports League was shut down ; high school rules were changed offering summer practices ; and the COVID pandemic in 2019 completely shut the program down for an entire year .
“ Interest is coming back ,” says Johnson . “ At 9 a . m . in mid-July , we established a class of 19 boys and girls under the age of 12 on the practice range to begin a new sixweek series of lessons . It was one of nine weekly classes offered at different levels this summer , three of which are two hours long . In addition , there are three leagues based on age and ability .”
Classes are taught by Peter Yadrich , a strong proponent of good fundamentals .
( Above ) Instructor Peter Yadrich works on swing techniques with 9-year-old Jax Davey during one of the nine classes and three leagues offered junior golfers each week at Sunflower Hills .
“ We start the first week with the grip and stance ,” says Yadrich . Weeks two and three focus on making contact , hitting shots , and putting . By week four , juniors are working on target focus , chipping , and controlling distance . Drivers come out the final week as participants play the course . In addition to teaching youngsters , Yadrich also takes time to explain to family members who are in attendance the basics he ’ s trying to teach . “ There ’ s a lot of misinformation , and it helps parents to stay involved .”
Once a lesson ends , participants have the opportunity to play the course if other lessons do not follow . And many boys and girls can be found playing with a parent at all hours . “ We have the biggest bargain in town ,” says Johnson . “ One dollar for kids ; $ 5 for adults . If you can learn to play the game from 100 yards , it makes the game a whole lot easier .”
Yadrich , 31 , has literally grown up at Sunflower Hills . His father , Mike , was assistant superintendent for years , so Peter started moving carts , picking up trash , and filling other needs at an early age . By 2010 , he was assisting in the instruction classes and , in 2015 , became a lead instructor , following in the outstanding footsteps of Johnson , Bob Chatterton , Mike Shatto , and Randy Smith . Each year , college or high school golfers assist in the instruction .
( Above ) After an hour-long practice , 9-year-old Tanner Stephan took to the short course , knocking the ball on the green on the par-4 1st hole . The other five holes are par 3 ’ s playing at 100 yards or less .
For Johnson , the six-hole course is a dream come true . “ I still see men and women who are in their 30s or 40s who remember being in the program ,” says Johnson . “ I don ’ t teach anymore , but my favorite part was working with 6-to-8-year-olds . They were so much fun . It ’ s great to see the number of kids who come through the program to be exposed to the game of a lifetime . It ’ s the reason I ’ m here .”
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Alan Hoskins , Golf Writer Lead Feature Writer since 2007 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE ™ Magazine
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