By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
I may be a bit partial in writing this story, as I am very proud of my brother, Jim Andrews, for many things and especially for his work with young golfers at the Geneseo Country Club.
Golf is more than a game to Andrews, and he believes it is important for young people to understand and enjoy the game, and to also learn the etiquette and respect for others that goes along with the sport.
Several summers ago, Andrews organized a free junior golf clinic for youth ages 7-16 at the Country Club. That clinic became an annual event and eventually included a tournament for the youth, also held every summer.
This year’s tournament had an Olympic theme, planned in conjunction with the recent Olympics held in Paris, France.
Gold, silver and bronze medals and American flags were present to the young golfers as they stood on podiums and Olympic music was played while they received their awards.
An avid golfer himself, he said his goal was not only to teach young people golf etiquette and respect for others on the course, but also to use those values throughout their lives.
The clinics for youth are held each summer and include one session each week where golf etiquette is presented through a video before participants take part in chipping and putting. The young people are divided into age groups.
“We let them play a little bit on the course after the first session,” Andrews said.
From the great response in the first year of the clinic, Andrews thought the clinic should become an annual event and it now includes a golf tournament for the youth.
Young people in grades ranging from second through seventh took part in the recent Andrews Golf Tournament held at the Geneseo Country Club. The photo shows participates and volunteers at the tournament, front from left, Claire Rushing, Nina Paxton, Charlotte Smith, Adi Smith, Eliana Emmerson; in the middle, Merick Russelburg, Bo Oberle, Asher Russelburg, Carver Allen, Charlie Reed, Brock Oberle, Hadley Abbott, Ella Hepner, Annie Reed, Sadie Abbott, and in back, Jim Andrews, Ryan Gillespie, Breandton Spensley, Trace Hager and Ethan Hepner. Contributed Photo
“The kids seem to have a good time and their parents follow them along on the course, watching them play,” he said. “It is beneficial to everyone involved.”
What Andrews did not know at that time was that in the second year of the clinic and tournament, one of the volunteers with the clinic, Matt Biddle, approached the board of the Geneseo Country Club asking the tournament be named the Andrews Junior Golf Tournament.
Jim Andrews was not aware of the tournament name change until the second year of the tournament when he was given a plaque of recognition for his dedication to youth golf programs.
He did get somewhat misty-eyed when the plaque was given to him and he said
his hope is that the clinic will continue for many years to come.
In recent years, another tournament volunteer, Ryan Gillespie has taken charge of the tournament and Geneseo High School girls’ golf coach Jon Murray has taken charge of the clinic and Andrews helps with both the clinic and tournament.
Gillespie also shared about the value of youth clinic and tournament and said, “I had played in the old Geneseo Country Club Junior Golf Tournament years ago, way back when I was in eight grade, When my wife, Erin, and I moved our family back to Geneseo in the summer of 2015, we joined the Country Club. That is when I met Jim Andrews.”
Andrews asked Gillespie to help with the youth golf clinic that he offered each summer and Gillespie agreed. The next year Andrews asked Gillespie to take over the tournament.
“The goal of the tournament is simply to get kids out on the course and have a lot of fun, showing good sportsmanship and showing their parents what a nice time can be had with the game of golf at our club,” Gillespie said. “Everyone seems to have a great time and I see shots from kids that I couldn’t have dreamed of hitting back when I played in the tournament.
Gillespie admits the tournament is a lot of work, and he added, ”But it always is so much fun when you see the first fist pump from a boy or girl draining a putt or the smiles on their faces as the parents and members of the club cheer for them as they receive their plaques and medals.”
Gillespie said he was aware the tournament took on the name of the Andrews Junior Golf Tournament in 2015 in honor of the many years of volunteerism that Andrews has put in helping kids learn the sport of golf.
“He’s been running the summer golf clinic for years and he is always kind to the kids at the club,” Gillespie said. ‘I’ve personally appreciated how he treats my own sons, Gavin and Declan. He shakes their hands, and asks them, ‘how are you doing young men?’ and inquires about their golf games. He treats them, and all the youth of the club, like they are real members and golfers out there. They walk a little taller after their interactions with him.”
TOURNAMENT RESULTS:
-BOYS – second grade and under, first place - gold, Asher Russelburg, shot 51; third, fourth and fifth grade, first place - gold, Bo Oberle, 43; third, fourth and fifth grade, second place – silver, Brock Oberle, shot 47; third, fourth and fifth grade-third place, bronze, Charlie Reed, shot 49; third, fourth and fifth grade fourth place, Carver Allen, shot 53; third, fourth and fifth grades, fifth place, Merick Russelburg, shot 65; Middle School, first place – gold, Trace Hager, shot 42; Middle School, second place –silver, Brandton Spensley, shot 52; Middle School, third place – bronze, Ethan Hepner, shot 67.
-GIRLS – second grade and under, first place – gold, Nina Paxton, shot 50; second grade and under, second place - silver, Claire Rushing, shot 56; second grade and under, third place – bronze, Charlotte Smith, shot 70; third, fourth and fifth grade, first place – gold, Eliana Emmerson, shot 45; third, fourth and fifth grade, second place – silver, Adi Smith, shot 50; third, fourth and fifth grade, third place – bronze, Sadie Abbott, shot 53; Middle School, first place – gold, Hadley Abbott, shot 43; Middle School, second place – silver, Annie Reed, shot 46; and Middle School, third place – bronze, Ella Hepner, shot 63.