Rogersville High School golfer Keaton Clark will gladly accept any advice that helps him gain an edge.
Which is why he appreciated Monday, when the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame hosted the annual Hole in One Golf Clinic presented by the Ozarks/Coca-Cola Dr Pepper Bottling Company. (A photo gallery can be found on the Hall’s Facebook page.)
“Your teammates commenting on you is nice,” Clark said, “but having a pro really helps.”
Clark was among almost 90 golfers who turned out for the 19th annual event at Highland Springs Country Club.
The hour-long session, in which high schoolers received one-on-one instruction, led to a second session of instruction followed by dinner provided by Chick-Fil-A and a hearty gift package provided by the Hall of Fame.
Highland Springs’ Director of Golf, Brian Maloney, led the cavalcade of golfers on a picture-perfect Monday. The golf pros included Jim Gregory of Millwood Golf & Racquet Club, Rivercut Golf Course’s Rick Grayson, Larry Ray and Ronnie Sweet, Horton Smith’s Garrett Holt, former Twin Oaks golf pro Max Arrowood and Shawn Freeman of Bill & Payne Stewart Golf Course.
Teams represented were Kickapoo, Central, Parkview, Ozark, New Covenant Academy, Seymour, Hillcrest and Rogersville.
Rogersville coach Keith Spaulding appreciated the clinic, particularly because it offers instruction to new golfers. What the pros say helps to reinforce what Spaulding teaches daily.
“And it’s great they get to interact with the pros because it could mean a young kid staying in golf,” Spaulding said.
Clark said one pro helped to fine-tune his swing.
“I was swinging with my upper body,” Clark said. “It helps me realize I’m doing it. I’m now going to work on it.”
Likewise, Parkview senior Mason George said he benefitted from instruction.
“It really helps me know the simple things I need to fix,” Mason said. “For me, it was maintaining balance and slowing things down in my swing so I could have better control of the club.”
