The Watts-Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club has a golf simulator thanks to GOLFZON, with golfers Alison Lee, Gary Woodland and Clippers guard Chris Paul part of the presentation party.
Lee, who is completing a degree in communications at UCLA while playing her second season on the LPGA Tour, is a GOLZON ambassador who was as excited as the children for the opportunity to hit balls and meet other stars.
“I wouldn’t have a chance to meet people like Chris Paul or Gary Woodland or to be more influential toward kids without golf,” Lee said. “That’s what makes this sport so special to me. And then to attend an event like this where the kids have the opportunity to be introduced to golf on the GOLFZON simulator – that is so cool.”
Paul, whose Chris Paul Family Foundation provided technology for the facility last year in concert with CDW’s Tech Fore! Kids venture, is familiar with the simulator and thrilled about the opportunity for Boys & Girls Club participants.
“It’s great to have kids in here who maybe haven’t heard much about golf or held a club in their hands,” Paul said. “They get the chance to hit one good shot and, if they do, they’ll be hooked, just like I was. A lot of these kids and many adults don’t have four or five hours in a day to play or they don’t have memberships at golf clubs. The simulator gives the kids an opportunity to learn. They can get a lesson on the simulator and learn how to play within this building. That makes it worthwhile for me.”
Boys & Girls Club employees were tutored on how to instruct children on the fundamentals of golf and simulator operations.
“We’re thankful to GOLFZON for donating the simulator,” said Calvin Lyons, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles. “To have this type of technology in a community where kids aren’t typically exposed to golf provides them with a great opportunity to learn another important skill set. Golf has been a missing element in our clubs. They can now use a new skill set through golf and leverage everything that comes with the game, such as business contacts. These kids can now come in when no one else is around and practice like crazy.”
They also might learn a thing or two about other subjects while hitting balls and watching data pop up on the screen.
“GOLFZON offers the opportunity to introduce golf, technology and math and science all together in one simulator,” said Tommy Lim, senior vice president of GOLFZON. “Watching these children play for the first time gives us a reason to be motivated to introduce GOLFZON simulators and golf to more people.”
FYI
The Watts-Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club is at 1339 E. 120th Street in Los Angeles. School year program hours are 12:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday and 2:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For more information, call (323) 567-2273 or visit info@wwbgc.org.
