Belle Vernon academy continues to attract young golfers

The growing popularity of golf has never been more evidenced than by the success of Cedarbrook Golf Course's Junior Golf Academy held annually at the Belle Vernon golf course.

The academy, which has been a huge part of the course's summer season annually since 1988, has helped introduce more than 1,200 youth to the sport in 20 years.

"It's really been a fabulous partnership between the golf course and the public," said Bryon Palonder, Cedarbrook's PGA professional and the director of the academy.

"We always have at least 60 kids in the academy, and we've had some years that we had as many as 100."

This year's academy is set to run June 8 through 12 at the golf course at the intersection of Route 51 and Interstate 70.

Cedarbrook's Junior Golf Academy is offered to children ages 6 through 15, regardless of playing ability.

The academy features four one-hour instructional sessions culminated in a nine-hole scramble tournament, picnic and awards ceremony the final day.

"It has really been one of our most successful ventures through the years," Palonder said. "We've had many kids come through who started young and came back every year until they were finished.

"In fact, now we are getting kids who are the children of some of the students we had here in the early years. I think that's kind of neat."

Palonder said that he thinks the key to the success of the academy is that the children are getting some serious instruction in a fun format.

"I'm not sure if they all realize how much instruction they are getting because they are so busy having fun with it," he said.

Students of the academy get instructional lessons, get use of the range, gifts, prizes, refreshments and special privileges to play golf for free at Cedarbrook.

"Anyone who has ever played golf knows that once you get the bug, you are hooked," Palonder said with a smile.

"Some of our kids come to us with very limited or no skills, others have already picked up the game and just want to get better. But the thing is they all love golf and for my staff, it's a beautiful thing to see."

Palonder cited many cases of people who "cut their teeth" on golf with the academy and now have integrated golf into part of their daily lives.

"I have an employee in the pro shop, Chelsea Meheary, who had no idea what golf was or where Cedarbrook was until she and her brother attended the clinic," Palonder said. "She was 11 that first year. Today, she's a junior at St. Vincent College and she works for me."

He also talked about another academy alum, Brian Luzanski, a graduate of Belle Vernon Area High School.

"I remember when Brian was part of the Junior Golf Academy," Palonder said. "He ended up being a pretty good player.

"Today he attends Penn State and is taking up professional golf management. He's working under (PGA pro) Bob Ford at Oakmont. He wants to make a career out of golf."

He added that there are "about a dozen or so" people who either work or have worked on the grounds crew at Cedarbrook after taking part in the academy as youths.

"The academy has touched a lot of kids," Palonder said. "It's brought a lot of them closer to the game. That's been our goal from the start."

More information is available at cedarbrookgolfcourse.com or by calling the pro shop at 724-929-8300.