By Nancy Barnard ([email protected])

The sport of golf for the children of Grand Cayman has received a strong drive forward thanks to the support of the Bateman Financial Group.

Throughout the summer, Jack Widmer a summer employee of Bateman Financial has offered free weekly coaching to three Caymanian youngsters: JC Trickett, Luke Barnard and Levi Superville.  The three were selected to participate in the programme when Jack witnessed their passion for the game, willingness to train, and promising skill-set whilst they were participating at an early summer golf camp at the North Sound Club.

Coaching in a volunteer capacity and seeking his employer’s support for the three pupils was the

brainchild of Jack Widmer. He is from the prodigious Caymanian Widmer golfing family, which includes Samantha Widmer, a top Caribbean female golfer, and his brother Johnny Widmer also a top Caribbean contender.  At the tender age himself of 17, Jack has been an intern with Bateman Financial during his university breaks from Western University, where he is studying Business Finance. Jack felt the need to give back to the community, noting:

“It was the community outreach and coaching support that my siblings and I received as youngsters that propelled us forward, kept us buoyed and able to represent Cayman so well internationally (at 12, Jack was part of the Cayman youth team that competed at the Caribbean Junior Golf Championships).  I wanted to handpick kids who really stood out.  The group was also kept intentionally small and manageable so that they could receive the benefits of small-group coaching in a targeted manner.”

He went on to say that the three students are conscientious, put in the effort needed and have good sportsmanship: “To see the smile on the face of my mentees whilst playing a sport that has been very special to me. JC did not want to do anything around the greens, he wanted to hit the long ball and that was it. Luke had been playing in the local roller hockey league so I knew trying to get him to switch his grip from hockey stance to a proper golf stance was going to be a challenge. Levi had a drive in him to win and would look to the next hole to complete his objective. All in all the kids have improved substantially and are developing into true golfers. They too will be ready to compete in 2 years on the national team”.

Bateman Financial has supported their ongoing training throughout the summer and will continue to do so in the coming school year with a donation toward the youngsters. This will create an opportunity to hit balls and play the course free of charge.

Children can start playing golf with plastic clubs in the yard.  Nintendo Wii has its place as an electronic coach for learning the game’s concepts and the course layouts prior to getting onto a real course. Also kids can sit in the golf cart and watch their parents play, or watch the televised big international tournaments to see if they get excited about the game. Golf has now become an Olympic sport for the 2016 games in Brazil. Hopefully with the efforts of other young Caymanian athletes, the Cayman Islands will have the opportunity to send more athletes with competitive skill-sets. Also if these juniors become good enough to compete at the collegiate level, scholarships are a feasible option.

Once children are accompanied by adults and know the basic etiquette of the course and the game, both the North Sound Club and Britannia golf clubs are welcoming to youngsters. Both clubs have been happy to facilitate Jack’s junior golf programme in Cayman, with Richard Bray and Brent Weimer welcoming Jack and his young charges onto their courses throughout the summer.