Read what our participants and Chico Unified School Districts Director of Education say about our BCYS&EF Junior Golf Program.
"We are extremely blessed that both our children got into, and have since been wholeheartedly enjoying, the junior golfer program under Grant's guidance. Started with the core values, the junior golfers have been learning to master and fine-tune their ball striking techniques, build course management skills, and control mental challenges, all critically important to success in golf. The endless hours of coaching have turned them into not just better golfers, but more importantly, better persons.
Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, the junior program has left as strong an impact on the seniors of our family. Every morning we the parents wake up thinking of golfing, wondering why a simple task of moving a sitting ball into a sitting cup can be so dynamic and complicated.
With excitement and, more frequently, frustrations from golfing, kids and parents both grown. The junior golfer program has brought to our family not only this great game but also an increasingly stronger bonding, which expectedly will benefit generations to come. For that, we are privileged and feel deeply indebted."
Athena & Qing
Parents of BCYS&EF Youth Athletes
"As you may know, Chico Unified School District was awarded the Carol M. White Physical Education Programs (PEP) Grant. The Carol M. White Physical Education Programs Grant, supports a variety of programs focusing on physical education and nutrition. The grant provides fitness and health education to students of the Chico Unified School District after-school programs.
One of the primary components of the grant was The First Tee Program that serves 120 1st - 8th grade students throughout the district. Sunset Hills Golf Course has been instrumental in helping our students participate in this program. The schools visit the course to work with golf professionals 4 days a week, during the after school program hours. The First Tee program at Sunset Hills not only supports golf skills, but also focuses on the 9 Core Character Values that golf best represents. Often times, students are overheard, after returning from the golf course, talking about the values they have learned while at the course. The 9 Character Core Values are now becoming a thread in all of our after school programs.
The students served at Sunset Hills under the First Tee Program represent a diverse group of students, who range from socio-economically disadvantaged to foster youth. Many of the students who attend Sunset Hills through this program may not have been exposed to the game of golf without this opportunity. A true testament to the impact of this program, is the some of our students have been motivated to take advantage of attending Sunset Hills for the First Tee free programming on Saturdays, run by Mike Mattingly and Grant Hornbeak.
The ability to have access to Sunset Hills Golf Course is integral to our continuing with the First Tee program. Our students have grown immensely in character, education, and the game of golf through this program."
John Bohannon
Chico Unified School District, Director of Education
"My Grandson has been coming to Sunset Hills Golf Course on Saturday for 1 year now and loves the golf program here for the kids. We live in Oroville and drive here to have the instructions and play time needed to improve his golf skills.
We would be very sad to see this program close. Please keep it going as there are not many activities for our youth in this area."
Barbara Clark
Grandparent of BCYS&EF Youth Athlete
"Butte County Youth Sports and Education Foundation along with Grant Hornbeak has been the biggest lifesaver for our son Jordan in not only learning golf but also has brought him confidence/self-esteem in himself but also a new outlook in life. The foundation has provided him with numerous opportunities we would not have known about otherwise. My son has found a sport that he loved and we are so very grateful to have found a foundation with people that support him and continue to teach him life skills."
Nathan & Cherie Boles
Parents of BCYS&EF Youth Athlete
