Rosedale Golf & Country Club launches campaign

ROSEDALE — Some of Steve Whidden’s fondest memories growing up involved spending time on the golf course with his father.

Those experiences propelled Whidden to pursue a career in the golf industry; and, now, the Rosedale Golf & Country Club PGA master professional and director of instruction is looking to promote the game of golf.

This summer, Whidden and the rest of Rosedale’s teaching professionals launched a “Welcome to Golf” campaign, with the goal of encouraging the community to either take up or return to the game of golf.

“Rosedale as a club, the golf professionals, our mission for the summer 2012 is to promote the game of golf,” Whidden said.

Rosedale divided the summer into three months — targeting a specific group each month.

The campaign began with “Welcome to Golf” month in May, which focused on getting individuals onto the course.

This month, Rosedale is promoting Women’s Golf Month. Throughout the month of June, the club is offering women-only activities, including $15 women-only golf clinics from 9 to 10 a.m. every Tuesday and 6 to 7 p.m. every.

Rosedale also will offer a “Get Golf-Ready” series for $99 every Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. through July 5. Finally, the club will end Women’s Golf Month with a $35 women-only clinic and nine-hole scramble at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 28.

Rosedale will close out the summer with Family and Junior Golf Month throughout July, with the goal of getting families onto the golf course.

“Some of my fondest memories growing up are playing with my father,” Whidden said. “This is something (families) can actually do together.”

Also, during the month of July, the club will offer a free daughters clinic from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 12 and free family clinics from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, July 15 and 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, July 26.

Families also can participate in family nine-hole scrambles at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 and 4 p.m. Sunday, July 29, for $12 per person.

Additionally, Rosedale will offer “Take Your Daughter to the Course Week” July 10 to July 13, during which any girl under 16 years of age, accompanied by a paying adult, can play for free after 10 a.m.

Rosedale also will be promoting Tee It Forward Tees throughout the month, a Professional Golf Association initiative designed to move tees forward with the goal of allowing golfers to play faster and have more fun on the course.

“It’s more fun because especially men think they can hit the ball farther than they really can,” Whidden said. “You move the tees forward, and now all of a sudden they’re making par and having more fun.”

For more information on Rosedale’s Welcome to Golf Campaign visit rosedalegcc.com or contact Steve Whidden at [email protected].

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].

Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Academy
Rosedale Golf & Country Club Master Professional and Director of Instruction Steve Whidden will host the Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Academy for children ages 6 to 18 beginning Friday, June 22.

The academy will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (ages 6 to 11) and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. (ages 12 to 18) every Friday through the end of August. The cost of the academy is $15 per session.

“It’s very relaxed and fun,” Whidden said. “We want them to come and get excited for junior golf.”