Youth Golf Program to Expand with New Learning Center

Tee time is slated to become a year-round activity in Newark's South Ward, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. announced Tuesday morning.

The county executive unveiled plans to build a 1,600-plus square foot Junior Learning Center center at Essex County Weequahic Park Golf Course, which will allow the First Tee of Essex County to provide year-round golf instruction. The nonprofit organization, a subset of First Tee of Metropolitan New York,and provides life lessons that go beyond the links.

"The addition onto the club house will enable the program to expand programming over a full year, move indoors during inclement weather and offer some new recreational and educational opportunities for our youth," said DiVincenzo.

The new center, scheduled to open in spring 2012, will feature a computer lab and classroom space for group learning and presentations. Students will also be able to receive after-school tutoring and golf instruction through the center's youth development curriculum. First Tee is expected to double the number of programs it offers, while expanding some into full-year courses thanks to the new space.

"This is a much-needed facility to keep the First Tee students playing golf, especially during the winter when the weather prevents us for getting on the course,” said George McKenzie, a First Tee student and senior at Science Park High School in Newark.

First Tee, which has several sites spanning the tri-state area, expanded to Weequahic Golf Course in August 2006. The golf course, the oldest in New Jersey, now features a limited-flight driving range and a three-hole short course to facilitate youth instruction.

William Mandara and Georgi Hubenov of Mancini Duffy/TSC Design and Armen Khachaturian from KEA Engineers donated their architectural services to create the new center. Dell-Tech Construction will perform construction after being awarded a $383,300 competitively bid contract. Essex County is providing $383,000 from its capital budget to fund construction. Private donations will be used to fund classroom technology, like indoor golf simulators.

– Staff reports