On Aug. 6, 11 Marathon High School golf team members traveled to the Palmetto Golf Course for a day of professional coaching from PGA Pro Scott Jones. He started with a classroom session covering the aspects of the proper swing and the importance of practice.
Out on the driving range, Jones demonstrated swing fundamentals and provided individual instruction while having the golfers hit hundreds of balls.
Jones is a PGA teaching professional who has spent more than 30 years developing and coaching young golf talent. In 2001 he was named Teacher of the Year by the Southern Chapter PGA for his work with Cristie Kerr, a pro golfer on the LPGA Tour whose career earnings exceed $20 million.
The trip and lessons for Marathon’s young golfers were provided by the Dolphin Golf Club. Founded in 2021 by members of Marathon’s Florida Keys Country Club, the organization is dedicated to supporting youth golf in the Middle Keys.
“This was a wonderful experience for all the players,” said head coach Mary “MP” Coleman-Sayer. “We are so thankful for the Dolphin Golf Club for paying for the transportation, equipment, lessons and ongoing support throughout the season.”
An annual golf tournament is held to raise money to support the young athletes, with this season’s event scheduled for January 2024. Many local businesses and individuals sponsor the tourney, and any student golfer who plays on the team and graduates is guaranteed a $1,000 scholarship from the club. Upon their graduation this past spring, four Dolphin golfers received scholarships – Fisher Coleman-Sayer, Billy Martin, Casey Horvat and Jack Horvat played multiple years on the squad.
The Marathon team has already started practice for the fall 2023 season. Any Marathon Middle or High School student may visit Mary Coleman-Sayer in her classroom or email [email protected] if they wish to learn more about the program. The team plays matches at some of the finest golf courses across South Florida against other high schools, and at the end of the season they compete in a district tournament for team and individual titles. Last season, three Marathon golfers received All-County honors, including Fisher Coleman-Sayer, Martin and Summer Haines.
More information about the Dolphin Golf Club is available from Stan Haines at 305-434-2433.
