On a recent July Saturday, the World Evangelical Center (WEC) hosted the first annual youth golf event called “Swinging with Spirit” on its Harlem Valley Golf Course. The aim of the event was to provide an opportunity for children and youth from Poughkeepsie and the local Dover town community to learn how to play golf, while also introducing attributes and values that reflect those that the Bible teaches, such as truthfulness, integrity and loyalty.
After participants enjoyed breakfast, Pastor Mark Spisak, WEC General Secretary, extended a warm welcome to all and opened the event in prayer.
Former Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O’Neil, a devout Christian and passionate golfer, then shared his greetings and explained how Swinging with Spirit came about. He recounted how several Christian leaders from various walks of life came together with a vision to do something for children and youth in the community. They desired to use golf to teach principles of life that are embedded in both the game and the Bible.
Participants then learned the basic skills in three different golf clinics focused on driving, chipping and putting. Three groups took turns as experienced golfers showed them the techniques for each skill and the respective golf clubs.
After the morning session, everyone enjoyed lunch fellowship, which was followed by a scramble golf tournament in the afternoon.
Nine teams, each led by their captains, started at different holes and competed for the best scores. Each of the holes featured a Bible verse, which encouraged the team’s captain to share a brief word of wisdom or teaching from the Word of God.
The event then concluded with an award ceremony recognizing the three best teams as well as two individual disciplines: the longest drive and the closest to the pin, which each getting a trophy. It served as an encouragement to the participants to keep practicing in the future.
“We were very encouraged by the joy that the event brough to the children and youth who participated in the event, and that they learned not only about golf but also about the Bible and principles of life,” Spisak said after the event.
“We’re very thankful to the many people who made this first Swinging with Spirit possible, especially Bill O’Neil who envisioned the event and brought together a group of people who are committed to serving the youth in our county,” he said.
He also recognized Mental Health of America of Dutchess County, the Recreation Department from Town of Dover, Olivet Academy and Esperanza church in Poughkeepsie as key partners, and thanked Robert Ranieri and David Petrovits for their support as sponsors.
“We hope that ‘Swinging with Spirit’ can become an annual event. It is one way how we wish to contribute to the local community in beautiful Dutchess County, and we are glad we could provide kids from diverse backgrounds with an opportunity to be introduced to golf,” Spisak said.