Academy Info

“The Journey is Long let’s make it FUN along the way.”

FORE! All Golf Academy was formed in the Fall of 2022 but the journey start’s many years prior. In 2019 Quail Run G.C. was devastated by flooding and the once championship golf course was down to 7 original holes and 2 temporary holes. During the discussions that followed, the future of Quail Run was of great concern as the expense to rebuild would undoubtedly be significant. There was the feeling that in order to rebuild Quail Run GC we would need to close our sister course, the VanBerg GC. To avoid this closure we were given permission to try and re-brand Van Berg G.C. as a family golf course and learning center. So, we went to work!

While already running a thriving junior program we were constantly looking FORE! a better way. In 2019 we found US Kids golf, which we felt like the path to that better way. Director of golf Doug Dunbar and myself went through the process to become certified US Kids instructors. We soon after implemented a progressive tee system at Van Berg Family GC based on the long leaf tee system used at the US Kids golf academy. The tee system, sponsored by The Columbus Golf Association, allows players to play from the proper tee based on his or her driving distance or age group, thus allowing players to learn how to score while developing an acceptable golf swing.

Then, in 2020, here came COVID. A decision was made to continue our Junior program and introduce the new US Kids method, all done while making sure students were kept as safe as possible. To facilitate safety, instruction was limited to a one-to-one (US Kids is usually 6:1) student/teacher ratio where we could practice social distancing. We truly expected a smaller than usual turn out but in 2020 over 80 kids, ages 6 to 12, signed-up and were introduced to US Kids golf. The results where amazing as we saw greater improvement and better self-confidence. Next was the task of how to get the right length and weight of clubs into each student hands without asking parents to buy a new set after every growth spurt.

This led to the development of our club FORE! Kids program. The program, sponsored by Columbus Motor Company, has been crucial to the teaching and development of young golfer’s. We still needed a program that was designed specifically FORE! kids 3 to 6 years old and then a program designed FORE high school players and adults. In 2021, by partnering with the Columbus Optimist Club, we introduced something FORE! the high school age players and developed “The Race to the Optimist Cup”, a competitive series of events held throughout the summer. So what about that 3 to 6 age group? Well in 2022 we found the perfect solution called Birdie Basics, a program designed to teach kids golf through creative stories (very cool program). So in 2023 we will be providing improved programs and events, easier player tracking and easier lesson booking, plus more organized events FORE! youth, adults and families. Please use this website to review the available options and please don’t hesitate to contact us should you need help in finding the right program.

The FORE! Academy and Van Berg Family GC was a direct results of the 2019 flood & ice jam disaster. As we like to say, “you can learn more from losses & set-backs than you can from success & victories!

Sincerely,