NB3 Foundation

News

At 17, Patrick Herrera of the Pueblo of Cochiti already knows what he wants to do with his life.  He plans to get a golf scholarship to attend college and then hit the PGA Tour.

“With golf, it’s something new each day,” explains Herrera of the love of the game.  “There are new challenges to achieve.”

Herrera practices several hours daily, nearly all day in the summer, and has been playing golf since the 8th grade. While his instructors at the NB3 Foundation hope he will achieve his goals, they know they’re giving him the tools to get further not only in golf but in life.

“Historically, most kids who know how to play golf are usually typically pretty smart,” says Rob Lowry, NB3 Foundation golf program developer.  “We use the game to teach life skills—core values of honesty, integrity, learning the rules and the importance of rules.  In golf, there are no officials.  You have to regulate yourself.”

More than 70 tribes operate golf courses in the U.S., many as part of an extension of a casino resort, yet the number of junior golf programs is minimal.  Native and non-Native golf instructors say that while some Native youth have access to golf courses, the expense and finding good, quality instructors deter many Native youth from engaging in the sport.

In New Mexico, the NB3 Foundation is looking to change this by offering golf camps at reasonable costs, with discounts offered to families with more than one child enrolled in the program. A group of Navajo kids from the To’hajiilee community about 45 miles west of Albuquerque is bused in for a weeklong beginner’s camp. 

The foundation, which is working with PGA-certified instructors like Lowry to develop sustainable and proven programs for Native youth, also offers an advanced camp. The foundation has plans to expand the camp in Indian Country next year.

Although the hope for all students going through the NB3 golf programs is to produce the next Notah Begay III or Lorena Ochoa, instructors also try to plant seeds about future careers for Native youth in golf.  Many universities across the nation offer a PGA-certified combined business and golf course management degree, which seems like a natural fit with golf courses growing across Indian Country.  Instructors also talk about the many opportunities that exist for high school students to obtain golf scholarships to help pay for college.

Jessica Dailleboust, 22, a volunteer camp instructor who tried out for her college team, says she enjoyed collegial competition after playing high school golf.  But it’s the lessons she learned from the game that’s really helped her through her life so far.

“You learn how to be respectful not only for yourself but others,” says Dailleboust, who is Comanche, Mohawk, Navajo and Ottawa.  “There are a lot of etiquette rules that pertain to golf and it’s very structured. One big thing it teaches you is patience and how to really have a level head.  It’s really helped me with things, especially working with kids. It’s really learning how not to let my frustrations get to me but work through them.”

In addition to leadership and character, NB3 instructors also teach camp participants about responsibility and goal-setting.  During a recent three-day advanced camp, 14 students were given tips about improving their game in addition to tips on how to achieve their goals.

“It’s just not about coming out and hitting the balls,” said camp participant Klara Castillo, 14.  “I learned that you have to a routine and accomplish specific goals during practice.  It’s not about just wanting to get better but learning how to get better.”

“Golf changes all the time,” NB3 Foundation golf coordinator Notah Begay, Jr. said. “Once you fix something, something else can go wrong.  What we’re doing is teaching youth is to make good decisions and develop leadership using golf as a basis.”

To hear more about Notah Begay, Jr.’s interview on leadership and see pictures of one of the golf programs, click here.