The Vancouver, Wash., property has selected two recipients of its Scholar Golf Athlete Program, which gives select participants membership privileges at the golf course for the duration of their high school golf participation.
In 2012, Royal Oaks Country Club, Vancouver, Wash., initiated a scholarship and mentoring program to benefit the youth of Clark County who exemplify outstanding academic achievement, high school golf athleticism, and community citizenship. The Scholar Golf Athlete Program was developed to honor and encourage area high school golfers by receiving courtesy membership privileges to Royal Oaks Country Club for the duration of their high school golf participation.
The 2015 recipients are; 4A district champion, Ben Gruher, a sophomore at Camas High School, and 3A district champion, Spencer Tibbits, a sophomore at the Academy of Home Education. Royal Oaks typically offers the scholarship to one sophomore scholar golf athlete from Clark County, however, the committee felt both Ben and Spencer were deserving of the scholarship.
“The selection process was extremely difficult, both young men have outstanding resumes therefore we awarded the scholarship to both Ben and Spencer,” said Club Manager Marcia LaFond. “Our initial two recipients of this award have gone on to play collegiate golf. We are looking forward to watching the progress of the other scholar golfers. Royal Oaks is proud to be able to honor local high school golfers.”
The Scholarship Golf Athlete program enables student golfers to utilize facilities and resources at Royal Oaks to continue to improve their golf game, to further their love of the game of golf, with no obligation to compete for the club in any golf competition.
“This is a great opportunity to these students who may or may not have the opportunity play golf at Royal Oaks,” said Scott Leritz, Head Golf Professional. “The support of our members, Board of Directors, and staff has been phenomenal.”
Scholar golf athletes must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout their involvement in the program, and participate in High School Golf. Those recipients who go on to play college golf may be eligible to continue to receive courtesy membership privileges with the approval of the NCAA and the student’s chosen University or College.
“To our knowledge, this is the first program of its kind in the Northwest,” said Mark Curtis, who is a board member and the former chair of the program. “We welcome other clubs to contact us to learn about the details to implement a program in their community.”
Royal Oaks Country Club is receiving very positive feedback and attention from the top regional and national golf associations. “The Scholar Golf Athlete Program speaks volumes about the generosity and vision of the membership that call Royal Oaks Country Club home,” said Craig Winter, Assistant Director Rules of Golf, USGA. “For years to come exceptional youth will be afforded a life-changing opportunity at Royal Oaks and it is our hope that this program will serve as a model for clubs throughout the PWN region. Golf has a long history of giving back and we are grateful that an admired country club in Vancouver, Wash., continues this proud tradition.”
“We commend the membership of Royal Oaks Country Club for developing an innovative new program that rewards deserving young people for their commitment to school, community and the game of golf,” said Joe Goode, managing director of communications, USGA. “Programs like this one serve as a reminder to all of us who care about the game of how golf uniquely creates opportunities for our future leaders to achieve both on and off the course.”
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