SoCal Golf INSIDER

entire course is lighted to allow for night play and there is a double- decker driving range with 30 stations as well as two putting greens and a chipping green. The clubhouse fea- tures a pro shop, food service area and a large community room. "We wanted to provide a facility that would serve a wide range of community members," said Jorge Badel, the Senior Golf Director for the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation. "Players who are already profi- cient at golf can practice their short game, but more important is that younger players can get the ball in the hole relatively quickly. If we get kids making 3s, 4s and 5s, they'll feel successful and we can keep them en- gaged. Our mission is recreation." Knabe, the former 4th District L.A. County Supervisor, focused heavily on programs to support children during his career as an elected offi- cial. An avid golfer and a longtime supporter of junior golf, he spear- headed the project to rebuild the fa- cility. During a ground-breaking event for the golf center, he said, "I strongly believe in public golf - pub- lic golf is the essence of the game, and it will be forever." In keeping with Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation's long-time mission of serving local communities the Don Knabe Center & Junior Academy of- fers some of the lowest green fees anywhere - juniors can play for $1.75 on weekdays and $2.25 on weekends and holidays, seniors for $4.75 dur- ing the week and all others for $6.75 and $9 - there are plenty of other op- portunities for young golfers. "We are very honored to be part of this project and excited to work with Los Angeles County to offer exciting programming and create new golfers for the entire L.A. County Golf Sys- tem," said Tom Frost, Vice President of Special Projects for CourseCo, the operator of the Knabe Center on be- half of the county. "The support from the County and Supervisor Hahn has been outstanding and we look for- ward to serving the local community together with them." SCGA Junior offers year-round in- struction and programming for kids of all ages and is the cornerstone pro- gram at the facility. SCPGA Junior and the Los Angeles County Junior Golf Program will also provide pro- gramming at the course. In addition to teaching the basics of the game – the golf swing, rules and etiquette – GOLF COURSES SoCal GOLF INSIDER continued from previous screen continued on the next screen >> DON KNABE GOLF CENTER & JUNIOR ACADEMY Location: 13717 Shoemaker Ave., Norwalk. Par: 27. Yardage: 662. Additional features: Double-deck driving range with 30 stalls with mats; Ginger Shattuck community room; golf instruction Phone: (562) 921-7047. CLICK HERE to visit the Don Knabe Golf Center website.

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