BY SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
ALAMO — Andrew Cabrera, PSJA North graduate of 2016, has devoted the past two summer breaks to coaching elementary students at PSJA’s Short-Shot Golf Course in Alamo, located on the corner of Cesar Chavez and Business 83.
“I wanted to come here because I wanted to help PSJA out,” Cabrera said. “I wanted to get kids more involved in golf so they could start at a young age, so when they get to the competitive level, they already know what they’re doing.”
Cabrera served as team captain at PSJA North during his four years of high school and now plays golf for the Louisiana College Wildcats. He appreciates this summer opportunity available to PSJA students.
“The golf program is very useful because it’s free for the students of PSJA,” he said. “You don’t have to have money to come out here and play golf. Anyone can come out here and learn this great game.”
When coach Roberto Vela started the Short-Shot Golf Course program five years ago, he did not expect the impact it has made on PSJA students and families.
“Last year we had over 10,000 kids here from all of our elementary schools,” Vela said. “My very first year we had about 20 students, so it’s grown. This year, we have 137 kids signed up for summer camp, and every day we get three to four new ones committed.”
The PSJA golf course brings in students throughout the year from all district elementary schools to teach them the fundamentals of the support and prepare them for competitive play at the secondary level.
Carlos Salinas, a fellow coach at Short-Shot and PSJA Bears graduate is appreciative of having these type of summer programs available for our youth.
“A benefit for them is to be active because usually children go home during the summer break and hang around,” Salinas said. “A lot of them seem to be really energetic because they’re used to being mentally challenged during the day, so they come here and they’re learning something new, something good.”
