8 Friday, May 5, 2017 brooklintowncrier.com Yes Woman By Marissa Campbell Royal Ashburn Tees Up A Great Golf Experience I'm athletically challenged. I 'play' baseball, but I use the term loosely. At bat, I spend the majority of time missing the ball while, in the outfield, praying it doesn't come to me. I'm really only in it for the pub drinks afterwards. Despite my clumsy lack of kinetic coordination, I keep trying, which is why I jumped at the chance to work with Dave Castellan, one of the top 50 PGA of Canada instructors and Director of Instruction at Royal Ashburn Golf Club. Rated one of Canada's top 50 public golf courses, Royal Ashburn offers a challenging championship golf course that's accessible to the novice and pro alike. With five different sets of tees, its aim is to make the game fun for all skill levels. Tucked away from the congestion of fishbowl houses and endless traffic, Royal Ashburn is a private oasis in the country, five minutes from town. Enjoy fresh air, scenic, lush fairways, stunning gardens, and bird song echoing throughout mature trees. It's even partnered with environmental groups like Ducks Unlimited to provide natural habitats for area wildlife. Given its natural beauty, there's plenty of golf Zen potential walking the course. It's also easy to see why the course is rated one of Toronto's premium wedding venues. Rough beginning My introduction to golf happened many moons ago. It involved meeting up with a group of friends for a riveting round of 18 holes on a ridiculously difficult course. Having never played before, everyone took turns to offer me advice. From my swing, to my stance, to the proper etiquette of timely ducking when the ball ricocheted off a tree and careened back toward my head, every aspect of my technique was scrutinized and critiqued. I listened to all their well-intended suggestions and gave it my best shot. This approach accomplished three things: 1. I had no idea what I was doing and couldn't begin to explain why I hit the ball reasonably well sometimes and completely duffed it the others. 2. I also had no idea how to correct my technique when the ball skidded across the fairway, despite my picturesque goal of sending it soaring in a fine arc toward the tee. 3. I grew increasingly frustrated at my lack of ability to play the game with any degree of consistency. I cannot stress enough the value of proper instruction--in any sport! Dave Castellan has over 40 years of experience, including working closely with Hank Haney, Tiger Woods' former swing coach. Within an hour private session with Dave, not only did I learn the proper swing, stance, and grip, I also learned the two biggest mistakes I made when attempting to connect with the ball (attempts which resulted in dramatically missing it altogether, or sending it hobbling a few feet in front of me). My lesson also included a video evaluation of my swing so I could see what was working and what I could improve. I cannot wait to put his advice into practice. And ladies' clinics In addition to private and semi private instruction, the Golf Academy at Royal Ashburn offers clinics for ladies only, new and returning golfers, and junior lessons and camps. Most of their spring courses start in May, a perfect opportunity to get golf ready for the season ahead. I walked away from Royal Ashburn with a degree of confidence that I might be able to hit the ball with reasonable accuracy and a new-found excitement to play the game. If I can overcome my well-honed handicap, you can, too. Sign up for a clinic, grab some clubs, hit the tee, and have some fun. I'll meet you at the refreshment cart on the ninth hole.