Navy Golf Course Hosts Blind Youth

By Ensign Greg Campbell, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Public Affairs

CYPRESS, Calif. (NNS) -- A tradition of community service continued at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress July 20, as nearly 30 blind youths received lessons from volunteers and experienced the joy of a day on the links.

The 10th Annual Golf Clinic for the Junior Blind hosted 26 youngsters from Camp Bloomfield, a local summer camp for the visually impaired, as well as a blind local junior and an adult golfer.

"This year we had five stations: putting, chipping, driving range, the ever-popular guide dog petting station and the golf ball toss." said Joe Grohman, head PGA professional at the course. "We had nine guide dogs and one puppy at the petting station. At the golf ball toss the kids were able to throw golf balls into an adjacent pond and hear the ball splash into the water."

Those in attendance included Navy chief petty officers from Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, as well as golf instructors and other volunteers from organizations including the Tiger Woods Learning Center, First Tee of South Los Angeles, Johnson Junior Golf, US Blind Golfers' Association, and the Navy Golf Course Men's and Ladies' Clubs, along with officials from the Southern California Professional Golf Association Section Office and a number of local veterans, volunteers and PGA professionals.

Eight-year-old Kyle Lograsso, a nationally known golfing prodigy and cancer survivor, instructed one of the blind children in a wonderful show of character, said Grohman. "Kyle did an excellent job working with his blind student, ten-yer-old David, and proudly reported that David had hit a ball 150 yards on the driving range."

Kyle's father, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jeff Lograsso, drove him to the clinic from their home in Miramar and was happy to see his son volunteering at such a positive event, Grohman added.

Each of the students from Camp Bloomfield received a trophy and the students treated their hosts to the Camp Bloomfield cheer. "It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day," said Grohman.