The Hartford, Conn. course’s three-hour sessions,

held on two consecutive Saturday afternoons as the summer season began, include hands-on instruction from its golf staff, as well as other guest instructors and organizers,  Participation also includes a free round on the club’s “Flat Nine” North Course.

Goodwin Park Golf Course in Hartford, Conn. has taken another major step in its quest to grow the game of golf for people of all backgrounds and ages this summer, the Hartford Courant reported. On Saturday, June 30^th, professional staff members offered a free introduction to the game of golf for friends and families in the Hartford area, and the promotion was scheduled to be repeated again on July 7^th, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Through the promotion, all locals were invited to Goodwin Park for hands-on lessons from the course’s golf staff, as well as other guest instructors and organizers. The introductions cover all areas of the sport, including equipment education and basic etiquette of the game.

The highlight of the event, the Courant reported, is an opportunity to play Goodwin Park’s North Course, affectionately known as the “Flat Nine.” The course’s short set-up, consisting of eight par fours and a short par three, was used to allow beginning golfers to experience a round of golf without any daunting hazards or lengthy holes that can be intimidating and frustrating for those looking to familiarize themselves with the basics of the sport.

The free instruction is part of a larger initiative taken up by the golf course staff to grow the game this year, the Courant reported, following renovations of Goodwin Park, along with its sister course in Hartford, Keney Park.

“We are really excited about being able to provide this opportunity to allow more people access to the game of golf,” said Joe Mentz, the Head Golf Professional at Goodwin Park. “This is a really unique chance to introduce someone who might be interested in learning about the sport, while receiving instruction from professionals of the game for free.

Pre-registration was not required for the free sessions and people were allowed to attend one or the other and did not need to come for both dates.

In addition to the complimentary instruction offered at Goodwin Park, the golf course is also hosting a Junior PGA League for golfers under the age of 16 to give them the opportunity to learn from certified PGA and LPGA Professionals, while also regularly playing in weekly competitive matches against children from other golf courses. This will be the first summer that the league is offered at Goodwin and Keney Park courses, the Courant reported.

Goodwin Park also hosts a CT Latinas golf league for women who are seeking instruction and a welcoming, positive environment to play golf on a regular basis, the Courant reported. The six-week sessions are designed for individuals who are looking to play more often while building relationships with other members within the group.

The Goodwin Park Golf Course dates back to 1906 and recently received $1 million in improvements. The course is home to the nine-hole North Course and 18-hole South Course, as well as a practice area and driving range.