Young golfers who participated in the July LPN Junior Golf School pose for a photo after golf and a pizza party at Panorama West.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
Melissa Hochstetler, Panorama girls golf coach, was one of several people helping with the LPN junior golf school. On the last day of the July school, she coached a group of the youngest golfers through three holes on the Panorama West golf course.
For the second consecutive year, the junior golf sessions were free in honor of Dick Zapf, who died in 2025. Financial gifts given in Zapf’s memory made it possible to offer this year’s golf schools at no cost.
Rob Riggins, LPN head golf professional, and Michael Kleinwolterink, LPN pro shop manager, led the school. The juniors learned full-swing, pitching, chipping and putting fundamentals along with golf etiquette and rules of golf. Participants were divided into age groups, and rotated among the putting green, chipping area and driving range.
There was one change this year. The first June session was held indoors because of rain that moved in just as the class began. The session was moved to The Captain’s Pick with a putting contest held in the banquet room. The Captain’s Pick donated beverages at the end of that session.
Junior golfers take turns putting on the third green at Panorama West. Cael Reimers, one of several assistants during the golf schools, looks on.
Each student received five sleeves of golf balls, packages of golf tees and a T-shirt that said, “Dick Zapf Junior Golf Academy.” The shirts were available in several colors, allowing the young golfers to choose their preferred color. Sponsor funds also were used to purchase beverages and snacks from Spikes following each session.
Assisting Kleinwolterink and Riggins with the 2026 LPN junior golf schools were Panorama girls’ golf coach Melissa Hochstetler, Maci Bauer, Maddox Hammerstrom, coach David Van Ahn, Charlie Pendleton, Cael Reimers and Wilson Clark.