Earlier this year, Commissioner Gary Nicklaus of the Florida Wildlife Commission contacted our Chapter to propose a golf and fishing pilot program. As a professional golfer and avid fisherman, Gary understands that the lakes on golf courses are typically rarely fished. Combining golf and fishing presents an incredible opportunity to bring together two sports that share in outdoor recreation.
Chapter students from Baldwin Prep School and our Saturday programs were invited to participate in the three day after-school pilot program conducted at The Bear’s Club. The students began each session with an hour of golf instruction at The Bear’s Club’s incredible practice facilities, followed by an hour of catch and release instruction and fishing at the lakes around the golf course. FWC staff offered a special training to Chapter Coaches and teachers from Baldwin Prep to assist with the fishing.
“The students, Coaches and teachers really enjoyed the fishing,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. “Many of them had never been fishing before and we all learned a great deal about fishing and the environment. The students went crazy every time we landed a fish!”
Pictured above left: Left to right- FWC Regional Director Tom Reinert, Landon Murray with a big one and Gary Nicklaus.
Special thanks to Commissioner Nicklaus, Chapter Director Bill O’Leary who assisted with the program, Steve Marshall and Doc Kokol of FWC and the members and staff of The Bear’s Club for hosting the pilot.
