Youth golf camp has largest group in 30 year history

After 30 years, the PJ Wilson and Henry Scott Youth Golf Camp is as popular as it has ever been.

This year's camp opened on Monday with over 130 campers signed up and over 100 learning to play golf at the Eastern Florida State College's Fred Gay Golf Academy in Cocoa.

"This is the biggest group ever that I can remember, really good to see the popularity of the camp continues to grow," Eastern Florida State College men's golf coach Jamie Howell said.

The second day of camp had the golfers working on chipping and putting, answering some trivia questions while taking breaks out of the sun.

The golfers were placed in groups depending on how much experience they have.

"We try to place kids more on ability than age and it works well," Howell said. "We have beginners, folks that have really never played at all, then the novice or intermediate group who have a little bit of background in the game, maybe a grandparent or mom and dad have introduced them to it and then the experienced group which are players that play high school or junior golf."

The camp also has members of Eastern Florida State College and 16 volunteers that help make it a success, working with the golfers both on and off the course.

One of those volunteers is Isaac Johnson, a Cocoa resident who has been helping as a volunteer for 25-plus years.

"I started with Henry Scott and PJ Wilson and I have been here ever since! I look forward to coming here every day and sharing the knowledge I have possessed through the years," Johnson said following the second day. "It is in my nature to give back, it was a cause that Henry Scott was trying to get more minorities into golf and we recruited them. We started in the building behind us and I have been dedicated ever since. I look forward to being part of this program every year. I enjoy it. The life I live will speak for me!"

Howell has also been helping with the camp since 1994 and is proud to be able to carry on the legacy that Scott and Wilson started at the driving range.

"I knew both Henry and PJ and they helped more young people in this county than anyone knows, the least we can do is carry that on," Howell said. "With the support of the college, (President) Dr. James Richey, (Associate Vice President of Athletics) Jeff Carr and all of the volunteers who come out and give their time, the camp is able to continue to grow. For as long as they let us, by all means, we should do this every year."

The camp runs until June 12 with a celebration and awards ceremony on the Cocoa campus on June 13.

Check out photos from the youth golf camp here.