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GOLF TEACHING PRO%u00ae 57 WINTER 2O26STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD COSTA RICANEWS FROM COSTA RICAOne of the greatest challenges beginners face is the lack of playing partners with whom they feel comfortable, whether due to differences in skill level or other reasons. This is where Alfa Golf comes in: a program designed to support the integration of this new golfing community.The program is simple yet comprehensive. It brings players together while offering guidance on the fundamentals of golf, including etiquette, general and local rules, course care, pace of play, and even practical aspects such as green fees, golf carts, lessons, practice balls, and how to use the club%u2019s reservation app.Once the new golfers are brought t ogether, we create a communication group with their contact information to ensure ongoing connection. The program begins with six weekly sessions (two hours each), followed by 10 monthly sessions (also two hours each). These include on-course games and specialized clinics with drills designed to improve specific areas of the game (putting, sand traps, short game, and more).The first session includes basic putting and chipping fundamentals, combined with basic course etiquette. The sessions increasingly introduce more advanced topics, such as approach shots and bunker play, to using the fairway woods and driver. The players eventually get on the course using a scramble format from the junior tees, and subsequent sessions go back to the lesson tee to review previously-learned topics. The final session culminates in playing a round from the ladies%u2019 tees, utilizing everything learned in the previous nine sessions.Alfa Golf, a program born at the Costa Rica Country Club, was created with the vision of inspiring new women golfers to not only learn the sport, but also embrace and enjoy it. Its mission is to prepare and guide them through the learning process by providing strong foundations and a clear path to progress. The goal is to integrate these new female golfers into both internal and external club tournaments.By Reymer Araya, USGTF MemberSpecial thanks goes to the Costa Rica Country Club for the use of their facilities, and also to the ladies who participated. As we say here in Costa Rica, %u201cPure Vida.%u201d