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Improved Palm Tree Golf Course presents new events

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexa Ann Henderson
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  The Andersen Air Force Base Palm Tree Golf Course saw some changes at the beginning of this year including a change in location for the pro shop and a change in the layout for the holes on the course so they started and ended at the shop.

Tech. Sgt. Thomas Harris, 36th Force Support Squadron Liberty Program manager, manages the golf course.

"A big difference has been giving the golfers an atmosphere where they can feel like it's theirs," Harris said. "Our goal was to provide an area where the golfers could feel like it was home."

Now, six months after the changes were implemented, the golf course is thriving and providing new programs for Airmen and their families to enjoy. Some new programs include the "All You Can Hit Fridays" where patrons can hit all the practice golf balls they want and enjoy a refreshment for a small fee and the youth clinics for children aged 5 to 17.

Harris said that the first kids' clinic held in June was popular enough for them to host another clinic this upcoming August. They also provided them a set of Nike golf clubs to help ignite an interest in golf after the clinic finished. He said that they plan on providing golf clubs for all kids' clinics.

"We hope to empower them by giving them the clubs so they would want to go out and golf when their guardian comes out here to golf," Harris said. "Kids under 15 play for free all of the time. We are trying to make the course more family friendly."

In addition to the kids' clinic and the "All You Can Hit Fridays" promotion, the golf course team is also hosting a number of different tournaments. The next tournament is the Glow Ball tournament scheduled for July 31. Everything is played in the dark and the golf balls, tees and other equipment will glow in the dark.

Master Sgt. Matt Castillo, a 36th Civil Engineer Squadron member who was on the renovation committee, said the revamping of the golf course has gone well.

"The revamping of the golf course is a really great thing for Andersen AFB from a morale perspective," said Castillo. "Given our isolated location along with the higher cost of golfing off base, to have such a nice recreational thing to do after hours and on weekends is great for Airmen and the general base populace."

Harris said they plan on having a big change at the course happening by September 1. The golf course coordinated with the Hot Spot and intends to purchase discs for Frisbee golf. The golf course plans on having the disc golf course on holes 1, 2, 3 and 9.

"Hopefully it will bring in new people and generate enough interest in the sport so we can expand it," Harris said. "We will be the only operational disc golf course on island."

The disc golf is already starting to generate some interest in the golf course patrons.
"Disc golf is a cool new idea; I want to see how it takes off," Castillo said. "It sounds like a fun thing for friends to get together to do."

For more information on the Palm Tree Golf Course, call 366-4653 or visit www.36fss.com. The MyMC2 application can also be downloaded on mobile devices and set to select Andersen AFB. Golf events and specials can be found on the calendar or on the FSS page