County of LA, Norwalk Open Don Knabe Golf Center & Junior Academy
July 20, 2017
Los Angeles County Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn and the County's Department of Parks and Recreation officially opened the Don Knabe Golf Center & Junior Academy earlier this week, reopening a facility that had been closed for renovation since December 2015. With the objective of building a community hub and golf center with a specific attraction to juniors, the new center features affordable green fees, a lighted, double-decker driving range, practice area and community center. SCGA Junior has been appointed the primary junior golf program on site.
"I strongly believe in public golf; public golf is the essence of the game, and it will be forever," said Don Knabe, the former L.A. County Fourth District Supervisor who oversaw the initial plans for the facility. "This course in particular will not only cater to juniors, but also senior and beginning golfers."
Putting its money where its mouth is, the Don Knabe GC will offer extremely affordable green fees for the 9-hole, par 3 course. Costs will be just $6.75 on weekdays and $9 on weekends. For juniors, the prices are especially low, with nine holes costing kids just $1.75 on weekdays and $2.25 on weekends. The nine holes on the course range from 50 to 100 yards, and the facility is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting systems that illuminate tee to green to provide playing opportunities throughout the year, day or night.
"We're thrilled to be back in Norwalk with the opportunity to help kids from this community," said Kaycee Wilke, SCGA Junior's director of instruction. "To be able to run golf programming on a kid-friendly course and also have the classroom space to assist other aspects of needs in the community is a unique opportunity for us, and one we plan to take full advantage of."
SCGA Junior will run year-long golf instruction classes for kids ages 5 and older, as well as youth summer camps, golf leagues and clinics. Currently, the junior organization is running a community needs assessment to see what additional programming would be most beneficial to the surrounding area.
A complete overhaul and redesign of the golf course helped transform the former Norwalk Golf Center into Don Knabe's dream facility. Knabe was on hand for the opening, and hit the ceremonial opening tee shot with members of SCGA Junior looking on. "I want to thank SCGA Junior for stepping up to make today a reality," said Knabe. Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn also joined Knabe for the festivities by taking part in the ceremonial first putt alongside kids from the SCGA Junior instruction program.
The Don Knabe GC & Junior Academy marks the 20th L.A. County golf course, making it the nation's largest municipal golf system with more than 300 holes of golf. For more information on SCGA Junior programming at the Norwalk facility, click here.