It only took a few swings during his first golfing experience for Nick to know he wanted a next one.
Nick was one of three residents at Daymark, a Charleston area agency that works with at-risk youth ages 12 to 21, who took to the course at Berry Hills Golf Club on Friday. There, he, Cassandra and Halley (Daymark asked their last names be withheld) picked up a club for the first time.
Nick's favorite sport is basketball. He loves the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. He's also up for a new experience, and figured learning to swing a golf club was as good of one as any.
As he took his swings at Berry Hills' driving range, he found it a bit of a cathartic experience as well, as did Cassandra and Halley.
"Whenever I was hitting those long balls, it felt like I was hitting my frustrations out," he said. "It felt good. I was less stressful, at peace."
Daymark, a private, nonprofit youth services agency, has helped children and families in the area since 1974. There are three main programs: Patchwork, Turning Point and New Connections. The Patchwork shelter provides counseling and emergency services for any youth as young as age 12, any time of day or night. Turning Point is a home for those ages 15-21 that are in the custody of the State of West Virginia, providing a home-like atmosphere, ultimately leading to that youth's independence. The New Connections education lab and independent living apartments are where youth ages 16-22 can work toward earning high school equivalency diplomas and learn practical skills like resume writing and financial planning.
Daymark offers several excursions for its residents. They went to Kings Island amusement part last week and will go to Pittsburgh for a Pirates game later this summer. Pat Moyers, chair of Daymark's board of directors, said the golf outing was a way to give the kids an introduction to another new adventure.
"We hoped that they would be inspired to see a world-class sport and have an opportunity to try their hands at it and to give them a vision of ... a brand-new experience for them," Moyers said. "We think this is an enriching experience for them."
Friday's program was the idea of Berry Hills assistant golf pro Chris Breed, who jumped at the chance to introduce the sport to some kids who might not have the chance otherwise.
"It's a game where you can play until you're 100 years old," he said. "It's such a great game. I love this game and I'm passionate about teaching this game and I want to teach everyone I can. It's not just about hitting a golf ball. It's about integrity, etiquette, learning a lot of manners, nutrition ... a little bit of everything."
All three got the hang of a golf club pretty quickly. They started on the putting greens, learning how to read their hills and curves. Next was the driving range, where Breed taught them the nuances of a golf swing, something that looks easy when someone like Rory McIlroy does it on television, but is anything but in real life.
Sure, there were some whiffs. A couple of times the ball dribbled off the tee and a few feet in front of them. By the end, though, balls went from burning the grass down the fairway to sailing through the air and down the range, to the applause of those around them. Nick, Cassandra and Halley all learned something else Friday - how good a good golf shot feels.
"It feels amazing," Halley said, "and it makes you feel good because everyone is clapping and stuff, cheering you on."
If anything, Breed found himself three new golf fans Friday afternoon. They enjoyed the beauty of the course, learning a new sport and the feeling of accomplishment when that little white ball sailed into the sky. All three would love to come back and learn more.
"It's something new and different," Cassandra said. "It's not what you expect when you watch it. It's also challenging, and I like a challenge."
Contact Derek Redd at 304-348-1712 or derek.redd@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @derekredd.