Trailhead offers junior golf program, improvements

Trailhead at Liberty Lake is offering a new round of junior golf sessions on an improved course.

“I’ve got junior golf everywhere. I have something for every level,” said Mollie Thola, golf professional.

In addition to sessions that cater to beginning, intermediate and junior novices, the course has other challenges.

Since purchasing the course three years ago, the city of Liberty Lake has made regular improvements.

This year’s upgrades include makeovers of the fourth and ninth holes, which will open soon with new tees and lengthened fairways. The city also bought six new golf carts – an improvement that adults can appreciate.

Last spring, eight more sand traps were added, bringing the sand hazard total to 15.

A particularly smart improvement was the removal of an unfriendly hedge on the first tee that became a hacker’s nightmare.

“When they chopped that hedge down, you could have filled the back of a truck (with golf balls),” said Arlene Fisher, the city’s finance director.

Fisher said the course pulled in $16,000 in February and $8,600 so far in March. The money could help pay for an eye-catching signature hole that updates the existing pond, which leaks.

The stand-out water feature would also double to help irrigate the course, she said.

West Valley High School’s golf team now uses Trailhead as a practice field because it allows the kids to practice irons skills, Thola said.

Trailhead is becoming particularly attractive to families, which can golf on Sundays after 3 p.m. for $5 a person, or sign children ages 5-18 up for programs.

Last year, about 100 kids signed up for sessions, which integrate fundamentals and etiquette with fun games, skill challenges and tournaments.

With nine par-3 and -4 holes, the executive course is an ideal training ground, Thola said. “For beginning kids this is awesome.”

Kenny Tucker, 11, of Spokane Valley, feels welcome at Trailhead, which doesn’t have a marshal pushing people along.

“I like small courses sometimes. It’s just more comforting.”

He started taking lessons from Thola when she was an assistant professional at MeadowWood Golf Course and is an avid fan of her junior golf program at Trailhead.

“She’s a good teacher. She does it in a good way, so you just enjoy being there.”