Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Dylan Kuhn, Youth Golf

For more than a decade now, local youths, ranging from first grade to seniors in high school have been spending three mornings each summer learning to golf at Prairie Farms Golf Course.

The learning comes by way of the Rotary Youth Golf Camp, put on each year by former Havre High golfing great Jimmy Kato, as well as golf pro Doug Sheppard, and a host of volunteers.

The camp is rare event with very few of them around the state of Montana anymore. And it's an important camp, as it serves to not only give youths a chance to learn the game of golf, as well as have fun doing it, but it also helps grow the game of golf in a time when younger generations are taking the sport up less and less.

One of the youths who has taken full advantage of the Rotary Camp over the years is St. Jude's eighth-grader Dylan Kuhn. Kuhn, who is the son of Jerry and Jessie Kuhn, is in his third year of attending the Rotary Golf Camp, which began Tuesday morning at Prairie Farms.

"It's a lot of fun," he said. "You learn about golf, but you also get to hang out with your friends."

Kuhn is not only interested in the game of golf, which he has played with his dad over the years, but he also plays youth soccer, is a member of the Boy Scouts, and is also a strong student at St. Jude's where he'll enter his final year this fall.

But this summer, he's once again made his way to Prairie Farms Golf Course for the three-day Rotary Camp, with Kato, Kato's wife Carrie, Chad Spangler and Kyle Sheppard serving as instructors.

The camp, which has nearly 20 youths in it this year, will run through Thursday. The Havre Daily News caught up with Kuhn for five questions.

HDN: Why do you like the sport of golf?

Kuhn: "Well, it's not that difficult to me. It's fun and it relaxes me. Plus, it's something I can play with my friends."

HDN: How many years have you attended the golf camp?

Kuhn: "I think this is my third year coming to golf camp."

HDN: What is the most fun part of the camp?

Kuhn: "I think the funnest part is just being able to hang out with my friends. I don't get to see them as much in the summer."

HDN: You have a twin sister, Mackenzie. I know she plays hockey. So who is better at sports? School?

Kuhn: "Sports, that would be me (laughing). But she does better in school than me.

HDN: Would you like to be a Blue Pony golfer when you get to high school?

Kuhn: "Maybe. I'm not sure yet on what I will do when I'm in high school. But I do enjoy golf, so maybe."