Rancho Santa Fe residents help bring snow to Colina Park Golf Course for a day of fun

Squeals and screams filled Colina Park Golf Course on Dec. 14, as members of Pro Kids: The First Tee of San Diego participated in the fifth annual Snow Day. The event allowed 100 elementary school members to spend the day in the snow. This event was made possible by the generosity of The Bradley Foundation and Rancho Santa Fe residents Phil and Jenny Ward.

The 13th fairway of Colina Park was blanketed in a fresh coat of snow for the day, and members were armed with sleds. For many of the members, this was their first time experiencing snow.

“It was awesome!” said Pro Kids member Jayla. “I had never been sledding before. My friend and I went down holding hands.”

Members could sled down individually or in groups.

“I went down by myself, and I went over a bump and fell off. My sled went down the hill without me,” Jayla said.

There was also a snowball pit, where members could participate in friendly snowball fights.

“My favorite part was throwing snowballs at people,” Jayla said.

“I enjoyed Snow Day,” volunteer Bernie D’Amato said. “It gave the kids a chance to experience the joys of sledding in 70-degree weather.”

D’Amato spent the day on the hill helping members down the course.

“Bringing snow to San Diego is a brilliant idea,” he said.

There was a magician on site who captured the children’s curiosity with his magic tricks. Children also got airbrush tattoos from YooHoo the Clown. The event included lunch and a small holiday treat for all participants, including a gift card for the pro shop.

Pro Kids was incorporated as a notprofit organization in 1994. The mission of Pro Kids is to challenge underserved youth to excel in life by providing character development, life skills and values through education and the game of golf. Pro Kids aims to hook kids on golf as a lifelong amateur sport, teach them how the rules of the game can be applied to everyday life, and empower them to excel in school, develop successful careers, and become leaders in their community.

For more information, please visit www.thefirstteesandiego.org.