The IRGF Board of Directors has accepted the recommendation of an IRGF Focus Group, which consists of area golf professionals and top amateur players from Indian River County and approved the concept of the Indian River Golf Training Center to be located on the south end of the practice range at Sandridge Golf Club. This program has begun conducting preliminary meetings with administrators of Indian River County while seeking building costs, annual operating costs, identifying staffing requirements for current and future programs. The Focus Group pointed out the youth of our community are lacking a “home-base” to meet, learn, practice and engage in more social/interactive activities under qualified adult supervision. After school sports and other programs might do this in a classroom or other facility on their campus in which meets can be conducted corresponding with what’s happening on the premise. If the school is closed for some reason the students will be on their own to deal with practice, meetings, etc. With the Indian River Golf Training Center there would be continuation of programs regardless of the weather. Perfect for those that like after school sports, this lets players still practice and enjoy the game of golf! Players, Parent Coaches, Playing Mentors, Player Cadets and Volunteers would be trained in either classroom style, one of three hitting bays with Golf Tech Training equipment, an Open-Air Pavilion featuring synthetic putting, chipping and tee mats for hitting balls out onto the practice range. All this represents a back-up to the spacious outdoor area featuring 10 golf skills stations accommodating up to 72 participants at any one time.